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NASCAR: Winners And Losers From Richmond

By Cole Mentzel

Sep 10, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) crosses over the start line during the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) crosses over the start line during the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 10, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (41) races driver Jeff Gordon (88) and driver Joey Logano (22) during the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /

Loser: Tires

Short track racing usually produces a lot of cautions, but we weren’t expecting to see the record-setting 16 that we did at Richmond.

With that being the case, teams had a real issue with tires once those last 150 laps arrived.

Many teams used strategy late in the race and used scuffs before going with their last set of stickers. Then there were teams like the No. 48 and No. 88 teams that used up their last set of stickers with roughly 70 laps to go.

With the amount of cautions we saw in those last 100 laps of the race, strategy became a huge factor, as some teams were coming in for tires and gaining tons of spots on the restart while others were waiting until the end to put on a better set of tires.

It was the first race all season where we had seen a legitimate shortage of tires for teams and it made for some entertaining late-race decisions from the crew chiefs.

Next: Continuing His Rise

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