National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel Statement

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Karen Pistone

On May 24, 2013, the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel heard and considered the appeal of the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series team.

The penalties concern Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Involved in an altercation with another competitor after the race had concluded.

The penalties stemmed from a post-race incident following the April 26 race at Richmond International Raceway.

The original penalties assessed to the No. 2 team were:

· Crew members Thomas Costello and Michael Scearce were both fined $15,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next four NASCAR Nationwide Series events. They were also both placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

The Appellants appealed all penalties listed above. The Appellants also requested and were granted a deferral of the suspensions until such time as the hearing could be convened.

Upon hearing the testimony and carefully reviewing the facts, it was a unanimous decision by the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. The suspensions of the two crew members in question will take effect beginning with the May 31 event at Dover International Speedway.

The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the rule book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer.

Dick Berggren

Ed Clark

Doug Fritz

Shawn Rogers – Appellate Administrator and non-voting member

JR Motorsports fills empty NNS seat at RIR with family

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Jeffrey Earnhardt – photo by Sandi Goodall / Racingal.com

JR Motorsports has announced that Jeffrey Earnhardt, nephew to team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and fourth-generation racer to make first start for family-owned team, will drive the team’s No. 5 Chevrolet in the April 26 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway. The announcement was made on JRM 360, a weekly video series housed on the team’s official website, JRMracing.com.

“Richmond happens to be one of the few races that neither Kasey Kahne nor Brad Sweet are scheduled to drive the No. 5 car because it’s not a Great Clips-sponsored race. Dale and I were discussing our options for that weekend,” stated Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “It was his idea to put Jeffrey in the car and let him drive our equipment. I loved the idea, and everyone in the company – as soon as they heard it – did too. It’s only a one-race deal but something that could really help Jeffrey if he does well.”

Watch announcement

Jefferey Earnhardt on the response from fans: “My phone has been blowing up. The response has been incredible. I received a lot of text messages and tweets from people in NASCAR, and the fans have been great. Between my grandfather, my dad, and Dale Jr., there is such a huge fan base that is very supportive of my family. I just appreciate the opportunity. I can’t wait. I wish the Richmond race weekend was tomorrow.”

NOTES

Jeffrey Earnhardt is only the second fourth-generation racer to compete in NASCAR’s top touring divisions. Adam Petty was the first.

The 23-year-old Earnhardt is son to Kerry Earnhardt (NASCAR racer from 1998-2009), grandson to seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. (1975-2001), and great-grandson to 1956 NASCAR Sportsman champion Ralph Earnhardt (1956-64).

Jeffrey Earnhardt has competed in 14 career Nationwide Series races. He made his first start on Aug. 8, 2009, at Watkins Glen International.

Jeffrey Earnhardt has competed in four of five Nationwide Series races in 2013 for Archie St. Hilaire and Go Green Racing. He recorded a season-best 20th-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway on March 2.

This will mark Jeffrey Earnhardt’s first-ever race with JR Motorsports.

Jeffrey Earnhardt’s racing résumé also includes 10 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, all of which came in 2010 and 2011.

Richmond International Raceway has been a hotbed for Earnhardt success. Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. each have six wins at the three-quarter-mile facility. (Dale Sr.: CUP – Feb. 24, 1985; NNS – Sept. 6, 1986; CUP – March 8, 1987; CUP – Sept. 13, 1987; CUP – Sept. 9, 1990; CUP – Feb. 24, 1991). Dale Jr.: NNS – Sept. 11, 1998; NNS – Sept. 10, 1999; CUP – March 6, 2000; NNS – Sept. 6, 2002; CUP – March 15, 2004; CUP – May 6, 2006).

The No. 5 Chevrolet is typically occupied by Kasey Kahne or Brad Sweet as part of a 28-race Great Clips-sponsored package. Jimmie Johnson is the only other driver to race the No. 5 this year (Phoenix on March 2).

JR Motorsports PR

Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown set to go green at Richmond International Raceway

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Karen Pistone

For the third year in a row, the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown is set to open the Spring race weekend at Richmond International Raceway. The Showdown benefits Denny Hamlin’s Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

The Showdown and BLUE OX 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races will run on Thursday, April 25, as part of the Spring NASCAR weekend at Richmond International Raceway. The race typically features a dozen NASCAR drivers and celebrities racing local Late Model Stock Car on the ¾-mile track. Hamlin, who won the inaugural Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at RIR in 2011, will be joined by 2012 winner Tony Stewart, two-time Short Track Showdown winner Kyle Busch, Michael Waltrip, Darrell Wallace Jr., and Virginians Gray Gaulding and Curtis Markham, as they race against some of the best Late Model Stock Car drivers in the region.

All tickets are general admission at $25. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with a ticketed adult. Thursday’s ticket also includes the BLUE OX 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race. Click here for tickets.

Tickets are on sale now for the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Advance tickets, including seats in Turns 1 and 4, start at $45, and can be purchased online or by calling 866-455-7223. Tickets for the ToyotaCare 250 start at $30 in advance and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling 866-455-7223. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with a ticketed adult in general admission sections on Friday.

For additional information, please visit www.rir.com or call 866-455-7223.

Source: Richmond International Raceway

However one sees it, a battle is brewing for NNS @RIR: Sadler vs Stenhouse Jr.; RCR vs RFR; Chevy vs Ford

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NNS Race: #25 of 33
NNS Practice: 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7 on ESPN2
NNS Qualifying: 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7 on ESPN2
TV Race Coverage: 7:00 p.m. on ESPN
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:43 p.m.

It’s pretty much comes down to these two: Elliott Sadler vs. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.; Ford vs. Chevrolet. Each of the top two NASCAR Nationwide Series championship contenders has won four times with Stenhouse, the reigning series champion, getting victory No. 4 in Atlanta.

The score is now even with both Stenhouse (Las Vegas, Texas, Iowa and Atlanta) and Sadler (Phoenix, Bristol, Chicago and Iowa) each having four victories on the season. However, Sadler still holds the advantage in the championship standings with a 12-point lead over Stenhouse with nine races to go.

Appearing Monday night on SPEED’s Race Hub, Elliott Sadler confirmed he would not be back with Richard Childress Racing in 2013. He said he had not been offered an opportunity to stay at Childress next season and that he does not yet have a deal with a team for next year.

Travis Pastrana returns to the site of his Nationwide Series debut earlier this season at Richmond where he finished 22nd. However, he will be driving for a different organization this time around. Pastrana will pilot to the No. 60 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing.

As far as the schedule for Sam Hornish, Jr.: Penske Racing held a news conference the other day to announce Joey Logano will be behind the wheel of the No. 22 for 2013. One of the media questions for Penske Racing president Tim Cindric was about the future of Sam Hornish Jr., currently the full-time driver for Penske Racing in the Nationwide Series and in the #22 Sprint Cup Series ride, and where this placement of Logano leaves Hornish:

“….He’s going to continue to drive the 22 (Cup) car for the remainder of the year. We’ve continued to work on putting a Cup program together for Sam; we just haven’t been able to close that process yet. I foresee Sam driving for us a full season Nationwide next year and hopefully some Cup races, as well.”

Double-duty drivers this weekend include Denny Hamlin, Sam Hornish, Kevin Harvick and April race winner Kurt Busch. In addition, young guns Darrell Wallace Jr., Ty Dillon and Ryan Blaney return to the series at Richmond. Dillon will drive the familiar colors of Richard Childress Racing while Wallace Jr. and Blaney return behind the wheel of their respective Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing rides.

Sources: NASCAR Media, Penske Racing PR, RCR PR

NASCAR driver stats, broadcasting info: RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Race #: 26 of 36 (09-08-12)
Track Size: 0.75-miles
Banking/Corners: 14 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,290 feet
Backstretch Length: 860 feet
Race Length: 400 laps / 300 miles

Qualifying/Race Data
2011 pole winner: David Reutimann, Toyota (127.383 mph, 21.196 sec., 09-08-11
2011 race winner: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet (89.910 mph, 3:20:12, 09-10-11)
Track qualifying record: Brian Vickers, Chevrolet (129.983 mph, 20.772 sec., 5-14-04)
Track race record: Dale Jarrett, Ford (109.047 mph, 2:45:04, 9-6-97)

NSCS Practice - Noon & 2:30 p.m on Friday, September 7 on ESPN2

NSCS Qualifying: Friday, September 7 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2

Race Coverage: (TV): ESPN at 7:30 p.m.; NASCAR Countdown Pre-Race show at 7:00 p.m.; Green flag approx 7:43 p.m.

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota)
·         One win, one top five, seven top 10s
·         Average finish of 10.2
Kurt Busch (No. 51 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet)
·         One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
·         Average finish of 17.9
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
·         Four wins, 12 top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 4.7
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew / National Guard Chevrolet)
·         Three wins, nine top fives, 11 top 10s
·         Average finish of 13.9
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Kellogg’s Ford)
·         Three top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 14.8
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, 15 top fives, 24 top 10s; five poles
·         Average finish of 14.7
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota)
·         Two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
·         Average finish of 7.3
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, six top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 11.8
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
·         Three wins, five top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
·         Average finish of 16.7
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Quaker State Chevrolet)
·         One win, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 18.4
Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
·         One win, 17 top fives, 29 top 10s; five poles
·         Average finish of 12.1
Ryan Newman (No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet)
·         One win, five top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 11.8
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)
·         Three wins, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s
·         Average finish of 10.6

History

· Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond International Raceway held its first race in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was April 19, 1953.

· The spring 1964 race was run on a Tuesday night under temporary lighting.

· The track name changed to Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1967.

· The track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt between races in 1968.

· The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969.

· The track was re-measured to .542-mile for 1970.

· The track was rebuilt as a three-quarters-mile D-shaped oval following the Feb. 21, 1988 race.

· The first race under permanent lights was Sept. 7, 1991.

· The first season with both races as night races was 1999.

Notebook

· There have been 112 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond since the track opened in 1953.

· The current 400-lap race length was established on the .542-mile measurement in March 1976.

· Buck Baker won the pole in 1953.

· Lee Petty won the first race in April 1953.

· There have been 50 different pole winners, led by Bobby Allison and Richard Petty (eight).

· Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin lead all active drivers with five poles each.

· 47 different drivers have posted victories at Richmond, led by Richard Petty (13).

· Kyle Busch leads all active race winners with four.

· Petty Enterprises has won 15 races at Richmond, more than any other team. Hendrick Motorsports has the second most wins with 10.

· 63 of 112 races have been won from the top five starting positions, including 22 from the pole.

· The last driver to win from the pole was Kyle Busch on May 1, 2010.

· The furthest back in the field a race winner has started was 31st, by Clint Bowyer in the 2008 spring race.

· Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Kyle Busch (4.7), Denny Hamlin (7.3) are the only active drivers with an average finish in the top 10.

· Kyle Petty became the first third-generation NASCAR race winner when he won his first race at Richmond, on Feb. 23, 1986. Richard Petty posted his first Richmond victory in 1961 and Lee Petty won the very first Richmond race in 1953.

· Three of the last five races have had a margin of victory less than one second.

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Richmond International Raceway winner: Richard Petty (04/23/1961 – 23 years, 9 months, 21 days)

· Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Richmond International Raceway winner: Harry Gant (09/07/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 28 days)

Source: NASCAR Media

Clinch scenarios heading to Richmond – anything can, will happen

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Denny Hamlin became the season’s first four-time winner in Atlanta and holds the provisional top Chase seeding with 12 bonus points. Hamlin, teammate Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing have won six of the past seven races at Richmond International Raceway. Busch won at the 0.75-mile track in April.

RIR NSCS Practice 04/27/12 MWR No 55 and 15 Photo credit: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR

Congratulations to Michael Waltrip Racing as they will have a presence in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the first time as Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer were among six drivers clinching berths in the post season Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Truex made the Chase just once, in 2007, while Bowyer’s last of three previous appearances was in 2010. MWR became one of Toyota’s charter teams in 2007.

Below are the 2012 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup clinch scenarios for Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway, the final race before the Chase field is set.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jimmie Johnson – the only driver with all nine Chase appearances – qualified for NASCAR’s second season the previous weekend in Bristol.

Nine drivers have clinched top-10 spots in the Chase:

Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick. Tony Stewart, currently 10th, has clinched at least a Wild Card spot.

TONY STEWART: Needs a top-10 position with a finish of 14th or better, 15th and at least one lap led or 16th and the most laps led to clinch in the Chase.

KASEY KAHNE: A win would clinch a Chase berth. If Stewart stays in the top 10, Kahne clinches a Chase spot. If Stewart falls out of the top 10, Kahne will clinch a spot if a one-win driver outside the top 10 does not win. If Kyle Busch replaces Stewart in the top 10, and Jeff Gordon wins, Kahne clinches a spot by finishing 13th or better, 14th with at least one lap led or 15th with the most laps led.

If one of those one-win drivers wins at Richmond AND Stewart remains in the top 10 (or Kasey Kahne removes Stewart in the top 10), that one-win driver would have two wins, and clinch a Chase spot.

The following scenarios are if a one-win driver DOES NOT win at Richmond…

KYLE BUSCH: If Stewart remains in the top 10 or if Kahne supplants Stewart in the top 10, Busch will clinch a Chase spot by losing 12 or fewer points to Jeff Gordon AND by losing 40 or fewer points to Marcos Ambrose. A win would guarantee Busch a Chase berth.

JEFF GORDON: If Stewart remains in the top 10 or if Kahne replaces Stewart in the top 10, Gordon will clinch by finishing 13 points ahead of Buschat Richmond AND by losing 28 or fewer points to Ambrose AND by losing 37 or fewer points to Ryan Newman. If Busch supplants Stewart in the top 10, Gordon would clinch a Chase berth with a win AND finishing 18 points ahead of Kahne at Richmond.

MARCOS AMBROSE: If Stewart remains in the top 10 or if Kahne supplants Stewart in the top 10, Ambrose will clinch by finishing 41 points ahead of Busch AND 29 points ahead of Gordon.

RYAN NEWMAN & JOEY LOGANO: Newman and Logano can only clinch a Chase berth with a win. If either Busch or Gordon removes Stewart in the top 10, Newman/Logano will be eliminated.

Two winless drivers outside the top 10 can clinch: Carl Edwards and Paul Menard.

CARL EDWARDS: Edwards needs to win (47-point win) AND Busch has to finish 24th or worse (with no laps led) at Richmond AND Gordon has to finish 12th or worse at Richmond. If Busch or Gordon supplant Tony Stewart in the top 10, Edwards will be eliminated. Back in April, Carl Edwards led 206 laps and finished 10th, his hopes for victory pulled away by a restart penalty.

PAUL MENARD: Menard needs to win (47-point win) AND Kyle Busch has to finish 34th or worse (with no laps led) AND Gordon has to finish 22nd or worst (with no laps led) at Richmond. If Busch or Gordon supplant Tony Stewart in the top 10, Menard will be eliminated.

Four drivers in the history of the Chase have come from outside for the NASCAR Sprint Cup cut-off to make the Chase at Richmond:

o Jeremy Mayfield in 2004 made up a 55-point deficit

o Ryan Newman in 2005 made up a one-point deficit

o Kasey Kahne in 2006 made up a 30-point deficit

o Brian Vickers in 2009 made up a 20-point deficit

The points will reset for the start of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup next week, Sept. 16 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Each of the 12 qualifiers begins the 10-race competition with 2,000 points. The top-10 qualifiers then are awarded three bonus points for each victory.

The two Wild Card qualifiers receive no bonus points regardless of how many times they have won during the regular season.

Source: THANK GOODNESS for NASCAR Media (LOL!)

NASCAR heads back to short track racing – RICHMOND Stats

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Race #: 9 of 36 (04-28-12)
Track Size: .75 miles
Race Length: 300 miles
Banking/corners: 14 degrees
Banking/straights: 8 degrees
Frontstretch: 1,290 feet
Backstretch: 860 feet

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota)
· One win, one top five, six top 10s
· Average finish of 10.5

Jeff Burton (No. 31 BB&T Chevrolet)
·         One win, nine top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 14.8
Kurt Busch (No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services Inc. Chevrolet)
·         One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
·         Average finish of 17.4

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Brown Toyota)
·         Three wins, 11 top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 5.0
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
·         Three top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 15.1

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
· Two wins, 15 top fives, 24 top 10s; five poles
· Average finish of 14.5

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota)
· Two wins, six top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 7.6

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet)
· Two wins, six top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.5

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
· Three wins, five top fives, seven top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 17.2

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)
· One win, three top fives, six top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 19.2

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
·         One win, 17 top fives, 28 top 10s; four poles
·         Average finish of 12.2
Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet)
·         One win, five top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 11.7

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet)
· Three wins, nine top fives, 17 top 10s
· Average finish of 10.9

History

· Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond International Raceway held its first race in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was April 19, 1953.

· The spring 1964 race was run on a Tuesday night under temporary lighting.

· The track name changed to Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1967.

· The track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt between races in 1968.

· The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969.

· The track was re-measured to .542-mile for 1970.

· The track was rebuilt as a three-quarters-mile D-shaped oval following the Feb. 21, 1988 race.

· The first race under permanent lights was Sept. 7, 1991.

· The first season with both races as night races was 1999.

Notebook

· There have been 111 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond since the track opened in 1953.

· The current 400-lap race length was established on the .542-mile measurement in March 1976.

· Buck Baker won the pole in 1953.

· Lee Petty won the first race in April 1953.

· There have been 50 different pole winners, led by Bobby Allison and Richard Petty (eight).

· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with five poles.

· 47 different drivers have posted victories at Richmond, led by Richard Petty (13).

· Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Terry Labonte and Jimmie Johnson (three) lead active race winners.

· Petty Enterprises has won 15 races at Richmond, more than any other team.

· 63 of 111 races have been won from the top five starting positions, including 22 from the pole.

· The last driver to win from the pole was Kyle Busch in 2010.

· The furthest back in the field a race winner has started was 31st, by Clint Bowyer in the 2008 spring race.

· Kyle Busch (5.0) and Denny Hamlin (7.5) are the only active drivers with an average finish in the top 10.

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Richmond International Raceway winner: Richard Petty (04/23/1961 – 23 years, 9 months, 21 days).

· Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Richmond International Raceway winner: Harry Gant (09/07/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 28 days).

· Three of the last four races have had a margin of victory less than one second.

Race fans need to know – What’s happenin’ at Richmond International Raceway

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Karen Pistone

TWO LOCAL CONNECTIONS – ONE TEAM

Hamlin, who nabbed his 19th career win last week, looks to become the fourth Virginia native to record 20 or more NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories, joining Joe Weatherly (25), Ricky Rudd (23) and Jeff Burton (21). A second “local” connection for the No. 11 team is crew chief Darian Grubb. Grub, who is from Floyd, Va. and earned an engineering degree from Virginia Tech.

HAMLIN’S SHORT TRACK SHOWDOWN

Also this week is Hamlin’s Short Track Showdown which is part of a Thursday night doubleheader that also features the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Blue Ox 100. Read more about the Showdown, HERE.

SHHH…. ZZzzz RICHMOND TO WAKE UP KYLE BUSCH? ZZzzz

It’s been kind of a quiet season so far for Kyle Busch. But this weekend at Richmond may be just what’s need for Kyle to jump start his season. Kyle Busch goes into Richmond with three spring wins. Busch ranks 13th in the standings 31 points out of the top 10. Busch’s last victory came last August at Michigan International Speedway, 20 starts ago.

IT’S PASTRANA TIME!!!

The time has finally arrived for Travis Pastrana to make his racing debut. Originally scheduled to make his first start last July at O’Reilly Raceway Park, Pastrana’s bid was put on hold due to injuries suffered in an X-Games stunt the night before. Now after injury rehab, plenty of testing and a couple of runs in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East – including Thursday night’s Blue Ox 100 – Pastrana is finally set for his big-stage NASCAR moment Friday night at Richmond. Almost a year to the day (April 28, 2011) after making his K&N East debut at Richmond, Pastrana is set to embark on a NNS schedule that encompass at least seven races in 2012. Pastrana will compete in the NNS for RAB Racing as that team and Michael Waltrip Racing last week announced an alliance between the organizations that will feature RAB equipment and MWR technical and marketing support. The No. 09 Toyota now becomes the No. 99.

COCA-COLA FAMILY TRACK WALK

The Coca-Cola Family Track Walk begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 (near Gate 70, outside of Turn 4), just a few hours before the green flag drops on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400. Fans can get moving alongside Coca-Cola Racing Family members and Virginia natives Denny Hamlin and Jeff Burton. The free event is open to all Saturday, April 28 race ticket holders. Ticket holders who wish to participate must show their ticket at Gate 70.

NASCAR DRIVERS AUTOGRAPH SESSION

All fans who have tickets for the Saturday, April 28, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400 race at Richmond International Raceway are invited to attend a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver autograph session featuring Clint Bowyer, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray and David Ragan.

The autograph session takes place at 3:30 p.m. in the Amphitheatre, located next to the Commonwealth Mall. Fans may line up at the Commonwealth Mall entrance to the Amphitheater. The first 200 guests in line with race tickets will receive a wristband that will enable them to attend the autograph session.

Each of the 200 fans may receive one autograph from each of the four drivers. Driver participation is subject to change and without notice.

NCWTS ON SPRING BREAK

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action on Friday, May18 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the N.C. Education Lottery 200.

Sources: RIR.com, NASCARMedia

2012 Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown set for Richmond International Raceway

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Karen Pistone

If you’re heading to Richmond International Raceway next weekend, you will get an extra treat – The Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown is set for Thursday, April 26th.

The Denny Hamlin Foundation was created in 2008 to aid in raising awareness and funding for Cystic Fibrosis research and treatment, as well as to support other not for profit corporations that focus on aiding children with debilitating illnesses.

Proceeds will benefit the Denny Hamlin Foundation, which supports organizations like the Children’s Hospital of Richmond, St. Jude’s Hospital and Victory Junction Camp. Tickets can be purchased at www.dennyhamlinfoundation.org.

This will be the foundation’s fifth year of running the Showdown. Seventy-five drivers, including over 50 of the best regional drivers, have been invited by The Denny Hamlin Foundation to qualify for the race, 52 cars will attempt to make the 36 car field. Twelve NASCAR stars will run the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model division race at Richmond International Raceway.

• Denny Hamlin
• Tony Stewart
• Kyle Busch
• Jeff Burton
• Michael Waltrip
• Joey Logano
• Aric Almirola
• Jason White
• Timothy Peters
• Chase Elliott
• Darrell Wallace Jr.
• Curtis Markham

The charity race will be a one-day event, featuring practice and qualifying PRIOR to the Blue Ox 100 and then will run FOLLOWING the Blue Ox 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race.

Thursday’s ticket for the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown is $25 and includes the Blue Ox 100. All seats are general admission and kids 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult.

Tickets are available now at www.rir.com

Source: http://www.dennyhamlinfoundation.org

Ford’s 2013 Focus Electric becomes first All-Electric Pace Car for Richmond 400

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Karen Pistone

2013 Ford Focus Electric. Photo supplied by Ford Motor Company.

Ford Motor Company is again making NASCAR history this month as the all-new Focus Electric becomes the first all-electric pace car to ever lead the field for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Richmond 400.

The all-new Focus Electric will perform all pace car duties at Richmond International Raceway on April 28.

This marks the latest in a line of groundbreaking moments for Ford in NASCAR. In addition to being the first manufacturer to compete with a four-door sedan as its flagship model in 1998, Ford was also first to use a hybrid to start a NASCAR event when the Fusion Hybrid served as pace car for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2008.

In January, Ford became the first manufacturer to show off its 2013 NASCAR race car when it unveiled the new 2013 Fusion racer to media in Charlotte, N.C.

The Focus Electric pace car will be unveiled for the public at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond on April 25. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling will deliver the Focus Electric to Richmond International Raceway, where it will serve as pace car for that weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.

This year, Ford will offer nine vehicles reaching an anticipated 40 mpg or more. Plus, the company is building six new electrified vehicles by the end of this year.

Production of the Focus Electric began in December at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich.

Source: Ford Motor Company PR

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