NASCAR Cup Series

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in what is arguably his best season in several years. Currently seventh in points and is all but locked in to the Chase. He has 14 top-10’s and five top-5’s. The question is -Is it good enough?

This past week the NASCAR silly season still had a full head of steam. The major announcement this week was from Richard Childress Racing. RCR announced that Jeff Burton would not return as the driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet. Burton cited the fact that, “…. There was a lot of funding that wasn’t in place.” Later that same day, the team announced that Caterpillar would return for the 2014 season, though the number of races for the sponsor was not announced.

MICHAEL WALTRIP, team owner, Michael Waltrip Racing - What would it mean to have all three MWR teams compete for the championship? "We're certainly proud that our cars -- all three -- have a chance to race for the championship. If Brian (Vickers) wins tomorrow night -- that could do it. We come here focused on winning the race with all three cars and it would be a really cool evening for our first one-two-three finish of Michael Waltrip Racing."

Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion is one of three Ford drivers with a chance to make the 2013 Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Biffle met media members at Richmond International Raceway to discuss his chances.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M's Heritage Chocolate Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - What is your outlook for the race? "Our outlook is certainly different than what it was a year ago. It's just the opportunity to come in here and try to run well and continue to develop our program. This place here is similar to a Loudon (New Hampshire Motor Speedway) or similar to a Phoenix so you tend to try to run some of the same stuff so whatever we can try to learn here this weekend we can sort of translate over to those places."

CHAD KNAUS, CREW CHIEF NO. 48 LOWE’S/KOBALT TOOLS CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Richmond International Raceway and discussed the birth of Jimmie and Chani Johnson’s second daughter, Regan Smith practicing and qualifying the car, Jimmie racing Saturday night and other topics.

Since the first season of NASCAR’s Chase format, the last race of the “regular season” has been and at the three-quarter mile short track at Richmond International Raceway. Richmond has provided several fantastic finishes that made some drivers’ seasons a success and left others licking their wounds as they came to the realization that they were not eligible for a series championship.

JEFF GORDON: Well, after last year, this is going to be easy. We went through so much last year that I think it allows us to be more relaxed, be more prepared knowing that you got to race as hard as you can till the final lap, till you cross that start/finish line. It can change every split second.

JAMIE McMURRAY: When I think about Richmond, it always seems like the unexpected can happen here. It always produces a little bit of drama. So I wouldn't expect this year to be any different.

RYAN NEWMAN: To me, everything is like an ordinary race weekend. Once the checkered flag drops, it all changes. We have to do the same thing that we chose and want to do back in Daytona for the 500, at Phoenix and Vegas, everything else. That is the same task at hand. That's to win the race.