Entering last season, Jimmie Johnson’s record at Richmond included one top 10 and an average finish of 21.2 in 10 races at the venue that hosted its first race as a dirt track in 1953.

The Car of Tomorrow changed all of that, as the 48 car cruised to back-to-back Virginia victories — leading 105 laps while beating Kyle Busch to the line on a late restart in May and leading 104 laps in a relatively easy win in September.

Last season was not the first time Busch had been forced to settle for a runner-up finish at RIR with the checkers within reach. The younger Busch brother led 248 laps before losing to Kevin Harvick in 2006 and has five top-5 finishes in only six career runs at Richmond. Expect Kyle to win sooner rather than later — matching older bro Kurt, who won in the fall of 2005.

Although two-time Richmond winner Jeff Gordon has not won here since 2000, he did lead the most laps in both runs last year. Gordon led 114 laps from the pole in May and 191 laps in September — resulting in consecutive fourth-place finishes.

Denny Hamlin is nearly as consistent as Gordon at his home track. He clicked off finishes of third and sixth in his CoT after runs of second and 15th in 2006. He has this one circled on the calendar.

And don’t forget Kasey Kahne, who has produced four top-10 finishes — including a win in May 2005 — when he led 242 laps and an eighth in a deficient Evernham CoT last September.

FANTASY STALL
Looking at Checkers
It’s Jeff Gordon’s turn.
Pretty Solid Pick
Hard to argue with JJ’s ’07 sweep, although Kevin Harvick should be tough.

Good Sleeper Pick
If the Haas CNC CoTs are still solid, Jeremy Mayfield could be an interesting pick.
Runs on Seven Cylinders
Martin Truex Jr. has zero Cup top 10s at Richmond.
Insider Tip
Look for teams to pull out all the stops in September. It’s go or go home for some.

KEEP AN EYE ON...
Clint Bowyer In four career Cup starts, Bowyer has yet to finish worse than 12th at the Virginia short track.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. With three Cup wins at RIR already on the résumé, Junior will suddenly have the equipment to keep up with Jeff, Jimmie and Co.

Kevin Harvick The September ’06 victor has six consecutive top-10 finishes at Richmond with a pair of sevenths in last season’s CoT events.

David Ragan Any rookie who earns a third-place finish in only his second visit to a track in a Cup car deserves a second look. So it is with Ragan.

The September Race It’s the regular season finale where drivers are transferred into the Chase, and it’s run under the lights on a Saturday night. Give credit where credit is due: This race is one NASCAR got right.