Richmond Raceway

Coordinates: 37°35′30″N 77°25′15″W / 37.59169°N 77.42091°W / 37.59169; -77.42091
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Richmond Raceway
"America's Premier Short Track"
"Strawberry Hill"
"Action Track"
File:Richmond Raceway.png
Richmond International Raceway as seen from the stands.
Richmond International Raceway as seen from the stands.
LocationHenrico County, Virginia, United States
Time zoneUTC−5 / −4 (DST)
Coordinates37°35′30″N 77°25′15″W / 37.59169°N 77.42091°W / 37.59169; -77.42091
Capacity50,000[1]
OwnerInternational Speedway Corporation
OperatorInternational Speedway Corporation
OpenedOctober 12, 1946
Former namesRichmond International Raceway (1989–2017)
Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway (1969–1988)
Virginia State Fairgrounds (1964–1968)
Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds (1955–1963)
Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds (1946–1955)
Major eventsMonster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Toyota Owners 400 (April)
Federated Auto Parts 400 (September)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
ToyotaCare 250 (April)
Go Bowling 250 (September)
Websiterichmondraceway.com
D-shaped oval (1988–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.75 miles (1.21 km)
Turns4
Banking14° in turns
8° on frontstretch
2° on backstretch
Race lap record0:15.3197 seconds (176.244 mph) (Sam Hornish Jr., Team Penske, 2005, IndyCar)
NASCAR Cup racecars before the start on the 1/2 mile configuration in September, 1984
The pits during a 1985 NASCAR Cup race

Richmond Raceway (RR) is a 0.75 miles (1.21 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

Richmond Raceway is one of only a few tracks to host all of its events at night. The track sold out 33 consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races. The sellout streak ended in September 2008 partially due to the economic downturn, though the major factor in ticket sales was the impact of Tropical Storm Hanna.[2]

Richmond has hosted the final "regular-season" race, leading up to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, each year since the concept was introduced in 2004. However, it was announced late in 2017 that Richmond would be moved into the playoffs for the 2018 season.

In 2010, the Raceway introduced a state-of-the-art video scoring tower that boasts more LED square footage than any other in the motorsports industry. The cap features four high definition LED screens that measure 38-feet wide by 24-feet high. The screens broadcast live race action and pre-produced video and graphics. The stem shows running order and has the ability to rotate through the entire field.

History

Racing in Virginia

Racing sports has a long tradition in Virginia, dating back to colonial English times.[3] From 1898 to World War I, the Deep Run Hunt Club the Northside area of Ginter Park was the site of the club's somewhat annual steeplechase race.[4] After a decade hiatus, the annual races were moved to Curles Neck in 1928 on the south side of Richmond.[4]

World War II

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, all auto racing was suspended due to WWII. From 1942 to 1945 no events were contested, banned by the U.S. government primarily on account of rationing.

Races resume

The 1946 AAA Championship Car season was unique in that it was the first post-war IndyCar race and because the Atlantic Rural Exposition had built a new state fairgrounds at the old Strawberry Hill Farm near Ginter Park.[5][6][7] The ½ -mile [8] dirt track would be suitable for both annual "Strawberry Hill" horse races and car races, and was known as the "Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds Track", "Strawberry Hill",[9] and "Strawberry Hill Raceway" [10] On October 12, 1946, Ted Horn gained the distinction of winning the track's first race in an open-wheel Indy-style car.[11]

Strawberry Hill Raceway joins national racing circuit

Two years later, when the NASCAR schedule was being formed, this short track joined several others on the circuit.[12] In 1953, the track began hosting the Grand National Series with Lee Petty winning that first race in Richmond.[13] The original track was paved in 1968.[13] In 1988, the track was re-designed into its present D-shaped configuration.[11]

The name for the raceway complex was "Strawberry Hill" until the Virginia State Fairgrounds site was bought out in 1999 and renamed the "Richmond International Raceway". The Strawberry Hill Races, which are a series of steeplechase horse races were formerly held the third Saturday of April at the Richmond Raceway Complex. In 2001, the races were moved to Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia's first Thoroughbred racetrack.[14]

Richmond Raceway Complex

Former track logo

Richmond Raceway is located at the Richmond Raceway Complex, which is an 1,000-acre (4.0 km2), multi-purpose facility.

The Richmond Raceway Complex also hosts the Intergalactic Bead Show, Virginia Golf Show, Bassarama, the Richmond Home and Garden Show, the RV and Camping Expo, the Richmond Boat Show, the Richmond Classic Sports Card Show, the East Coast Sawmill and Logging Equipment Expo, the Craftsmen Classic Spring and Christmas Shows, Bizarre Bazaar Spring and Christmas Shows and other various arts and craft events.

Outdoor festivals currently hosted by the Richmond Raceway Complex include the 102.1 "The X" chili cook-off, the ACCA Temple Pork Festival and concerts featuring local and national recording artists.

Outdoor festivals that have been held there included the Virginia State Fair, the Richmond Highland Games and Celtic Festival, the March of Dimes Bikers for Babies, the K95 Country Music Festival and the Virginia Food Festival.

NASCAR-sanctioned races

Richmond Raceway is home to two NASCAR races in both the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series.

There are a pair of spring races, usually held on the last weekend of April. The Xfinity race is currently 250 laps (187.5 miles) and is named the ToyotaCare 250.[15] The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race is currently 400 laps (300 miles) and is named the Toyota Owners 400.[15]

There are a pair of fall races, usually held on the second weekend of September. The 250 lap (187.5 miles) Xfinity race is currently sponsored by Virginia 529 College Savings Plan and is named the Go Bowling 250.[16] The 400 lap (300 miles) fall Cup race is currently sponsored by Federated Auto Parts and is named the Federated Auto Parts 400.[17] Under the current schedule it is the final race before the playoff-style Chase for the Championship series of races that determine the Cup champion begins, and the last chance for drivers to earn a place in the Chase.

Until 2005, Richmond was home to a fall Craftsman Truck Series race. Starting with the 2006 schedule, that date was transferred to Talladega Superspeedway. Until 2009, Richmond was also home to a June IndyCar Series race. In July 2009, it was announced that IndyCar would not return to the Raceway in 2010.

Timeline

  • October 12, 1946: driving an open-wheel car, Ted Horn wins the first race at the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds on a ½-mile dirt track.
  • April 19, 1953: Lee Petty wins the first NASCAR "Grand National Division" race with an average speed of 45.535 mph (73.281 km/h) at the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds.
  • 1955: Paul Sawyer and famed racer Joe Weatherly buy the property. The track becomes known as the "Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds".
  • March 10, 1964: The first Richmond race to run under temporary lights
  • The track operated as a 0.542-mile (872 m) oval through the spring race of 1988. During the spring and summer of 1988, the track was reconfigured to its current layout of 0.75 miles (1.21 km). The first race under the new configuration was in September 1988. Lights were added for the fall 1991 race.
  • The track was previously called "Strawberry Hill",[14] the "Virginia State Fairgrounds", and the "Richmond Fairgrounds Speedway"; the annual fair made the track a popular venue.
  • Richard Petty holds the record for most wins at Richmond with 13; David Pearson, Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace are tied for second with six.
  • Richmond is the site of the famous battle between Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip in 1986. Earnhardt tapped Waltrip in turn four and both drivers hit the wall, handing the lead to Kyle Petty who avoided the crash and won.
  • Richmond hosted International Race of Champions events, in 2004 and 2005, won by Matt Kenseth in 2004 and Mark Martin in 2005, with 2005 being the final season of the series.
  • Site of Tony Stewart's first career Cup Series win, in 1999.
  • Site of Kasey Kahne's first career Cup Series win, in 2005.
  • June 11, 2017: Track president Dennis Bickmeier announces RIR would be renamed to "Richmond Raceway", part of a $30 million renovation of the infield known as Richmond Raceway Reimagined.[18]

Races and events

2018 Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway

Current races

Previous races

Records

  • Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying: Jeff Gordon, 20.674 sec. (130.599 mph, 210.180 km/h); 2013
  • Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race: Dale Jarrett, 2 hrs. 45 min. 4 sec. (109.047 mph, 175.494 km/h); 1997
  • NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying: Kyle Busch, 20.874 sec. (129.348 mph 208.165 km/h); 2004
  • NASCAR Xfinity Series race: Dale Jarrett, 1 hr. 47 min. 13 sec. (104.928 mph, 168.685 km/h); 1995
  • IndyCar Series qualifying: Sam Hornish Jr., 15.3197 sec. (176.244 mph, 283.637 km/h); 2005

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series records

(As of 9/10/11)

Most wins 13 Richard Petty
Most top fives 34 Richard Petty
Most top tens 41 Richard Petty
Most starts 63 Richard Petty
Most poles 8 Richard Petty, Bobby Allison
Most laps completed 21135 Richard Petty
Most laps led 5136 Richard Petty
Highest avg. start* 3.7 Bobby Isaac
Highest avg. finish* 5.0 Kyle Busch

* minimum 10 starts

References

  1. ^ [wtvr.com/2018/01/25/richmond-raceway-to-replace-seats-in-turns-3-and-4/. Richmond Raceway to Replace Seats in Turns 3 and 4 wtvr.com/2018/01/25/richmond-raceway-to-replace-seats-in-turns-3-and-4/. Richmond Raceway to Replace Seats in Turns 3 and 4]. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "History".
  4. ^ a b Peter Winants (17 August 2000). Steeplechasing: A Complete History of the Sport in North America. Derrydale Press. pp. 45–. ISBN 978-1-4617-0822-3.
  5. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (28 November 1953). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 1–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=yRenra9nfccC&lpg=PA81&dq=strawberry%20hill%20farm%20richmond%20Laburnum&pg=PA81#v=onepage&q=strawberry%20hill%20farm%20richmond%20Laburnum&f=false page 81 of Colonial Downs and More by Francis Marion Bush
  7. ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=3QPyAAAAQBAJ&lpg=PA45&dq=Richmond%20strawberry%20hill%20Raceway%201946&pg=PA45#v=onepage&q=Richmond%20strawberry%20hill%20Raceway%201946&f=false page 45 of Steeplechasing: A Complete History of the Sport in North America By Peter Wijnants
  8. ^ "Richmond International Raceway Packages — Track Seating Chart, Race Tickets & Hotel Travel Package to RIR".
  9. ^ Lew Freedman. "Encyclopedia of Stock Car Racing". p. 641.
  10. ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=9Id0bHVBYEsC&lpg=PA43&dq=Richmond%20strawberry%20hill%20dirt%20Raceway%201946&pg=PA43#v=onepage&q=Richmond%20strawberry%20hill%20dirt%20Raceway%201946&f=false page 43 of "Nascar" By Nigel Kinrade, Steve Casper
  11. ^ a b http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20150420/COLUMNISTS/304209982 "In 1988, the track was totally redesigned and banked into its presence D-shaped configuration."
  12. ^ "Memories from Richmond". The-Dispatch.com.
  13. ^ a b "Richmond International Raceway".
  14. ^ a b Strawberry Hill Races Traditions[dead link]
  15. ^ a b "Toyota to Sponsor Two NASCAR Races at RIR in April 2013 - Richmond International Raceway".
  16. ^ Announcing entitlement for Fall Nationwide race 2009 [dead link]
  17. ^ "Federated Auto Parts 400 - Richmond Raceway".
  18. ^ Phillips, Michael (July 11, 2017). "NASCAR's rebranded Richmond Raceway announces $30 million infield redevelopment project". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  19. ^ "Winston Twin 200".
  20. ^ "Richmond International Raceway".

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richmond International Raceway.
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