Time zone UTC−5 / −4 (DST) Opened 1946 | Capacity 71,000 Phone +1 866-455-7223 | |
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Location Henrico County, Virginia, United States Owner International Speedway Corporation Operator International Speedway Corporation Address 600 E Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA 23222, USA Hours Closed now Wednesday8:30AM–5PMThursday8:30AM–5PMFriday8:30AM–5PMSaturdayClosedSundayClosedMonday8:30AM–5PMTuesday8:30AM–5PMSuggest an edit Similar Martinsville Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway Profiles | ||
2015 toyota owners 400 start richmond international raceway
Richmond International Raceway (RIR) 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.
Contents
- 2015 toyota owners 400 start richmond international raceway
- Racing in Virginia
- World War II
- Races resume
- Strawberry Hill Raceway joins national racing circuit
- Richmond Raceway Complex
- NASCAR sanctioned races
- Timeline
- Current races
- Previous races
- Records
- Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series records
- References
Until 2016, Richmond International Raceway was one of several race 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.
Richmond has hosted the final "regular-season" race, leading up to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the Championship, each year since the concept was introduced in 2004.
In 2010, Richmond International 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.
Racing in Virginia
Racing sports has a long tradition in Virginia, dating back to colonial English times. 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. After a decade hiatus, the annual races were moved to Curles Neck in 1928 on the south side of Richmond.
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. The ½ -mile 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", and "Strawberry Hill Raceway" On October 12, 1946, Ted Horn gained the distinction of winning the track's first race in an open-wheel Indy-style car.
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. In 1953, the track began hosting the Grand National Series with Lee Petty winning that first race in Richmond. The original track was paved in 1968. In 1988, the track was re-designed into its present D-shaped configuration
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.
Richmond Raceway Complex
Richmond International 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 International 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. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race is currently 400 laps (300 miles) and is named the Toyota Owners 400.
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 Virginia 529 College Savings 250. The 400 lap (300 miles) fall Cup race is currently sponsored by Federated Auto Parts and is named the Federated Auto Parts 400. 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, RIR was home to a fall Craftsman Truck Series race. Starting with the 2006 schedule, that date was transferred to Talladega Superspeedway. Until 2009, RIR was also home to a June IndyCar Series race. In July 2009, it was announced that IndyCar would not return to RIR in 2010.
Timeline
Current races
Previous races
Records
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series records
(As of 9/10/11)
* minimum 10 starts