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NASCAR: Five Predictions for the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

By Michael Guadalupe

Apr 24, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (41) races driver Kyle Busch (18), driver Kevin Harvick (4), and driver Carl Edwards (19) during a restart in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (41) races driver Kyle Busch (18), driver Kevin Harvick (4), and driver Carl Edwards (19) during a restart in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been struggling this season and will continue to struggle on Sunday. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been struggling this season and will continue to struggle on Sunday. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Struggles at Richmond

The biggest news coming from the NASCAR world this weekend is the retirement announcement Dale Earnhardt. Jr. made earlier this week.

It’s all anyone is talking about heading into Richmond this weekend, and for good reason. Dale Jr. has been the most popular for years now and NASCAR fans around the country will clearly miss the driver of the 88 next year.

Dale Jr. has had issues over the last couple of season with concussions, last year being the worst as he had to sit out for several races and his possible return to NASCAR was questioned.

He was cleared to race this season and fans rejoiced as he returned to the 88 car. But even though he returned, Dale Jr. hasn’t been competing at the level he is used to. He has struggled this season, with his best finish of 5th coming at Texas.

And while finishing fifth is not bad, it’s the rest of the season so far that has been a struggle.  He’s finished worse than 30th at four races this year and it’s clear that the driver of the 88 just isn’t at the same level he was a couple of seasons ago.

When it comes to Richmond, Dale Jr. has a pretty decent history at this track. With three wins and an average finish of 13.24, Junior is no stranger to success at Richmond. The problem for him, though, is that he hasn’t won a race here since 2006.

Combine his recent winless record with how much he’s struggled this season and fans will be more likely to see Junior finish worse than 15th place than win the race on Sunday.

Dale Jr. still has a lot of racing to do before he leaves NASCAR’s premiere series, but his struggles for the 2017 season are only getting started.

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