By Jared Turner

Joey Logano is seeking redemption at Richmond, after his spring 2017 win at Richmond was deemed “encumbered” by NASCAR. Now, Logano needs to win to punch a ticket into the playoffs.

No one is feeling more pressure at Richmond than NASCAR’s 14-time most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., who must win this race to earn a playoff berth in his final season.

A three-time Richmond winner, Denny Hamlin is the defending race winner of the fall Richmond event.

There was a time several years ago when Kyle Busch practically owned Richmond. Busch has consistently had one of the fastest cars in the second half of 2017.

Kyle Larson has just one top-10 finish in seven starts at Richmond, but that finish — a second-place showing — came one year ago.

Driver To Beat: Denny Hamlin

Team To Beat: Joe Gibbs Racing

Sleeper: Erik Jones