It was short-track racing at its finest on Saturday night as the Sprint Cup competitors took to the track at Richmond International Raceway (RIR). The race provided its viewers with door-banging action through 400 laps including a late-race crash that determined the outcome of the race. David Reutimann and the UPS Team managed to avoid the major accidents but finished in the 22nd position after battling a loose condition on the #44 Toyota.
Reutimann took the green flag in the #44 UPS Toyota from the 14th position to start the Dan Lowry 400. In the opening stages of the race, the UPS Toyota looked strong as the Florida native threatened to break into the top-10, hovering in the 11th place position. The first caution flag of the event fell on lap 65 after the #70 blew a tire and made contact with the outside wall. In the 12th spot, Reutimann entered pit road for a four tire stop with an adjustment to the air pressure in the left rear tire after radioing to his team that he was experiencing a lack of forward bite.
The lack of forward bite has been a common criticism of the new car since its introduction and the report was no different at RIR on Saturday night as drivers communicated with their crew chief up and down pit road. Unfortunately for Reutimann and the UPS Team, the loose condition of the #44 car continued to impair the handling as the laps clicked away. The #44 UPS Toyota fell one lap down to the race leader on lap 192 as Reutimann fought to make the car pivot through the center of the corners.
The turning point of the race came on lap 230 when a multi-car crash, involving at least one third of the field, brought out the red flag. The accident started when JJ Yeley made contact with the outside wall setting off a chain reaction of cars wrecking behind him. Following the accident, the UPS Toyota was in the 21st position, the first car one lap down. Before the next caution flag fell, driver Bobby Labonte would fall one lap behind the leader as well and stay ahead of Reutimann to receive the Lucky Dog award.
Reutimann continued to labor one lap down but a pit strategy gamble that did not pay off placed the team two laps behind the leader. The #44 Team continued to make changes to the car throughout the remaining laps to improve its condition and finished in the 22nd position.
Clint Bowyer took the victory at RIR for his first win of the season following the conclusion of a green-white-checkered finish. Bowyer had been running in the third spot behind Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Kyle Busch, when the two drivers made contact with two laps remaining, allowing Bowyer to slide past both cars to take the lead. Kyle Busch retook the championship point lead with his runner-up finish.
Teammate Michael McDowell suffered slight damage to his #00 Toyota during the multi-car accident on lap 230 but was involved in a separate incident on lap 260 that ended his race, relegating him to a 40th finishing position. Michael Waltrip finished in the 37th spot after a late race accident retired the #55 entry from competition on lap 354.
Next week the Sprint Cup Series travel to the Darlington Raceway for the running of the Dodge Challenger 500. The race is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET with live television coverage provided by FOX starting at 7:20 p.m. ET. Radio coverage will be broadcast by the Motor Racing Network (MRN).
