The NASCAR Cup Series’ first short track points race of the season is scheduled Sunday at Richmond Raceway, a presence on the NASCAR schedule since 1953.
Tyler Reddick is coming off his first win of the season last Sunday at Circuit of the Americas. He gave Toyota its first victory of the year.
MORE: William Byron is No. 1 in NBC Sports NASCAR Power Rankings
The Richmond race is the first of three consecutive events on short tracks. The series will race on the dirt surface at Bristol Motor Speedway April 9 and the Martinsville Speedway half-mile April 16.
A look at drivers to watch Sunday at Richmond:
FRONTRUNNERS
Tyler Reddick
- Points position: 13th
- Best seasonal finish: 1st (COTA)
- Past at Richmond: No finish better than 11th in five career starts
Reddick showed the promise of what could be a strong season by dominating Sunday’s race at COTA. His victory boosted him five spots in points to 10th. Richmond, a track where he has never led a lap, will be a test.
William Byron
- Points position: 3rd
- Best seasonal finish: 1st (Las Vegas 1, Phoenix 1)
- Past at Richmond: Led 122 laps in April race last year
Byron had a top car in this race last season but was passed by Denny Hamlin for the win with five laps remaining. Byron finished third, his career-best run at Richmond.
Denny Hamlin
- Points position: 14th
- Best seasonal finish: 6th (Auto Club, Atlanta 1)
- Past at Richmond: Four consecutive top-four runs, including a win
Hamlin can be counted on to challenge for the win every time the tour rolls into Richmond. He has won there in 2009, ’10, ’16 and ’22.
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
Daniel Suarez
- Points position: 17th
- Best seasonal finish: 4th (Auto Club)
- Past at Richmond: Best career finish is 7th
After opening the season with top-10 runs at Daytona, Fontana and Las Vegas, Saurez has plummeted into the 20s in three consecutive races. Richmond will present another big challenge. Suarez has five consecutive finishes of 16th or worse there.
Ryan Preece
- Points position: 29th
- Best seasonal finish: 12th (Phoenix 1)
- Past at Richmond: Top finish of 20th in five career starts
Preece’s first full-time season in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 has started poorly. He has been sidelined by accidents in three races and was more upset than most after being parked by a multi-car crash Sunday at COTA.
Alex Bowman
- Points position: 1st
- Best seasonal finish: 3rd (Las Vegas 1, COTA)
- Past at Richmond: Three top 10s, including a win, in past five races
Bowman seems poised to score his first victory of the season. He has been among the tour’s most consistent drivers to date, with five top-10 finishes in six races.