By Joseph Wolkin Richmond International Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier loves greeting fans who enter his ¾-mile facility. Indeed, he loves when the crowd roars when the green flag waves. For the man who runs the track, implementing new ideas is just a small step in achieving a greater goal. According to a lot of fans, the racing was better at Richmond this year. What do you feel like was the biggest difference maker? “I think it definitely has something to do with the package and the tires. I know everyone was really pleased with the tire Goodyear brought in April. We saw…

It’s a whole new ballgame now. With the 16-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field finally set, NASCAR’s season-ending 10-race playoff begins Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway. The winner of Sunday afternoon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 will become the first driver to punch his ticket into the Round of 12, which commences with Chase Race No. 4 of 10. So which Chase drivers have the best chance of beginning the Chase with a trip to Victory Lane? Kevin Harvick is a two-time Chicagoland winner, but hasn’t triumphed at the 1.5-mile track since 2002. Brad Keselowski has captured two of the past…

By Jared Turner Ryan Newman Was Over The Line Tony Stewart admitted to deliberately trying to wreck Ryan Newman in Saturday night’s regular-season finale at Richmond, after making contact with Newman more than once earlier in the race. But Newman’s decision to verbally blast Stewart – his former boss and teammate – was wrong on many levels. Said Newman moments after being taken out by Stewart: “I guess he thought he was in a sprint car again; did not know how to control his anger.” Newman’s “sprint car” comment was a none-too-subtle reference to Stewart’s role in the tragic incident that resulted…