NASCAR’s regular season finale is not lacking for storylines or drama.
Twelve months ago Richmond International Raceway was the site of a race-fixing scandal that shook the sport unlike any event in recent memory. The aftereffects prompted a swift and heavy response from NASCAR, including a dramatic revision of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
At the center of the controversy was Clint Bowyer of Michael Waltrip Racing. It was Bowyer who spun suspiciously to deny Ryan Newman a potential -- and likely -- victory, which would have knocked teammate Martin Truex out of the Chase.
Following an investigation, NASCAR handed out stiff sanctions, including fining MWR a record $300,000 and removing Truex from the Chase, which in turn prompted team sponsor NAPA to dissolve its long-time relationship with the team.
It was a series of events which sent MWR into a tailspin -- a lack of sponsorship forced the organization to disband one of its three teams and layoff a number of employees -- and turned the popular Bowyer into a pariah. He has never admitted culpability and is still reluctant to discuss his involvement.
"You never want to create a storm in any sport or for anybody -- any of your peers, your friends, your family, anybody," Bowyer said Friday. "Hell, for yourself. Do you think I wanted to be in the middle of all of that mess? I wanted to go to Chicago (site of the next race) and enjoy Chicago. It's a pretty fun city and instead I had to answer your questions again."
Thanks to a multitude of sweeping changes and an increased emphasis on winning over points racing, a replay of last year's machinations is unlikely Saturday night. That, however, doesn't mean the Federated Auto Parts 400 is lacking intrigue.
And coincidentally, Bowyer again has a starring role in the proceedings.
Sitting on the wrong side of the Chase cutoff, 23 points behind Greg Biffle for the final playoff spot, Bowyer either needs to win or make up significant ground in the regular-season finale.
"The pressure is on the line, but we've been here before ... we had to race our way in," Bowyer said. "If I could ever pick a track that I had to go to that I had to try to fight my way into this Chase, it's this one. This is one of my best tracks. I love this place and love racing here and competing here. Hopefully, she'll be good to me one more time."
Bowyer is among a handful of drivers who enter Richmond with their playoff hopes hanging precariously in the balance. A win gets you in; a lesser finish and a Chase berth vanishes. And on a short track, where tempers frequently boil over, it is a powder keg just waiting to erupt.
"I expect some pretty ruthless racing if a guy has an opportunity," said Carl Edwards, who with two victories is locked into the Chase. "... If a guy that has an opportunity to win the race that needs to win the race to be in the Chase, I can't imagine him holding back anything.
"Hopefully I am in a position to win and at the very least I hope we get to see a good show."
To what extreme a driver goes to win is the prevailing question Saturday night. Bowyer and rookie Kyle Larson -- the two likeliest contenders to race their way in -- have stated they will be more aggressive if the situation arises.
Provisionally in the Chase, Biffle has the most to lose. If a new winner emerges, he's out.
"We need to have a good solid night," Biffle said. "I think we are capable of that. If we can win, certainly, we are going to try to win but more importantly we need to get in the Chase. I think it will be up to the other guys to have to beat us and that will be by winning the race."
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