The NASCAR Busch Series will open the Richmond International Speedway race weekend tonight when drivers take to the three-quarter-mile track at 7:30 p. m., on ESPN2, the Motor Racing Radio Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 128. Richard Childress Racing driver Jeff Burton rolls into the event coming off his third win of the season earned Sept. 1 at California Speedway.
Burton advanced six positions in the series standings to 13th following his 10th top-five and 13th top-10 series finish of the season and has collected top-five finishes in three of his past four series starts. NEXTEL Cup Series regulars Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer respectively rounded out the race top five in California. Series standings leader Carl Edwards will start the Richmond race with a 654-point lead over second-place driver and defending series champion Kevin Harvick.
Edwards owns four wins, 13 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes this season, but has limped to an average finish of 25th in his past five outings. He has led the series standings since the third event of the season held in Mexico City, Mexico. Bowyer won the May 4 event at the track earlier this season that Hamilin started from the top spot on the grid.
The top 10 in the series standings entering the race are: Edwards (Leader: 3,828 points, Roush Racing, Ford), Harvick (Second: -654, Kevin Harvick, Inc., Chevrolet), David Reutimann (Third: -657, Michael Waltrip Racing, Toyota), Jason Leffler (Fourth: -786, Braun Racing, Toyota), David Ragan (Fifth: -853, Roush Racing, Ford), Bobby Hamilton, Jr. (Sixth: -1,024, Team Rensi Motorsports), Stephen Leicht (Seventh: -1,137, Robert Yates Racing, Ford), Marcos Ambrose (Eighth: -1,151, Wood Brothers/ JTG Racing, Ford), Greg Biffle (Ninth: -1,176, Roush Racing, Ford), and Mike Wallace (10th: -1,231, Phoenix Racing, Chevrolet).
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