2015 Media Guide - Richmond International Raceway
Transcription
2015 Media Guide - Richmond International Raceway
RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY 2015 Media Guide RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY WWW.RIR.COM TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL INFO General Info 1 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 30 NSCS Career Track Records .......................31 Dennis Bickmeier, President ....................... 3 NSCS Race Records.................................. 32 “Under the Lights” ..................................... 4 NASCAR XFINITY Series Media Info 5 NXS Career Track Records ........................ 34 Credentials ................................................. 6 NXS Race Records .................................... 35 Media Parking ............................................ 7 33 TRACK INFO Track Staff ................................................. 2 MEDIA INFO Richmond International Raceway hosts two NASCAR weekends every year. Media Center .............................................. 8 NSCS Photographer .............................................. 9 Event Information ......................................10 Weekend Schedule.....................................11 NXS Special Events .......................................... 12 In the Community ..................................... 13 Track Info 14 Track Facts ................................................15 Track Records ............................................16 RIR Timeline ..............................................17 Race Recaps ............................................ 21 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 1 Aimee Turner Director of Public Relations Billy Fellin Multimedia Communications Manager April Lewis Creative Services Manager SALES & MARKETING Dennis Bickmeier President Diane Cahoon Director of Ticket Operations Deborah Clemons Director of Community Affairs Kristen Kelejian Ticket Operations Coordinator Jacque Frame Executive Assistant to the President Megan McGinnis Driscoll Director of Consumer Marketing Ellen-Carter Stagg Consumer Marketing Coordinator Shawn Stack Director of Accounting Fan Engagement Coordinator Christina Bryant Staff Accountant Justin Johnson Marketing & Sales Coordinator SALES & MARKETING OPERATIONS John Moreland VP of Sales and Marketing Jeff Hedrick Sr. Director of Operations Louis Gilmore Sr. Director of Business Development Megan Hazzard Sr. Manager of Event Sales & Service Kent Winter Director of Corporate Partnership Pepper Wilson Event Sales & Service Manager Mike Richards Sr. Manager of Business Development Tiny Dawson Guest Services Manager Scott Byer Manager of Business Development TRACK INFO ACCOUNTING NSCS ADMINISTRATION NXS MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO RIR TRACK STAFF Nicolle Guinan Corporate Sales & Service Executive Suzanne Longest Operations Coordinator Linwood Burrow Director of Track Operations Matt Wise Track Operations Maintenance Ed Booth Mechanic 2 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE Ryan Trapp Communications Coordinator Tommy Johnson Maintenance Manager Jimmy Hays Event Operations Maintenance Julius Atkins Event Operations Maintenance Melvin Lambert Event Operations Maintenance Dennis Eggleston Event Operations Maintenance Charles Nelson Track Operations Maintenance Manuel Gonzalez Track Operations Maintenance George Honeycutt Track Operations Maintenance Randy Camden Painter Bruce McCauley Electrician RIR TRACK PRESIDENT Dennis Bickmeier A native Ohioan, Bickmeier is a graduate of the prestigious Ohio University Scripps School of Journalism. He also holds a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University. TRACK INFO NSCS His career with International Speedway Corporation initially began in 1999 as the Public Relations Director at Auto Club Speedway. During his time at the Southern California-based speedway, Bickmeier became an adjunct faculty member in the University of San Francisco’s Sports Management class teaching the Strategic Communications and Sports Public Relations elective. clients like the AT&T Champions Classic, Phoenix International Raceway and Brener, Zwikel and Associates. MEDIA INFO Dennis Bickmeier became the third President of Richmond International Raceway in July 2011. Prior to joining RIR, Bickmeier spent nearly four years as the Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing at Michigan International Speedway, where he oversaw communications, corporate partnership sales and ticket sales and operations. GENERAL INFO President: 2011-Present Twitter: @RIRPrez Email: [email protected] Family: Wife, Erin, and children: Joshua (8), Kaitlyn (5), Nathan (3) NXS Over his 24-year Sports Management Career, Bickmeier spent time with the former Anaheim Angels, now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, both Walt Disney Company-owned franchises at the time. He has also held positions with the Big West Conference, Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bickmeier has also served as a sports public relations and marketing consultant for 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 3 NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO UNDER THE LIGHTS RIR has featured some of the best night racing around since lights were added to the facility in 1991. One of the most historic tracks in racing is also one of the most popular among drivers, fans and media. Year after year, Richmond International Raceway puts on the best short track show, and some of the best racing anywhere. weekends, featuring the Nationwide and the Sprint Cup Series. Each of the four races are held at night “under the lights.” Richmond International Raceway will also host its first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race in April. Richmond’s unique, ¾-mile layout produces tremendous side-by-side racing, yet drivers obtain high enough speeds to give it a superspeedway feel. That rare combination still allows for the beating and banging that fans love, with the drivers’ skill playing a major role in winning. The fall Sprint Cup Series race is one of the marquee events on the schedule. Since the 2004 inception of The Chase, NASCAR’s 10-race playoff for the championship, RIR has hosted the “cut-off” race before The Chase. After the 26th race, only 12 drivers will be eligible for The Chase, making Richmond’s second Sprint Cup event “One Last Race to Make the Chase.” In the words of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series icon Rusty Wallace, those characteristics help make racing at the track and the experience fans have while visiting, simply “perfect.” RIR has been a fixture on the NASCAR schedule since 1953, when Lee Petty won the first NASCAR “Grand National Division” race on the ½-mile dirt track known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds. Since then, the track has undergone four name changes, five configuration changes and one surface change, from dirt to asphalt. The current ¾-mile, D-shaped oval was constructed in 1988, when the facility also took on its current name. Lights were added to the facility in 1991. RIR annually hosts two NASCAR Doubleheader 4 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE In 2010, RIR installed a state-of-the-art video scoring tower as part of the track’s continuing effort to improve the fan experience. Visible from every grandstand seat at America’s Premier Short Track, the entire structure stands 153 feet tall and features four LED video screens at the peak. At 153-feet high, it is the tallest in all of motorsports. Join Richmond International Raceway’s social media following for updates and news throughout the season by following us on Twitter (@ RIRInsider) or liking us on Facebook (facebook. com/richmondinternationalraceway). MEDIA INFO 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 5 NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO CREDENTIALS To request credentials for any events held at Richmond International Raceway, email Director of Communications Aimee Turner ([email protected]) with your request. Please include the name(s) of who will be attending the event, the media outlet represented, a telephone number they can be reached at and number of parking passes requested. Internet and other new media requests should inlcude a hyperlink to their site’s homepage on their requests as well. All credential requests should be submitted at least three weeks prior to the event. Credentials, stickers and parking passes can be mailed a few weeks before our race weekends (early-April, late-August), or held at the Credentials Office on property. Located inside the Service Gate off Richmond-Henrico Turnpike, the Credentials Office is open from 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday of event week, 6:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. the day of our Friday event and 10:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. the day of our Saturday event. Different credentials allow for different access times and locations. Please adhere to the guidelines listed below: • Infield Pass (I) - Access to Grandstands and Infield only. None to the Garage or Pit Road areas. • Pit Pass (P) - Access to Grandstands, Infield and Pit Road. Access to Pit Road expires one hour before the green flag waves for Sprint Cup events. Not allowed into the garage areas. • COLD Pass - Access to Infield, Pit Road and both Garage areas. Access to Pit Road and the Sprint Cup Garage expires one hour before the green flag waves for Sprint Cup events. Does not allow admission into the Grandstands. • HOT Pass - Access to Infield, Pit Road and both Garage areas. Does not allow admission into the Grandstands. • Stickers - Credentials must have corresponding stickers in order to access the following areas: Media Center (MC), Pre-Race Ceremonies (PRE), Victory Lane (VL), TV Locations (TV), Roof (RF), Press Box (PB), Suites (STE), TORQUE Club (TORQUE) and other Hospitality Areas (H). Failure to follow these rules and regulations might result in removal from the race, and could impace future ability to obtain credentials. 6 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE MEDIA PARKING AZ AL EA AV EN UE GATE GATE 7 8 GENERAL INFO GATE 9 HENRICO PARKING TURN 2 TU RN 3 TU RN 1 INFIELD PARKING TU RN 4 START H FINIS GATE HM 6 OND GATE -HE 10 NRI OLI TPK CAR CO NA E SERVICE GATE AV E TRACK CREDENTIALS OFFICE MAIN GATE GATE 2 GATE 4 PRESS BOX PARKING The Press Box parking lot is located adjacent to Lot D just outside of the Turn 1 Gate. Vehicles with a Press Box Parking pass should enter the property through Gate 6 on Carolina Ave. HENRICO PARKING Henrico Parking is located behind the backstretch, adjacent to Lot F. Vehicles with a Henrico Parking pass should enter the property at either Gate 10 or the Service Gate, located off of Richmond-Henrico Turnpike, and follow the signage to the lot. A tram will run from the lot to the Infield regularly throughout the day. NOTE: For quick entry into the lots, please hang your parking pass on your rearview mirror BEFORE you arrive at RIR. 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 7 NXS Due to congestion in the Infield, Infield Parking permits are not distributed for Friday night events. Henrico-Infield Parking passes allow holders to park in the Henrico lot Friday and the Infield on Saturday. Parking in the Infield is limited, so passholders will be allowed entry based on space. Additionally, proper credentials are required for ALL passengers in vehicles using the Infield parking space. Vehicles with an Infield Parking pass should enter the property at either Gate 10 or the Service Gate, located off of Richmond-Henrico Turnpike, and follow the signage to the Infield. NSCS INFIELD PARKING TRACK INFO EAS T LAB URN UM AVE MEDIA INFO RIC PRESS BOX PARKING TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO MEDIA CENTER MEDIA CENTER HOURS Media Center will open at noon on Thursday, April 24, 7 a.m. on Friday, April 25, and 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 26. The Media Center has a deadline room and a photo/PR room. Seating in the deadline room is reserved in advance. Meals will be served in the media center throughout the day, and are intended for working media only. INTERNET ACCESS High-speed Internet access is available at each seat in the Media Center and Press Box by either using the blue network cables provided or through wireless service. We also have an on-site tech team from ISC that manages our system. To access the wireless Internet, please use the following username and password: Username: Media Password: ISCtrk$! NSCS MEDIA AVAILABILITIES NASCAR and other industry personnel will hold media availabilities in the Media Center on event weekends. The top-three finishers from all races and top-three finishers from qualifying are among the expected availabilites each weekend. NXS PHOTO ROOM & MEETINGS A Photo/PR room can be accessed through the main entrance to the media center. You must have a media center sticker to access this area. In order to shoot throughout RIR, you must have the appropriate photo vest. Photographers MUST attend a photo meeting to get their vest. Meetings will be held in the Photo Room at the following times: • Friday, April 24: 7:25 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. • Saturday, April 25: 3:00 p.m. 8 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE PHOTOGRAPHERS INFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY GRANDSTANDS PHOTOGRAPHY Shooting from the grandstands is permitted on Friday night races only. Photographers are allowed to shoot from the concourse area, so long as they shoot from their knees. This includes during cautions, as to not impede the sightline of our guests onto the track and pit road. REMOTE CAMERAS All remote cameras or Go-Pros have to be approved by the Track Photographer John Harrelson ([email protected]) and NASCAR prior to the event. backstretch GATE 60 DOGW N TO W ER 2 2 GAT 3 D turn E 50 N TUR OO IDEO SCORING TOWER IN IO N T U R HENRICO MEDIA INFO PHOTO PLATFORMS GENERAL INFO Vested photographers can shoot from any empty pit boxes during events. In order to shoot from a working pit box the photographer MUST have prior approval from the team’s crew chief. Photographers are only allowed to shoot between the first and last pit stall on pit road. Going up into the turns is NOT permitted. Only NASCAR photographers are allowed to shoot from the flagstand. I N ES CEEDIA NT ER OD WO 1 N PIT ROAD 4 T U R OG R D N L NN S TA R SP RIN EL tu GA rn TE 4 70 T FINISH T CO TOW ER SUIT CONT ES ROL TO WER VIRG INIA IS ALT CO H O NW E AL TOR CO TH QUE O AL NW E E AN I CLU TH NE B TOW ER 1 n 0 tur ATE 4 G FOR TRETCLOVERS H GATE NSCS FRONTS ONWE TRACK INFO T LO A GATORADE ICTO R LANE U P E DESTR IA N T CO U D SUNOCO FUEL STATION GARAGE SUIT NASCAR FINIT GARAGE AREA DOGWOO OLD DO S NAS CA GARR SPR AGE INT C G AR ARE UP A AG E NXS There are five (5) elevated platforms located in the Infield where vested photographers are permitted to shoot from (as indicated by the green squares on the map above). Photo vests must be worn at all times when using the photo towers. Space on the towers is limited, please work with your fellow photographers to ensure everyone is able to get the shots they need. Photo towers are for working photographers only. Do not use the towers as a resting spot to watch the race. DOGWOOD TOWER Additionally, vested photographers are allowed to shoot from the roof on top of the Dogwood Suites. Photographers can access the roof via the elevator located just inside the Turn 1 Gate. Shooting is allowed from the fully enclosed rooftop platforms, indicated in the above image. 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 9 This April marks the third running of the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, which has showcased some of the best shorttrack, “under the lights” racing in NASCAR. Last year’s winner and Daytona 500 champ Joey Logano will try and defend his crown, earned in last year’s thrilling finish. Date: April 25, 2015 Start Time: 7:00 P.M. Broadcast: FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM 90 Race Length: 400 laps (300 miles) Qualifying: Crispy M&M’s Pole Qualifying Toyota and RIR announced last February that Toyota would continue their entitlement sponsorship of both Spring races for future seasons. Previous Winners: Joey Logano (2014); Kevin Harvick (2013) NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO EVENT INFORMATION Like Saturday’s event, April 24th will mark the third consecutive running of the ToyotaCare 250. Young guns, like defending series champion Chase Elliott, will take on battle-tested veterans like defending race winner Kevin Harvick in the series where names are made. The 2015 ToyotaCare 250 marks the first time NASCAR’s new title sponsor XFINITY comes to Richmond. Previous Winners: Kevin Harvick (2014); Brad Keselowski (2013) 10 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE Date: April 24, 2015 Start Time: 7:30 P.M. Broadcast: FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM 90 Race Length: 250 laps (187.5 miles) Qualifying: WRIC TV8 Pole Qualifying WEEKEND SCHEDULE GENERAL INFO MEDIA INFO TRACK INFO NSCS NXS 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 11 GENERAL INFO SPECIAL EVENTS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO TRACK TAKEOVER POWERED BY NATIONWIDE Track Takeover is back and this time it’s powered by Nationwide! All TOYOTA OWNERS 400 ticket holders can put their feet on the pavement just hours before the green flag waves! Sign the start/finish line, check out interactive and educational displays, You’ll also get to hear from Nationwide 88 driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., during an exclusive Q&A session! 2ND ANNUAL POST-RACE PARTY All ticketholders are invited to the Post-Race Party on the Track, featuring music and a prime spot to see the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup celebration. Come out onto the Action Track after the Federated Auto Parts 400 and partywith the 16 drivers who raced their way into the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The drivers will be introduced on stage, followed by a group photo, confetti celebration, glimmering lights, and eye-catching pyro. TURN LEFT GOLF CLASSIC PRESENTED BY A preeminent charity golf event in the region, the Turn Left Golf Classic is a partnership with the Richmond Flying Squirrels and Richmond International Raceway. This fun day on the course benefits the charity arms of both organizations and helps us continue our mission of making a difference in the Commonwealth. NXS DATES TO KNOW Track Laps May 17 Turn Left Golf Classic June 15 Virginia529 College Savings 250 Sept. 11 Federated Auto Parts 400 Sept. 12 Track Laps Sept. 27 12 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE IN THE COMMUNITY GENERAL INFO RIR Cares is a Donor Advised Fund of The NASCAR Foundation Each year, RIR Cares provides support to non-profit organizations and charitable causes to help better the Greater Richmond Metropolitan Area and the surrounding communities. Thanks to the success of fundraising events such as Track Laps and the Turn Left Golf Classic, RIR Cares raised $26,994 in 2014. Along with helping these organizations monetarily, the RIR staff accumulated more than 600 volunteer hours in 2014, participating in programs such as Meals on Wheels, Drive for Life Blood Drive, YMCA Bright Beginnings, Read Across America, Bowl for the Green for Junior Achievement, monthly Henrico County Neighborhood Cleanup, and many, many more. MEDIA INFO RIR CARES TRACK INFO NSCS Richmond International Raceway is proud to partner with NASCAR in their “Race to Green” program, which launches the Monday of our April race week. This program asks fans, industry members and partners to join NASCAR and RIR in reducing their impact on the environment by raising awareness, teaching how to live a more sustainable lifestyle and acting on green initiatives. With Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 24) raising nationwide awareness heading into our race weekend, we’ll carry that momentum into the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 and NASCAR’s Race to Green on April 25. 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 13 NXS NASCAR RACE TO GREEN SPECIAL EVENTS TRACK INFO 14 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE TRACK FACTS GENERAL INFO TRACK INFO NSCS NXS 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 15 MEDIA INFO TRACK: Three-Quarter Mile “D” Shaped Oval WIDTH: 60 feet with a 10-foot apron. BANKING: 14° in turns; 8° degrees at starting line; 2° degrees on 860-foot back stretch and 1290-foot front stretch RADIUS OF TURNS: Turns One and Four: 1198.68. Turns Two and Three: 365.00 PIT ROAD: 64-foot width with 43 concrete pit stalls 28’ x 19’. PARKING: RIR has more than 800 acres of free parking. SAFER WALLS: Added in 2003. Each section of the SAFER wall measures 28’ wide, and the walls extend 30” out from the original concrete wall. The SAFER walls stand 40.5” high. TICKETS: 866-455-RACE (7223) or visit www.rir.com WEBSITE: www.rir.com. Fans can email questions or comments to [email protected]. MEDIA: Infield media center with two deadline rooms and two radio rooms. Public relations trailer, television/radio trailer and photographers’ trailer. The Press Box for deadline writers is located on the suite level in Turn 1. Five infield photo towers and two locations on the roof above the Press Box are available for photographers, along with a photo trailer adjacent to the media center. LOCATION: 600 East Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23222. MEDIA CONTACTS: Aimee Turner, Director of Public Relations: 804-228-7645 (O), 804-513-0733 (Mobile), [email protected] Billy Fellin, Multimedia Communications Manager: 804-228-7507 (O), 804-852-0071 (Mobile), [email protected] Ryan Trapp, Communications Coordinator: 804-228-7614 (O), 804-543-5384 (Mobile), [email protected] TRACK RECORDS Richmond International Raceway Track Records NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES NASCAR XFINITY SERIES Fastest Qualifier Race Average Jeff Gordon Vallejo, CA 20.674 seconds 130.599 mph September 6, 2004 Federated Auto Parts 400 Dale Jarrett Newton, NC 2 hours, 45 minutes, 04 seconds 109.047 mph Sept. 6, 1997 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 Fastest Qualifier Race Average Kyle Busch Las Vegas, NV 20.874 seconds 129.348 mph May 13, 2004 FUNAI 250 Dale Jarrett Newton, NC 1 hour, 47 minutes, 13 seconds 104.928 mph Sept. 8, 1995 Autolite Platinum 250 NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO - 3/4-mile Configuration - 16 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE RIR TIMELINE There are many unforgettable races and decisions that helped make Richmond International Raceway America’s Premier Short Track. Below is a timeline of some of the key events in Richmond International Raceway history. April 19, 1953: Lee Petty wins the first NASCAR “Grand National Division” race with an average of 45.535 mph at Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds. Petty led from flag to flag in the 100-mile, two-hour, elevenminute, 46-second race. Buck Baker wins the pole in an Oldsmobile at a speed of 48.465 mph. Petty collects $1,000 for the win, while last-place finisher Coleman Lawrence collects $25. Since it is well before the days of electronic timing and scoring, the box score indicates a tie for 16th place between Ralph Liguori and Slick Smith. 1959: The track begins hosting two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events each season and has continued to do so since. April 23, 1961: Richard Petty wins his first of a record 13 races at Richmond. September 7, 1969: Track is re-measured at .542-mile, a distance that would remain constant until the track was rebuilt to its current ¾-mile configuration in 1988. Race length is 462 laps. September 13, 1970: Richard Petty wins the first of seven consecutive and nine out of 10 straight races at Richmond. Race is lengthened again to 500 laps, 271 miles. February 27, 1972: Bobby Allison wins the first of five consecutive pole positions at Richmond. Both Allison and Richard Petty would go on to capture an all-time track record eight poles and Allison would post seven victories, second only to Petty’s 13. Finishing 20th in his first Richmond race is Richard Childress. September 10, 1972: Bobby Allison taps Richard Petty from behind, sending “The King” up on the guardrail, where he hits a backup fence and bounces back onto the racetrack. Petty never loses his composure or the lead and goes on to win the race, his fifth in a row at Richmond. September 10, 1961: Fall races at Richmond are lengthened from 100 miles to 125 miles (250 laps). April 1, 1962: Spring races are lengthened from 100 miles to 125 miles (250 laps). NSCS September 9, 1962: Fall races are now 150 miles (300 laps). Joe Weatherly wins the first of two consecutive races at Richmond. The box scores indicate he won each race by “1 lap plus.” Attendance is estimated at 15,000. NXS March 10, 1964: Many think the first Richmond night race was contested in September 1991; however, this race was run on a Tuesday night with temporary lights after a Saturday night rain-out. 1967: Track becomes known as “Virginia State Fairgrounds.” March 24, 1968: David Pearson wins the final race on dirt at the facility. Pearson won six career races at Richmond. September 8, 1968: Richard Petty wins the first race on the newly paved .625-mile track. The race is 187.5 miles (300 laps). TRACK INFO June 5, 1960: “The King” Richard Petty competes in his first race at Richmond. He finishes sixth. Included in the group in front of Petty was Ned Jarrett (third), Glen Wood (fifth) and Petty’s father, Lee, who won the race. April 13, 1969: Track is re-measured at ½-mile. Race length is 250 miles (500 laps). MEDIA INFO 1955: Paul Sawyer and legendary racer Joe Weatherly buy the property. Track is known as “Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds.” 1969: Track becomes known as “Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway.” GENERAL INFO October 12, 1946: Driving an open-wheel car, Ted Horn wins the first race at Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds on a ½-mile track. “The King” has a long track-record of success at Richmond International Raceway. 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 17 NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO RIR TIMELINE February 24, 1974: NASCAR shortens several races by 10% to help offset a national energy crisis. Shortened from 271 to 243.9 miles, Bobby Allison snaps Richard Petty’s streak of wins at Richmond and edges “The King” by four seconds, the closest margin of victory to that point. October 12, 1975: Darrell Waltrip records his first win at Richmond, beating Lennie Pond by more than a lap. Benny Parsons won the pole but finished 18th. Surprisingly, Richard Petty’s dominance comes to an end. He finishes last (28th) after an engine problem. March 7, 1976: Race is shortened to 216.8 miles (400 laps). The 400-lap distance has remained through today, even when the track was reconfigured to ¾-mile in 1988. March 11, 1979: Dale Earnhardt makes his debut at Richmond. February 24, 1980: The purse at Richmond tops $100,000 for the first time. Darrell Waltrip wins the race in his famous Gatorade Chevrolet and collects $17,800. Waltrip posted six career wins at Richmond. February 20, 1982: Tommy Houston wins the inaugural “Late Model Sportsman Division” race at Richmond. The series would become known as the Busch Series, Grand National Division in 1984. February 26, 1984: The legend of Ricky Rudd begins. A little more than a week after sustaining serious facial injuries in a crash at Daytona and then running a qualifying race there using tape to hold his eyes open, Rudd shows up at Richmond with two black and blue eyes at the Miller High Life 400. Rusty Wallace makes his Richmond debut and finishes 16th. February 24, 1985: Dale Earnhardt earns his first victory at Richmond, just .3 seconds ahead of Geoff Bodine. February 23, 1986: With just three laps to go, race leader Dale Earnhardt clips the rear quarter panel of Darrell Waltrip after Waltrip overtakes him in Turn Three. The accident sends Waltrip into the guardrail and Kyle Petty into the lead and onto Victory Lane for his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory. Petty joins his father Richard and grandfather Lee as winners at Richmond. Richmond International Raceway is the only track where all three have won races in NASCAR’s top division. September 12, 1987: Mark Martin wins the first of a record five NASCAR Busch Series races at Richmond. From 1969 to 1988, RIR was known as Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway 1988: Track becomes known as “Richmond International Raceway.” February 21, 1988: A massive reconstruction begins, as the track is reconfigured to ¾-mile and the seating capacity is expanded to 50,000. Bulldozers, including one driven by Richard Petty, begin work on the project immediately following completion of the Pontiac Excitement 400. March 26, 1989: Rusty Wallace wins the first of a record six races at Richmond on the ¾-mile configuration. February 25, 1990: Mark Martin wins his first and only NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway (to date), edging Dale Earnhardt by three seconds. Martin’s car fails to pass post-race inspection due to an illegal part on the car. Martin is docked points that would end up costing him what would (to date) be his only championship title. September 7, 1991: Harry Gant wins the first NASCAR Winston Cup Series race under permanent lights at Richmond. March 8, 1992: With a capacity crowd of 58,000, Richmond International Raceway sells out for the Pontiac Excitement 400. September 10, 1994: Ted Musgrave completes a pole sweep but fails to finish in the top 10 for either race. To date, no other driver has ever won the pole for both Richmond races in the same year since. September 7, 1995: Terry Labonte wins the first 18 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE RIR TIMELINE December 1, 1999: International Speedway Corporation purchases Richmond International Raceway and the surrounding property from Paul Sawyer. June 29, 2001: Jaques Lazier wins the pole for the inaugural SunTrust Indy Challenge at a blistering speed of 160.417 mph (16.831 seconds). It is the Indy Racing League’s first appearance on a track shorter than one mile. May 3, 2002: Ward Burton sets a new NASCAR Winston Cup Series track record with a lap of 21.194 seconds (128.388 mph) during qualifying for the Pontiac Excitement 400. May 15, 2004: Fans pack Richmond International Raceway, marking the 25th consecutive sellout for NASCAR’s top series, now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. September 11, 2004: Jeremy Mayfield wins the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 in dramatic fashion, as he races his way into the top 10 and earns a berth in the inaugural “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.” September 9, 2006: Kasey Kahne finishes third and claims the 10th spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Tony Stewart, who was previously in the top 10 in points, is knocked out of The Chase. May 6, 2007: Richmond International Raceway hosts its 31st consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sellout, which coincides with the all-new Commonwealth Tower and TORQUE Club. Sports history is made, as a fan’s name is part of the official race title: the Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400 race. Jimmie Johnson records his first Richmond victory in daylight, as the race was postponed one day due to inclement weather. TRACK INFO October 2002: Seating capacity is expanded to 105,000. General parking, handicapped parking, guest services booths and pedestrian walkways are added or expanded. Spectator gates are widened, prominent gate signage is constructed, an elevator is added and the service program for guests with disabilities is improved. Fall 2003: 1,400 seats are added for the 2004 season, raising the total capacity to 107,097. A drainage system and repaving project is added as part of the capital improvement project. Also added are a 55-acre parking lot, an additional spectator care center and a new driver/owner RV lot. MEDIA INFO September 8, 2001: Virginia native Ricky Rudd loses the lead after being bumped from behind by Kevin Harvick in the waning laps of the race. With just six laps to go, Rudd bumps Harvick back from behind to re-take the lead en route to a trip to Victory Lane for his second win at Richmond. Summer 2003: Improvements for the drivers are made, including SAFER wall barriers, the new Infield Care Center, freshly concreted pit stalls, a centrally located spotter’s stand and a new perimeter racetrack fence. GENERAL INFO NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Richmond. September 11, 1999: Future NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Tony Stewart wins his first ever NASCAR Winston Cup Series race by defeating teammate Bobby Labonte. NSCS NXS 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 19 NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO RIR TIMELINE May 3, 2008: The Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400 featured one of the wildest endings in Richmond history. After Denny Hamlin led virtually the entire race in front of his hometown crowd, a flat tire gave Dale Earnhardt Jr. the lead. Earnhardt Jr.’s last win, prior to this race, came at the inaugural Crown Royal 400 in May 2006. Victory looked to be within his grasp, but he and Kyle Busch made contact in the closing laps, as Clint Bowyer squeaked by the two and captured the checkered flag. “Junior Nation” subsequently voiced their displeasure with Kyle Busch. September 7, 2008: Jimmie Johnson successfully defends his Chevy Rock & Roll 400 title in a race that was delayed one day due to inclement weather from Tropical Storm Hanna. The victory was Johnson’s third in four races at Richmond and gave him momentum leading into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He would go on to win his third consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship. May 2, 2009: Kyle Busch completes the Richmond weekend sweep, winning the Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400 a night after also winning the Nationwide Series race. Prior to Busch, the last driver to sweep a weekend at Richmond was Kevin Harvick in September 2006. September 12, 2009: “One Last Race to Make The Chase” once again lives up to its billing as one of the most important and thrilling races on the entire Sprint Cup Series schedule. The Chase field is unsettled until the final lap, as Brian Vickers edges Kyle Busch by just eight points for the 12th spot in NASCAR’s playoffs. Denny Hamlin finally takes the checkered flag in a Sprint Cup Series race at his hometown track. January 15, 2010: Track officials break ground on a new state-of-the-art video scoring tower, which debuted during the Spring NASCAR weekend. Designed by Panasonic, the entire structure stands 153 feet tall and features four LED video screens at the peak. At 153-feet high, it is the tallest in motorsports. Each video screen measures 38’ wide by 24’ high.a new state-of-the-art video scoring tower, which debuted during the Spring NASCAR weekend. Designed by Panasonic, the entire structure stands 153 feet tall and features four LED video screens at the peak. At 153feet high, it is the tallest in motorsports. Each video screen measures 38’ wide by 24’ high. Summer 2012: Richmond celebrates its 60th year hosting NASCAR. 20 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE September 6, 2013: Brad Keselowski sweeps the NASCAR Nationwide Series races ar Richmond, winning both the ToyotaCare 250 in the Fall, and the Virginia529 College Savings 250 in the Spring. The Spring race also marked the 1,000th race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Summer 2014: Richmond launches two new fanfocused events, Track Takeover in April and and PostRace Party in September, both to industry-recognized success. RACE RECAPS GENERAL INFO May 5, 1957: Paul Goldsmith takes the lead from Fireball Roberts on Lap 160 and leads a pack of Fords to victory in front of 4,000 spectators. The race, which paid $700, ended in only 1 hour, 36 minutes, 5 seconds. Lee Petty - April 19, 1953 April 29, 1956: An estimated crowd of 5,000 sees Buck Baker start from the pole and lead 198 of 200 laps at Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds. Baker takes home the first-place prize of $1,100. June 5, 1960: “The King” Richard Petty competes in his first race at Richmond and finishes sixth. Richard’s father, Lee, takes the lead on Lap 183, finishing ahead of NASCAR legends Rex White and Ned Jarrett. October 23, 1960: Speedy Thompson drives a Wood Brothers Ford to victory in front of an estimated 7,500 spectators. The margin of victory is listed at ¼ lap over Junior Johnson. At 1 hour, 34 minutes, 8 seconds, the race is the shortest in Richmond history. April 23, 1961: Richard Petty wins his first of a record 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 21 NXS May 22, 1955: Tim Flock takes the lead on lap 78 of 200 in his Chrysler, winning the race in 1 hour, 50 minutes, 30 seconds. Only two other drivers finished on the lead lap: Fonty Flock and Lee Petty. September 13, 1959: Cotton Owens leads from the pole to the checkered flag, besting Lee Petty at an average speed of 60.382 mph. Virginian Junie Donlavey fields a car for Runt Harris, who finishes fifth. NSCS April 19, 1953: Lee Petty wins the first race in the NASCAR division that today is known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty wins the $1,000 prize with an average speed of 45.535 mph over a ½-mile dirt track known as Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, leading 200 laps to win. June 21, 1959: Tom Pistone leads all 200 laps in his Rupert Safety Belt T-Bird, beating Virginia legend Glen Wood. The race marks the beginning of Richmond hosting two Cup events per season, which has remained intact through today. TRACK INFO September 14, 1958: Speedy Thompson wins the pole at 62.915 mph and reclaims the lead on Lap 188 to edge Lee Petty for the win. The famed Joe Weatherly leads 21 laps before a head gasket blows. MEDIA INFO Richmond International Raceway will host its 118th NASCAR Cup race on April 25 when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers take the green flag in the TOYOTA OWNERS 400. Entering the 2014 season, only Daytona International Speedway (133) and Martinsville Speedway (129) have hosted more points-paying Cup events. NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO RACE RECAPS Richmond International Raceway - April 29, 1956 13 races at Richmond, leading Laps 19-200. Only 12 cars ran the race and Petty won by more than a lap. September 10, 1961: Joe Weatherly wins the first 250-lap, 125-mile race at Richmond on the ½-mile dirt track. In a Pontiac, Weatherly led every lap en route to a $1,350 prize. Promoter Paul Sawyer triples the prize money which helps more than double the field from 12 to 25. April 1, 1962: Rex White wins the Richmond 250 in a race that was shortened by rain to 180 laps. The race included six different leaders, including Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson. September 9, 1962: Fall races are lengthened again to 150 miles (300 laps), although Spring races remain at 125 miles for years to come. Joe Weatherly leads every lap of the Capital City 300 among a field of 33, in front of an estimated crowd of 15,000. Weatherly earns $2,000 for the win. April 7, 1963: Joe Weatherly wins his second consecutive race at Richmond, again winning by more than a lap. The race featured ten lead changes among four drivers. September 8, 1963: Joe Weatherly makes a bid for another win, leading 145 laps before an engine problem. Ned Jarrett wins by more than two laps at an average speed of 66.339 mph. March 10, 1964: A historic race at Richmond. Many think the first Richmond night race was contested in September 1991; however, this race was run on a Tuesday night with temporary lights after a Saturday rain-out. David Pearson takes the checkered flag after assuming the lead on Lap 215 from Richard Petty. Competing in his first race at Richmond, Ralph Earnhardt finishes 22nd. September 14, 1964: Cotton Owens finishes more 22 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE than a lap ahead of David Pearson to win the Capital City 300 in front of an estimated 8,500 fans. The race, which was #53 of a record 62-race schedule, featured five cautions for 23 laps. March 7, 1965: Junior Johnson won the pole and took the lead for good on Lap 141 to win the Richmond 250, 18 seconds ahead of Buck Baker. September 18, 1965: David Pearson wins by more than a lap after starting second behind Dick Hutcherson. Thirty-seven cars—more than any previous race at Richmond—enter the field. May 15, 1966: David Pearson leads the final 132 laps to win the Richmond 250 ahead of Richard Petty in front of a 4,500-person crowd. September 11, 1966: David Pearson wins his third consecutive race at Richmond, beating Buck Baker by more than five laps in a Dodge. April 30, 1967: The race marks the first at the newlynamed Virginia State Fairgrounds. Richard Petty starts on the pole and wins by 20 seconds over Bobby Allison. September 10, 1967: Richard Petty wins his second consecutive race at Richmond in a race that included 10 cautions for 71 laps. March 24, 1968: David Pearson wins the final race on dirt at Richmond. Richard Petty’s bid for his third win in a row ends with an engine problem midway through the race. September 8, 1968: Richard Petty gets back to his winning ways on the .625-mile paved track in the 187.5-mile Capital City 300. The race marks the first paved race at Richmond. April 13, 1969: Prior to the Richmond 500, the track is re-measured at ½-mile and the race is lengthened RACE RECAPS to 250 miles (500 laps). Before the season, the track becomes known as Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. David Pearson wins his sixth career race at Richmond. March 1, 1970: Richard Petty wins his second consecutive pole at Richmond but finishes 15.1 seconds behind race winner James Hylton. Petty led the first 303 laps. March 7, 1971: Dave Marcis starts from the pole but finishes 10 laps down to race-winner Richard Petty. An estimated crowd of 14,500 was on hand. November 14, 1971: Richard Petty’s dominance continues, winning by more than a lap ahead of Bobby Allison. Petty led the final 299 laps. February 25, 1973: Buddy Baker gives up the lead on Lap 437 and finishes second behind Richard Petty. The race features 20 lead changes among eight drivers. September 9, 1973: Richard Petty wins the Capital City 500 in 4 hours, 13 minutes, 17 seconds (longest race in Richmond history), more than two laps ahead of runner-up Cale Yarborough. Darrell Waltrip, despite starting second in his first race at Richmond, completes only four laps and finishes 26th after an accident. February 24, 1974: NASCAR shortens several races by 10% to help offset a national energy crisis. Shortened from 271 to 243.9 miles, Bobby Allison snaps Richard Petty’s streak of wins at Richmond and edges “The MEDIA INFO September 13, 1970: “The King” Richard Petty begins his dominance of Richmond, winning the first of seven consecutive races. The race is lengthened again to 500 laps, 271 miles. Petty led all but 12 laps and finished more than two laps ahead of Bobby Allison. September 10, 1972: Bobby Allison taps Richard Petty from behind, sending “The King” up on the guardrail, where he hits a backup fence and bounces back onto the racetrack. Petty never loses his composure or the lead and goes on to win the race, his fifth in a row at Richmond. Petty went on to win two more consecutive races and a total of 13 at the track. GENERAL INFO September 7, 1969: The track is re-measured at .542mile, a distance that would remain constant until the track is rebuilt to its current ¾-mile configuration in 1988. The race length is 462 laps and Bobby Allison takes home the $5,000 first-place prize. February 27, 1972: Bobby Allison wins the first of five consecutive pole positions at Richmond. In his first race at Richmond, Richard Childress finishes 29th. Petty again defeats Allison by more than a lap. TRACK INFO NSCS NXS Cale Yarborough - September 12, 1976 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 23 NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO RACE RECAPS King” by four seconds, the closest margin of victory to that point. Waltrip edges Bobby Allison for the win. Richard Petty falters again with car troubles and finishes 20th. September 8, 1974: Richard Petty was back in Victory Lane after a caution-filled Capital City 500 seen by approximately 20,000 fans. Petty won the pole and bested Benny Parsons by a half lap. There were 13 cautions for 123 laps. March 11, 1979: Dale Earnhardt makes his debut at Richmond. Bobby Allison starts from the pole and leads the first 156 laps, but Cale Yarborough is too strong and wins by six seconds over Allison. A very tame race, there are only two cautions for eight laps. February 23, 1975: “The King” Richard Petty wins his ninth out of ten straight races at Richmond—this one by more than six laps. September 9, 1979: Polesitter Dale Earnhardt records his first top-five at Richmond (fourth), but finishes a lap behind race winner Bobby Allison. The race ends in only 2 hours, 41 minutes, 23 seconds and Allison leads 369 laps. October 12, 1975: Darrell Waltrip records his first win at Richmond, beating Lennie Pond by more than a lap. Benny Parsons won the pole but finished 18th. Surprisingly, Richard Petty’s dominance comes to an end. He finishes last (28th) after an engine problem. March 7, 1976: The Richmond 400 is shortened to 216.8 miles (400 laps). The 400-lap distance remains through today, even after the track is reconfigured to ¾-mile in 1988. Dave Marcis, who is running a distant fifth when a light rain starts with 10 laps to go, remains on the track when the leaders pit after a caution. The rain intensifies and Marcis goes on to win the race without ever leading a Green Flag lap. September 12, 1976: Cale Yarborough wins the Richmond first-place prize, which tops $10,000 for the first time. Yarborough edges Bobby Allison by a car length in his Junior Johnson Chevrolet before a crowd of 20,000. February 27, 1977: Cale Yarborough wins his second consecutive Richmond race. The race was shortened to 245 laps due to rain and the race ended under red flag conditions with Darrell Waltrip and Benny Parsons in second and third, respectively. Virginia racing legend Ricky Rudd makes his Richmond debut and finishes 26th. September 11, 1977: Neil Bonnett takes the checkered flag seven seconds ahead of Richard Petty after starting second. Janet Guthrie finishes 12th for the second consecutive race at Richmond. February 26, 1978: Benny Parsons takes the lead on Lap 324 and holds on for victory, 2.6 seconds ahead of Lennie Pond. Parsons takes home a prize of $13,200. Richard Petty finished 22nd after a problem with the rear end. Dick Brooks, driving a Junie Donlavey Ford, finishes fifth. September 10, 1978: Darrell Waltrip wins a thriller in the Capital City 400. Winning by just one second, 24 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE February 24, 1980: The purse at Richmond tops $100,000 for the first time as Darrell Waltrip wins the race in his Gatorade Chevrolet to collect $17,800. He led Bobby Allison by only 1.2 seconds at the checkered flag. Rounding out a star-studded top-five are Richard Petty, Dave Marcis and Dale Earnhardt. September 7, 1980: Bobby Allison and Richard Petty compete in another classic battle. Allison comes out on top, edging Petty by two seconds before a crowd of 20,000. Cale Yarborough won the pole but completed only 145 laps. February 22, 1981: Morgan Shepherd wins the pole and leads the first 150 laps, but Darrell Waltrip hangs Bobby Allison - September 12, 1982 on for a victory ahead of Virginian Ricky Rudd. Dale Earnhardt records his fourth consecutive top-ten at Richmond. September 13, 1981: Mark Martin makes his first appearance at Richmond a memorable one. Martin claims the pole in his first try, although he finished in seventh place. Benny Parsons hangs on for a victory by three car lengths, just ahead of Harry Gant. The race, titled the Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400, is the first with a title sponsor. RACE RECAPS September 7, 1986: Tim Richmond wins the Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 just two car lengths ahead of Dale Earnhardt. Usually a force to reckon with, Darrell Waltrip finishes last after a transmission problem forces him out of the race. September 12, 1982: Bobby Allison beats Tim Richmond by 17 seconds after starting from the pole to claim victory. Morgan Shepherd, who started the race, was relieved by Dale Earnhardt, finishing 12th. March 8, 1987: Dale Earnhardt wows a crowd of 30,000 with a win, just 0.46 seconds ahead of Geoff Bodine. Starting from the pole, Alan Kulwicki finished sixth on the lead lap. September 13, 1987: Alan Kulwicki wins his second consecutive pole but doesn’t fare well in the Wrangler February 27, 1983: Ricky Rudd starts from the pole but has engine problems and finishes 28th out of 32. Dale Earnhardt leads 81 laps and finishes 1.1 seconds behind winner Bobby Allison. MEDIA INFO September 11, 1983: A first-place prize of $39,925 goes to Bobby Allison, as he wins his second race at Richmond in a row. Ricky Rudd finishes less than a second behind Allison, followed by polesitter Darrell Waltrip. September 9, 1984: Darrell Waltrip starts from the pole for the third consecutive race at Richmond and leads 321 laps on his way to a victory worth $46,550. Ricky Rudd finishes three seconds behind. September 8, 1985: Twenty-five of 30 cars were running when Darrell Waltrip edged Terry Labonte by a car length for victory in front of 28,000 fans. Geoff Bodine started from the pole but finished seventh. February 21, 1988: The race marks the first at the newly-named Richmond International Raceway, the name the track still carries today. Neil Bonnett wins the final race at the ½-mile configuration. Following the race, a massive reconstruction begins, as the track is reconfigured to ¾-mile and the seating capacity is expanded to 50,000. Bulldozers begin work on the project immediately after the Pontiac Excitement 400. September 11, 1988: Davey Allison wins the first race on the newly-paved, new ¾-mile configuration. Allison claimed the pole, running a lap at 122.850 mph (21.978 seconds)—more than 28 mph faster than the pole speed in February 1988. March 26, 1989: Rusty Wallace wins the first of six races at Richmond International Raceway. Alan Kulwicki is runner-up, finishing 0.41 seconds behind Wallace. A sellout crowd of 50,000 was on hand. September 10, 1989: Rusty Wallace wins his second consecutive race at Richmond International Raceway, 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 25 NXS February 23, 1986: With just three laps to go, race leader Dale Earnhardt clips the rear quarter panel of Darrell Waltrip after Waltrip overtakes him in Turn Three. The accident sends Waltrip into the guardrail and Kyle Petty into the lead and onto Victory Lane for his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory. Petty joins his father Richard and grandfather Lee as winners at Richmond. Richmond International Raceway is the only track where all three have won races in NASCAR’s top division. Jeans Indigo 400. Kulwicki finishes 23rd after a crash and Dale Earnhardt wins his second consecutive race at Richmond. NSCS February 24, 1985: Dale Earnhardt earns his first victory at Richmond, just 0.3 seconds ahead of Geoff Bodine. Darrell Waltrip was once again on the pole and finished third. Dale Earnhardt celebrates after winning his second consecutive race at Richmond on September 13, 1987. TRACK INFO February 26, 1984: The legend of Ricky Rudd begins. A little more than a week after sustaining serious facial injuries in a crash at Daytona and then running a qualifying race there using tape to hold his eyes open, Rudd shows up at Richmond with two black and blue eyes at the Miller High Life 400. Rusty Wallace makes his Richmond debut and finishes 16th. GENERAL INFO February 21, 1982: The 400-lap race is shortened to 250 laps due to rain. Dave Marcis claims the victory after taking the lead on Lap 246. Darrell Waltrip, starting from the pole, is credited with a 27th-place finish in front of 28,000. RACE RECAPS NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO beating Dale Earnhardt to the checkered flag by more than seven seconds. Bill Elliott finished 18th after starting from the pole. February 25, 1990: Mark Martin wins his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway, edging Dale Earnhardt by three seconds. Martin’s car fails to pass post-race inspection due to an illegal part on the car. September 9, 1990: It’s the same two drivers but a different story at the Miller Genuine Draft 400, as Dale Earnhardt edges Mark Martin by a second. Ernie Irvan starts from the pole and finishes 12th, a lap down. The race featured 17 lead changes among 6 drivers. February 24, 1991: Dale Earnhardt wins his fifth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway. His average speed of 105.397 mph is a record at the time. Starting from the pole, Davey Allison finishes 12th. Ricky Rudd finishes second in his Tide Chevrolet. September 7, 1991: Harry Gant wins the first race “under the lights” at Richmond International Raceway, the second of four straight races he wins that month, giving him the nickname “Mr. September.” Rusty Wallace - September 9, 1995 To date, no other driver has ever won the pole for both Richmond races in the same year since. Terry Labonte’s Kellogg’s Chevrolet edges Jeff Gordon by 1.79 seconds after taking the lead on Lap 373. March 8, 1992: Bill Elliott edges Alan Kulwicki by 18 inches for the win. Elliott started from the pole and led three times for a total of 348 laps. March 5, 1995: Terry Labonte wins his second consecutive race at Richmond, this time edging Dale Earnhardt by 1.25 seconds. Labonte earns $82,950 for the win after starting 24th. Pole winner Jeff Gordon finishes 36th. September 12, 1992: Rusty Wallace wins his third race at Richmond International Raceway at the Miller Genuine Draft 400, driving the Miller Genuine Draft Pontiac in front of a sold-out crowd of 64,000. September 9, 1995: Rusty Wallace wins for the fifth time at Richmond International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt, who started first, finishes third—one spot behind previous winner Terry Labonte. March 7, 1993: Davey Allison holds off Rusty Wallace at an average speed of 107.709, a record at the time. The race marks the debut of Jeff Gordon, Kenny Wallace and Bobby Labonte at Richmond. March 3, 1996: Eleven drivers take turns leading the field a record 25 times. Jeff Gordon takes the lead for good on Lap 351, beating Dale Jarrett by 0.56 second. Terry Labonte’s success at Richmond continues with another pole and finishes eighth. September 11, 1993: Rookie Bobby Labonte wins the pole but falls back, giving way to another Rusty Wallace victory in the Miller Genuine Draft 400. Bill Elliott finishes second, followed by Dale Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd. September 7, 1996: Ernie Irvan finds Victory Lane again by beating Jeff Gordon by only 0.10 second. Mark Martin wins the pole and Dale Earnhardt finishes a disappointing 20th. March 6, 1994: Ernie Irvan finishes ahead of Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt to win the Pontiac Excitement 400 and $66,175. Ted Musgrave starts from the pole, while Jeff and Ward Burton, Joe Nemechek and Jeremy Mayfield make their first NASCAR Winston Cup Series starts at Richmond International Raceway. September 10, 1994: Ted Musgrave completes a pole sweep but fails to finish in the top ten for either race. 26 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE March 2, 1997: Rusty Wallace wins for the sixth and final time at Richmond International Raceway. Terry Labonte claims another pole position and only three drivers finish the race on the lead lap. September 6, 1997: Dale Jarrett sets a race record at 109.047 mph (2 hours, 45 minutes, 4 seconds) in the Exide Batteries 400. Only three caution flags fly for 16 laps. RACE RECAPS September 12, 1998: Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon hook up for the closest finish in NASCAR action at Richmond International Raceway. Burton edges Gordon by just 0.051 second after starting third. His winnings top $100,000 for the first time at Richmond. May 5, 2001: Tony Stewart takes the lead from Rusty Wallace on Lap 362 and stays there, edging Jeff Gordon by less than a second for the win. Mark Martin starts from the pole and finishes 13th. Future champion Kurt Busch finishes 18th in his rookie debut at Richmond. September 8, 2001: Virginia native Ricky Rudd loses the lead after being bumped from behind by Kevin Harvick in the waning laps of the race. With just six laps to go, Rudd bumps Harvick back from behind to re-take the lead en route to a trip to Victory Lane for his second win at Richmond. May 6, 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the Pontiac Excitement 400 by just 0.159 second ahead of Terry Labonte. Driving the Budweiser Chevrolet, Earnhardt took the lead from his father on lap 370 on his way to the checkered flag. Dale Earnhardt Sr. finished 10th. September 7, 2002: Matt Kenseth claims a $163,585 paycheck after winning the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400. Ryan Newman finishes second for the second straight race at Richmond. Rookie Jimmie Johnson won the pole and finished 13th. September 9, 2000: Dale Earnhardt is in the spotlight again, but finishes second to Jeff Gordon. May 3, 2003: Another sold-out crowd witnesses a record fifteen cautions in a rain-shortened 393-lap TRACK INFO September 11, 1999: Future champion Tony Stewart wins his first ever Cup race by edging teammate Bobby Labonte. Thirty-nine drivers are running at the finish, tied for the most in Richmond history. May 5, 2002: Tony Stewart leads only once—the final 28 laps—to take home a win. Ryan Newman’s first NASCAR Winston Cup Series start at Richmond International Raceway is a memorable one as Newman leads 48 laps and finishes second to Stewart. Jimmie Johnson finishes 31st in his rookie campaign. MEDIA INFO May 15, 1999: Dale Jarrett beats Mark Martin to the finish line by 0.616 second. Jeff Gordon starts on the pole but finishes 12 laps down. Rich Bickle climbed from 42nd to finish 10th, the greatest in improvement in starting position in Richmond history. The race would be the last for Earnhardt at Richmond International Raceway. Raybestos Rookie of the Year winner Matt Kenseth finishes 32nd. GENERAL INFO June 6, 1998: NASCAR’s top series visits Richmond International Raceway in June and Terry Labonte wins under caution ahead of Dale Jarrett and Rusty Wallace. Labonte takes the lead on Lap 398 after leading five times previously. NSCS NXS Kasey Kahne celebrates his first Cup win on May 14, 2005. 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 27 Denny Hamlin takes the checkered flag at his hometown track. September 6, 2003: Ryan Newman leads the final 124 laps for victory at the inaugural Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Jeremy Mayfield finishes second, followed by a pair of Virginians—Ricky Rudd and Jeff Burton. September 11, 2004: Jeremy Mayfield makes history in winning the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 in dramatic fashion, as he races his way into the top ten and earns a berth in the inaugural “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.” Richmond International Raceway serves as the final race before “The Chase,” reinforcing it as one of the premier stops on the circuit. NXS TRACK INFO race. Joe Nemechek came out on top, ahead of Bobby Labonte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nine cars are officially out after accidents. NSCS MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO RACE RECAPS May 15, 2004: Rookie Brian Vickers sets a new pole record at 129.983 mph (20.772), which still stands today, and finishes eighth. Dale Earnhardt Jr. completes a spectacular burnout after taking the checkered flag 1.481 seconds ahead of Jimmie Johnson. May 14, 2005: Starting from the pole, Kasey Kahne earns his first career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series victory by winning the Chevy American Revolution 400. Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch finishes fourth. September 11, 2005: Defending champion Kurt Busch wins the final race before the “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup,” finishing ahead of Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle, both of whom make “The Chase.” Kurt’s younger brother, Kyle, finishes fourth for the second straight 28 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE race at Richmond. May 6, 2006: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. edges his friend and online gaming opponent Denny Hamlin by .572 second. The win marks Earnhardt’s third victory at Richmond International Raceway. Hamlin, a native of Chesterfield, VA, makes his first Cup start at America’s Premier Short Track in front of his hometown fans. Hamlin leads 19 laps but loses his position on Lap 349. September 9, 2006: Kevin Harvick completes a perfect weekend by winning the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, one day after capturing the Emerson Radio 250 NASCAR Busch Series checkered flag. Tony Stewart misses the Chase for the first time after finishing 18th. Stewart is knocked out by a surging Kasey Kahne, who finishes third. May 5, 2007: Jimmie Johnson records his first Richmond victory in daylight, as the race was postponed one day due to inclement weather. Johnson held off teammate Kyle Busch to win the first Car of Tomorrow race at America’s Premier Short Track and continue the Hendrick dominance in COT races. September 8, 2007: Hendrick Motorsports continues its COT dominance as Jimmie Johnson wins his second consecutive Cup race at Richmond, putting to bed the concern about his bad luck at America’s Premier Short Track. May 3, 2008: The Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry RACE RECAPS September 7, 2008: Running a day late because of inclement weather, the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 is won for the second straight year by Jimmie Johnson. With the momentum heading into the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Johnson goes on to win his third consecutive series championship, tying Cale Yarborough for the most in a row. September 7, 2013: Carl Edwards edged out Kurt Busch in the final two laps to earn his first ever Sprint Cup Series win at RIR. April 26, 2014: Joey Logano unseats Kevin Harvick in a thrilling four-way battle decided in the final laps. Logano claims his first Richmond win over Jeff Gordon. September 6, 2014: Brad Keselowski takes home his first Sprint Cup Series win in dominating fashion, leading for a track record 383 laps and completing the 2014 Penske sweep of Richmond. MEDIA INFO May 2, 2009: Kyle Busch dominates the final 50 laps to win the Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400, beating Tony Stewart by more than two seconds to complete a Richmond weekend sweep. Busch also won the Friday night Lipton Tea 250 Nationwide Series race. history. April 27, 2013: Kevin Harvick vaulted from seventh to first during a Green-White-Checkered finish to pick up win of the 2013 season, and kept Juan Pablo Montoya from picking up his first ever oval win. September 12, 2009: “One Last Race to Make The Chase” again lives up to its billing. The Chase field is unsettled until the final lap, as Brian Vickers edges Kyle Busch by just eight points for the 12th spot in NASCAR’s playoffs. Denny Hamlin finally takes the checkered flag in a Cup Series race at his hometown track. TRACK INFO May 1, 2010: Pole-sitter Kyle Busch surges past Jeff Gordon on a restart with five laps remaining in the Crown Royal Presents The Heath Calhoun 400 to earn his second consecutive May Cup win at Richmond. A late-race pass in Turns 3 and 4 allows Busch to beat Gordon by .755 seconds. September 11, 2010: Local favorite Denny Hamlin clinches the top seed in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in dominant fashion, winning his second-straight September stop at his hometown track. NSCS April 30, 2011: Kyle Busch records his 3rd Sprint Cup Series victory at RIR. NXS September 10, 2011: With Chase spots on the line and tensions high, Kevin Harvick crosses the finish line just ahead of Carl Edwards to win the Wonderful Pistachios 400. April 28, 2012: Pulling away from Dale Earnhardt Jr after a restart with eight laps to go, Kyle Busch streaked to his fourth straight victory in the spring race at Richmond. September 8, 2012: Clint Bowyer edged out Jeff Gordon by 1.198 seconds for one of the tightest finishes in RIR GENERAL INFO 400 features one of the wildest endings at Richmond. After Denny Hamlin leads 381 laps in front of his hometown crowd, a flat tire gives Dale Earnhardt Jr. the lead. Earnhardt Jr.’s last win came at the inaugural Crown Royal 400 in May 2006. Victory looked to be within his grasp, but he and Kyle Busch make contact in the closing laps, as Clint Bowyer squeaks by the two and captures the checkered flag. Clint Bowyer celebrates a tight win over Jeff Gordon 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 29 SPRINT CUP SERIES 30 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE SPRINT CUP SERIES NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES TRACK RECORDS Most Poles 8, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison Most Top 5’s 34, Richard Petty Most Top 10’s 41, Richard Petty Most Wins by Car Make 36, Chevrolet Most Starts 63, Richard Petty Most Consecutive Starts Most Consecutive Pole Positions Most Consecutive Wins Most Races Led, Career Most Times Led, Career 46, Richard Petty Most Laps Led, Career 5,128; Richard Petty Car Owner Wins 15, Petty Enterprises Races Swept in Same Year 7, Richard Petty 34, Richard Petty 84, Richard Petty 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 31 NXS Jimmie Johnson (2007) Rusty Wallace (1989) Dale Earnhardt (1987) Bobby Allison (1983) Richard Petty (1967, 1971, 1972, 1973) David Pearson (1966) Ted Musgrave (1994) Alan Kulwicki (1987) Darrell Waltrip (1984) Bobby Allison (1972, 1973) Richard Petty (1970) Ned Jarrett (1960, 1964) NSCS Poles Swept in Same Year 5, Bobby Allison TRACK INFO 13, Richard Petty MEDIA INFO Most Wins GENERAL INFO CAREER TRACK RECORDS TRACK RECORDS NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO RACE RECORDS Qualifying Record 130.599 mph, Jeff Gordon, Federated Auto Parts 400, 9/6/04 Race Record 109.047 mph Dale Jarrett, Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400, 9/6/97 Most Laps Led 383, Brad Keselowski, Federated Auto Parts 400, 9/6/14 Race Winner, Fewest Times Led One (eight times). Most recently, Clint Bowyer, Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400, 5/3/08 Non-Race Winner, Most Times Led Nine, Tony Stewart, Chevy American Revolution 400, 5/14/05 Non-Race Winner, Most Laps Led 381, Denny Hamlin, Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400, 5/3/08 Most Lead Drivers 12 (four times), Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400, 5/6/07; Chevy American Revolution 400, 5/15/04; Chevy Rock & Roll 400, 9/6/03; Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400, 9/7/86 Fewest Lead Drivers One (five times). Most recently, Capital City 300, 9/9/62 Most Lead Changes 25 (twice), Pontiac Excitement 400, 3/3/96; Pontiac Excitement 400, 2/24/91 Fewest Lead Changes Zero (five times). Most recently, Capital City 300, 9/9/62 Most Cautions 15, (twice), Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400, 5/2/09; Pontiac Excitement 400, 5/3/03 Fewest Cautions Zero, Richmond 400, 3/7/76 Most Caution Laps 123 (twice), Capital City 500, 9/8/74; Capital City 500, 9/9/73 Fewest Caution Laps Zero, Richmond 400, 3/7/76 Most Drivers on Lead Lap 32, Chevy Rock & Roll 400, 9/7/08 Fewest Drivers on Lead Lap One (22 times). Most recently, Capital City 500, 10/12/75 Most Drivers Running at Finish 43, Chevy Rock & Roll 400, 9/7/08 Fewest Drivers Running at Finish Six, Grand National Race No. 17, 4/23/61 Most Laps Led by Race Winner (500 laps) 488, David Pearson, Capital City 500, 9/13/70 Fewest Laps Led by Race Winner Four, Kyle Petty, Miller High Life 400, 2/23/86 Closest Margin of Victory 18 inches, Bill Elliott defeated Alan Kulwicki, Pontiac Excitement 400, 3/8/92 Largest Margin of Victory Six laps, plus. Richard Petty defeated Lennie Pond, Richmond 500, 2/13/75 Greatest Improvement in Starting Position, Race Winner 30 (31st to 1st), Clint Bowyer, Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400, 5/3/08 Greatest Improvement in Starting Position, Non-Race Winner 32 twice: (42nd to 10th), Rich Bickle, Pontiac Excitement 400, 5/15/99; (34th to 2nd), Kyle Busch, Crown Royal Presents the Jim Stewart 400, 5/6/07 Longest Race 4 hours, 13 minutes, 17 seconds, Capital City 500, 9/9/73 Shortest Race 1 hour, 34 minutes, 8 seconds, Grand National Race #43, 10/23/60 32 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE TRACK RECORDS GENERAL INFO MEDIA INFO XFINITY SERIES TRACK INFO NSCS NXS 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 33 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES NXS NSCS TRACK INFO MEDIA INFO GENERAL INFO TRACK RECORDS Most Wins 6, Kevin Harvick Most Poles 5, Michael Waltrip, Tommy Ellis Most Top 5’s 15, Kevin Harvick Most Top 10’s 20, Mark Martin Most Competitive Laps 7,473, Kenny Wallace (5604.75 miles) Most Starts 34, Kenny Wallace Most Consecutive Starts 16, Kevin Harvick Most Consecutive Pole Positions 3, Tommy Ellis (9/83, 2/84, 9/84) Most Consecutive Wins 3, Kevin Harvick (9/05, 5/06, 9/06) and Harry Gant (2/91, 9/91, 3/92) Most Races Led, Career 16, Mark Martin Most Times Led, Career 38, Mark Martin Most Laps Led, Career 1,205, Mark Martin Races Swept in Same Year Brad Keselowski (2013) Kevin Harvick (2006) Jimmy Spencer (2001) Mark Martin (1993) Harry Gant (1991) Butch Lindley (1982) Poles Swept in Same Year Michael Waltrip (1990) Tommy Ellis (1984) Five-Time Race Winners Mark Martin (9/87, 3/93,9/93,3,97,5,99) Four-Time Race Winners Kyle Busch (5/04, 9/07, 5/09, 9/11), Harry Grant (9/88, 2/91, 9/91, 3/92) Three-Time Race Winners Carl Edwards (5/05, 9/08, 9/09), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (9/02, 9/99, 9/98), Kenny Wallace (9/96, 3/95, 9/94) Car Owner Wins 6, Jack Roush Most wins by car make 20, Chevrolet 34 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE XFINITY SERIES NASCAR XFINITY SERIES RACE RECORDS Race winner, most laps led 236 (twice). Kyle Busch, FUNAI 250, 5/14/04; Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Autolite Platinum 250, 9/11/98 Race winner, fewest laps led One, Carl Edwards, FUNAI 250, 5/13/05 Race winner, most times led Non-race winner, most times led Six, Mark Martin, Autolite Platinum 250, 9/10/93 One (11 times). Most recently Carl Edwards, Virginia 529 College Savings 250, 9/11/09 Eight, Mark Martin, Autolite Platinum 250, 9/8/95 Non-race winner, most laps led 171, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Hardee’s 250, 6/5/98 Closest margin of victory 0.105 second, Jeff Green over Matt Kenseth, Hardee’s 250, 05/05/2000 Largest margin of victory 10 seconds, Dale Earnhardt over Dale Jarrett, Freedlander 200, 9/6/86 Most lead changes 20, Autolite Platinum 250, 9/8/95 Fewest lead changes Zero (twice). Miller Time 150, 9/8/84 and Eastern 150, 2/26/83 Most lead drivers 11, Autolite Platinum 200, 9/6/91 Fewest lead drivers One, Miller Time 150, 9/8/84 Most caution flags 14, Hardee’s 250, 5/2/03 Fewest caution flags 3 (9/1995, 9/2012) Most caution laps 93, Hardee’s 250, 5/2/03 Fewest caution laps 12, Autolite Platinum 250, 9/10/99 Race winner, fewest times led NSCS 104.928 mph (1 hour, 47 minutes, 13 seconds), Dale Jarrett, Autolite Platinum 250, 9/8/95 TRACK INFO Race record MEDIA INFO 129.348 mph (20.874 seconds), Kyle Busch, FUNAI 250, 05/13/2004 GENERAL INFO Qualifying record Most drivers to finish on 30, 5/5/06 Circuit City 250 Presented lead lap by FUNAI Two, Hardee’s Frisco 250, 3/5/94 Greatest improvement in starting position, race winner 38 (39th to 1st), Carl Edwards, Virginia 529 College Savings 250, 9/11/09 Greatest improvement in starting position, non-race winner 35 (41st to 6th), Jeff Burton, Hardee’s 250, 3/1/97 NXS Fewest drivers to finish on lead lap Most cars running at end Fewest cars running at end 41, Hardee’s 250, 6/5/98 14, Wrangler Jeans 150, 2/25/84 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 35