NASCAR Sprint Cup: Wild Crashfest at Richmond Reveals 2011 Chase Roster

It didn't take long after the patriotic pre-race festivities for the dramatic crashes to begin at Richmond International Raceway in a race that included those contending for the Chase.

Clint Bowyer took his No. 33 Cheerios car for a spin on Lap 6, but looked to be okay until Dale Earnhardt Jr. tangled with Matt Kenseth and Junior hit Bowyer, causing considerable damage to the front of the No. 88.

Several other cars were caught up in the crash as drivers checked up. Denny Hamlin had pretty heavy damage on his No. 11 Fed Ex Toyota that required multiple pit stops. He restarted in 40th place.

Kasey Kahne was caught up in two crashes that were not of his making on laps 27 and 53. The Red Bull No. 4 was junk and hauled to the garage.

It was imperative for Earnhardt Jr. to finish 20th or better to make the Chase and Tony Stewart needed to end the race 18th or better to keep his Chase hopes alive.

Despite having the No. 24 set-up from Jeff Gordon's car under the No. 88, Earnhardt Jr. was put a lap down at the quarter-way point of the race. His heavily taped car struggled as he ran in 28th place.

Junior and his team kept battling back with his damaged car and his 16th place finish accomplished what the Hendrick team knew they had to do.

It was a night of paybacks, three-wide racing, comebacks with damaged cars and the waving of the yellow flag. By the end of the race, there were 15 caution flags.

Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch, who have a bit of history at other tracks, tangled twice causing them to spin. The second time, Johnson's payback move sent him to the garage for repairs, costing him some 34 laps.

Penske Dodges were looking good as Kurt Busch continued fighting his way back to the front pack of cars despite his spins.

Brad Keselowski got his Blue Deuce near the front and battled for second position with hopes of breaking into the top 10, but he fell back a bit as the race headed to the finale.

David Ragan kept his hopes alive with his UPS Ford, as he moved into the top 20 of the point standings and ran in the top 10. The strength of the No. 6 just wasn't enough to garner a win.

Kevin Harvick apparently already felt lighter after announcing KHI would merge the Nationwide team with Richard Childress Racing and the truck teams would be dismantled, shop and assets sold.

Harvick led the most laps with his Budweiser No. 29 Chevrolet. His plan to concentrate on Cup racing was already working, even though he will run the KHI teams through the balance of this season.

When the checkered flag dropped on the Wonderful Pistachios 400, Harvick was headed to Victory Lane with his fourth win of the season, which gives him 12 bonus points when the Chase begins.

Carl Edwards finished second, Jeff Gordon third, David Ragan fourth and Kurt Busch brought his No. 22 to a fifth place finish despite all his challenges during the race.

The contenders for the NASCAR Sprint Cup title will consist of the eight drivers who were already locked in. Stewart will secure the ninth position and Earnhardt Jr. captured 10th place.

The wild card slots will be filled as predicted with Keselowski in the 11th slot followed by Hamlin in the final 12th position.

It was a wild finale to the 26-week pre-season of the Cup series and a preview of the battles to come during the Chase, which begins at Chicagoland Speedway next week.