Final 2013 Richmond Toyota Owners 400 Practice Notes & Driver Ratings

Kyle Busch knows how to grab Richmond checkers very well

LAS VEGAS -- Kyle Busch give us no indication during Friday’s two practice sessions at Richmond International Raceway that he’s the driver to beat in Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400. But when factoring his history at this track and his run of excellence over the past the past 18 races, he’s still easily the favorite.

You could argue that his four straight spring wins at Richmond came in the fifth-generation car, and that all the winning data goes out the window with the Gen-6 car. You could argue that drivers like Martin Truex Jr. and Mark Martin looked better in practice with single-lap and 10-consecutive lap averages. You could also say that the law of averages are against Busch. Five straight event wins would match Richard Petty’s mark set in the fall races from 1970-74.

But Busch just exudes confidence on this track, and strips away bettors’ confidence about going against him. His 5.4 average finish in 16 career Richmond starts is his best on any track – and also the best among all active drivers. He’s finished in the top five in 12 of those 16 starts. There is no mystery with Busch at Richmond: he’s simply the best there is right now.

Last week at Kansas, he lost control of his car when the bad combination of being loose and high wind speeds proved too much. But there still is no denying what he’s done in the Gen-6 car this season, with a series-leading five top-five finishes. The run looks very similar to how he left off in 2012, when he finished the season with seven top fives in his final 10 starts.

Saturday night's Richmond race runs through Busch, but it's still worth discussing a few other drivers that could pull off the upset.

Read More Here....Final Richmond Driver Ratings