Not surprisingly, the two drivers who have won the last four races at Richmond International Raceway have turned the Crown Royal 400 into a bit of a match race as the halfway point looms.
Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin have combined to lead well over half of the laps completed so far in their Toyotas. Busch got the lead from Hamlin during a cycle of pit stops and has yet to relinquish it throughout a sometimes spirited duel between the duo.
The man on the biggest move tonight been Brian Vickers, who started 37th but has raced his way into the top-10. Matt Kenseth, who started 33rd, also runs amongst the top-10.
It has been a miserable night for perennial series champion Jimmie Johnson, off the lead lap and outside the top-25 in the running order. A former three-time winner at Richmond, Johnson worked as high as 14th during a cycle of green flag pit stops, but has languished near his starting position of 30th.