The Richmond International Raceway (RIR) in Henrico County boasts a reputation for having the best of both worlds when it comes to stock car racing. While the unique, oval three-quarter-mile track produces dramatic side-by-side racing, drivers and fans also enjoy the high speeds characteristic of mile- or mile-and-a-half long tracks (also called superspeedways). This September, the Nextel Cup Series Chevy Rock & Roll 400 brought the speed, the drama and the music under the lights of RIR. As the final race of the regular season before the Chase for the Championship (NASCAR’s version of playoffs), the Rock & Roll 400 did not fail to entertain. Even though all participating drivers will compete in the rest of the season’s races, the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 determined which drivers would compete for the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup championship title.

Heading into the weekend, there were eight available spots left to fill for the “race for the Chase.” Drivers Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson had already secured their spots in the Chase. Nine drivers were in contention for these spots. Drivers Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton and Mark Martin found themselves either just within the top 10 or just outside of the top 10 coming into the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Although Kahne came into the race with the most regular-season wins, he was still 30 points out of the top 10. Kahne and his Dodge crew team finished third in the Chevy 400, securing his spot in the top 10 and knocking last year’s champ, Tony Stewart, out of the Chase. “I am just relieved…I had so many things to think about if I didn’t make it,” Kahne said. Mark Martin and Jeff Burton also made the top 10 as a result of fifth- and ninth-place finishes, respectively, at the Chevy Rock & Roll 400.

The day ultimately went to Richard Childress Racing’s Kevin Harvick, who won the race by passing Kyle Busch in the final laps. “I found a groove that I could pitch in there…I saw Busch’s car in the mirror. I was able to get by him clean. We had a good car all night. We made some good adjustments, and everything worked out in the end. Our goal was to leave here 10 points behind and go into the Chase as close as we could,” said Harvick. After leading the race for 248 laps before surrendering the checkered flag to Harvick, Kyle Busch was disappointed by his second-place finish in Richmond. Busch will begin his quest for the cup in fourth place behind Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.
Richmond native Denny Hamlin managed to survive a burnt spark plug. With 149 laps left in the race, Hamlin learned that a piece of rubber had gotten into the motor and that he would be running on seven cylinders rather than eight. Hamlin persevered and finished in a hard-fought 15th place, which left him in fifth overall going into the Chase. He became the first rookie to qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup. “I would have liked to run better in front of the hometown crowd. But to hear these people cheer for me during driver intros, it makes emotions that you really can’t explain. I’m proud to be in the Chase for Richmond, Virginia,” explained Hamlin.

In addition to the thrill of counting drivers’ points and determining the top 10, race fans and drivers also enjoyed the Rock & Roll aspect of the race. Headlining the race weekend was the popular band The Barenaked Ladies, who provided an entertaining live performance. Other bands were used in the paint schemes on some of the race cars. “This year the trio of rock and roll schemes appear on Chevrolet race cars that are sponsored by brands of General Motors, GM Goodwrench, ACDelco and GMAC. These cars were chosen to wear the musically themed paint schemes,” said Terry Dolan, manager of Chevy racing.* These cars were Clint Bowyer’s Bush Series No. 2 car with the Red Hot Chili Peppers scheme, Kevin Harvick’s No. 29 car with the Barenaked Ladies scheme and Brian Vickers’ No. 25 car with the O.A.R. scheme. “I was really excited about having O.A.R. on our No. 25 GMAC Chevy for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond…The band is a favorite of mine. So, to actually have them on our race car was cool,” said Vickers.*

The 2006 Richmond Chevy Rock & Roll 400 lasted two hours, 57 minutes and 37 seconds. The margin of victory was .153 seconds, and the average speed of Kevin Harvick’s 29 car was 101.342 miles per hour. However, after 16 lead changes and seven caution flags, the final race for the Chase was set.
For Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne, the season had really just begun.

According to a Hendrick Motorsports Press Release