2024 NASCAR Cup Series Race Seven Richmond

Cars in field: 36
Pole: Kyle Larson (5)
Outside pole: Chase Elliott (9)
Stages: 70-160-170
Weather: Rain, 61°F, Feels like: 58°, Wind ESE 2 mph, Gusts 4 mph

It’s raining as they do the pre-race ceremonies, but they keep saying they’re going to start on time.

Chris Myers, Kevin ‘Happy/KHarv’ Harvick, and Clint Bowyer are in the garage doing interviews with drivers.

At 1909 the track dryers are rolling around the track.

The drivers are suiting up and getting in the cars. They have wet-weather tires on, so they were prepared to race in the rain. The forecast initially called for the rain to end before race time, and it has been updated during the pre-race shows to have intermittent rain throughout the evening.

MRN’s Mike ‘Bagman’ Bagley says it’s raining lightly in turn three.

At 1930 MRN reports NASCAR said one more lap and the race will go green.

MRN’s Rusty Wallace says the lap times are getting better which tells him the track is drying out.

A competition caution is scheduled for lap 30 of 400.

FOXSports reports that they will race as long as there isn’t spray coming up from the cars. They are not equipped with windshield wipers. If they spray kicks up they will stop. Visibility is key.

MRN reports this is Chris Buescher’s 300th start.

The race is red flagged at 1951 for non-competitive pit stops as the teams change from rain tires to racing slicks. The caution flag is out at 1957.

MRN says they can see some damp spots around the track.

Restarting on lap 48 of 400 on the racing slick tires.

Caution on lap 63 of 400 for a spin by Daniel Suarez (99) by Josh Berry (4).

<!-2015–>Kyle Larson (5) wins stage one under caution.

NASCAR will allow them to perform live pit stops now that they’ve sent the track drying team through the pits again.

Restarting on lap 80 of 400 with Kyle Larson (5) and Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace (23) on the front row.

Green flag pit stops underway on lap 124 of 400.

MRN’s Alex Hayden is explaining that Richmond Raceway is no longer the short-track-super-speedway it was ten years ago, but now a strategy track. He followed with, ‘Isn’t that fun?”. No. At least it isn’t as broadcast on FOXSports tonight.

Caution on lap 169 of 400 for debris.

Martin ‘MTJ’ Truex Jr (19) wins stage two.

MRN reports there are currently 19 drivers on the lead lap on lap 234 of 400.

Restarting on lap 240 of 400 with MTJ (19) and Larson (5) on the front row.

A hood and a car in the distance. A helmet and gloves on a steering wheel. The track surface and the wall on the left and a commercial on the right. The hood of a car. The bumper of a car and the track surface. The tires and door of the 22 car. The side of the 20 car. The wall and the bumper of a car. The side of the 22 car and some of the front bumper. The front of the field. Those are the camera shots we were subjected to for a long stretch of tv time. Boring, random, and not visually stimulating images that make this event feel extremely long.

Green flag pit stops are underway on lap 286 of 400.

Green flag pit stops again on lap 336 of 400.

MRN is calling a battle on the track and TV is showing pit crew members fist bumping.

Lap 344, track lights, track surface, wall, hood, track surface, a car pitting, the view of pit road, a split screen of a car pitting, the leader, the 20 car with the 10 car passing it, following the 20 car, the track surface with the car in the distance, the view from the front windscreen of the track surface into pit road, the leader from the blimp, the relatively empty grandstands – like a truck series race, the track, the crew on Kevin Harvick’s podcast, the graphic for the podcast, a golf-cart race at some point, a guy in a hoodie with bunny ears, a belt, and a microphone, the leader driving around the track. The view from a front windscreen, a replay of MTJ (19) passing the 48 car at some point in the event. Lap 356. That’s not what I’d call an interesting NASCAR race broadcast.

MRN’s Jeff Striegle reports on lap 361 of 400 that he sees lightning flashing in the distance.

On lap 366 of 400 a split-screen of the leader driving around and the FOXSports broadcast booth (Clint Bowyer looking on at Kevin Harvick chatting with his 11 year-old son Keelan Harvick).

On lap 391 of 400 Joey Logano (22) is closing in on leader Martin ‘MTJ’ Truex Jr (19) who is navigating lapped traffic.

On lap 394 of 400 we’re stuck with a split-screen of a graphic and the growing battle for the lead in the smaller screen. Then a bit of the battle, then the windscreen view. Those idiotic shots completely ruin any drama

Caution on lap 398 of 400 for a spin by Kyle Larson (5) with an assist by Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace (23).

Restarting in overtime with ‘Desperate’ Denny Hamlin (11), Martin ‘MTJ’ Truex Jr (19), Joey Logano (22), Kyle Larson (5), William ‘WilliB’ Byron (24), Chase Elliott (9) and Christopher ‘CBell’ Bell (20) up front.

‘Desperate’ Denny Hamlin (11) crosses the finish line first.

Congrats to Chase Elliott on finishing fifth.

Truex (19) and Larson (5) are door-slamming each other after the flag.

Larson says he thinks MTJ was angry with Hamlin, and Logano got into MTJ, then MTJ came across Larson’s bumper, then they were door-slamming and playing bumper cars.

MTJ said in his radio interview, “The 11 jumped the start, then used me up in turn one, I thought him being a teammate he’d give me a little room and we’d be able to race side by side. Then I just took it out on the 5 when he hit my door and it was the third time in a few minutes I’d gotten used up.”

Boring television broadcast. Very disappointing finish.

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GO Hendrick 48 & 9!!!!