Drivers, crew and media will all be in Richmond with heavy hearts this weekend, but in honor of their old friend, David Poole, they will carry on.

David passed away on Tuesday of a heart attack, shortly after completing his Morning Drive show on Sirius Satellite Radio.  He was also a reporter for the Charlotte Observer, covering NASCAR events for 13 years.  He was known for his outspokenness and desire to say what he thought needed to be said.  It wasn't always the most popular point of view, but he really didn't care.  Through all of that, he was respectful of the fans, and always had the time to stop and say hello.  He would joke that a fan shouldn't have their picture taken with him, as it would break their camera, yet he always complied.  It has been said that it will take 3 people to replace him at the Observer and like Benny Parson on television, finding a replacement on SIRIUS will be no easy task.

David, you will be missed.

Richmond is a short track, in that familiar D shape, but this one is only .75 miles in length.  It's wide enough to allow the cars to pass and has a long enough straightway to allow for some good speeds.  They won't come close to the speeds at Talladega, thank God, but it allows for strategic passing heading into the corners, depending on how well the car is set up. 

This week, it is the "Russ Friedman 400".  Crown Royal sponsors a race each year where they choose a fan who then becomes the "sponsor" of the race.  It's a fun promotion, allowing one lucky fan to garner a little more than their 15 minutes of fame.

Kevin Harvick runs well here, as do Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, and yes, Dale Earnhardt Jr.  Each of these drivers need a win.  Carl almost had the win last weekend at 'dega, as we all know by now, but instead went for a wild ride.  Fans in the stands were injured, resulting in knee jerk reactions to "Blow up Talladega" or "Take Talladega OFF the Sprint Cup Circuit" or "Do away with the Restrictor Plates".  The most logical suggestion has involved moving the seats further back from the fence and reinforcing the fence with another layer of material of a finer mesh.  Only NASCAR knows what they will do, but in my mind, we already saw the worst case scenario at Talladega.  Yes, 8 fans suffered injuries related to Carl's crash, but to take the race off the circuit is asinine.

I digress.  Dale Jr had a strong finish at 'dega and seemed to have gotten the pit stops under better control.  Kevin Harvick was running strong, as usual at Talladega, until he was collected in the lap 8 first "Big One".  With the crew changes this week, there might be a renewed energy in both the Harvick and the Clint Bowyer pits.

Jeff Gordon's wreck last week meant he relinquished the Points Lead to Busch....uh, that would be KURT Busch, not younger brother Kyle, who sits in 6th, 175 points behind his older brother.  Jeff only dropped one place in the standings, and sits only 5 points back, but Kevin dropped 5 spots and sits in 20th.  Matt Kenseth, who started the season winning the first two races, has fallen back to 12th.  Dale Jr. jumped four spots in the standings last weekend and sits in 15th.  He, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne are within 20 points of each other, all vying for that last chase position.