Richmond International Raceway: History

Richmond International Raceway:
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 won by Lee Petty.
• 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 117 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Richmond International Raceway, one NSCS event from 1953 - 1958 and two races per year since 1959.
• 477 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond; 313 in more than one.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Richmond with 63. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 44 starts.
• Buck Baker won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Richmond in 1953 with a speed of 48.465 mph.
• 53 drivers have Coors Light poles at Richmond, led by Richard Petty and Bobby Allison with eight each. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six.
• Seven drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Richmond. Bobby Allison holds the record for most consecutive Coors Light poles at Richmond with five (1972 - 1974).

• Youngest Richmond pole winner: Brian Vickers (05/15/2004 – 20 years, 6 months, 21 days).
• Oldest Richmond pole winner: Mark Martin (04/28/2012 – 53 years, 3 months, 19 days).
• 50 different drivers have won at Richmond International Raceway, led by Richard Petty with 13. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart lead all active drivers in wins at RIR with three each (*Kyle Busch who is inactive has four).
• Petty Enterprises has the most wins at Richmond in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 15; followed by Hendrick Motorsports with 10, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing each have nine.
• Nine different manufacturers have won at Richmond. Chevrolet leads the series in wins at Richmond with 36 victories; followed by Ford with 31 and Toyota with seven.
• 23 of the 117 (19.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from the Coors Light pole. Only four active drivers have been able to accomplish the feat: Kasey Kahne (2005), Jimmie Johnson (2007), Kyle Busch (2010) and Brad Keselowski (2014).
• The pole starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners than any other starting position at Richmond (23).
• 36 of the 117 (30.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Richmond have been won from the front row: 23 from the pole and 13 from second-place.
• 91 of the 117 (77.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
• 13 of the 117 (11.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Richmond International Raceway was 31st, by Clint Bowyer in the spring of 2008.
• Youngest Richmond winner: Richard Petty (04/23/1961 – 23 years, 9 months, 21 days).
• Oldest Richmond winner: Harry Gant (09/07/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 28 days).
• Bobby Allison and Richard Petty are tied for the lead in runner-up finishes at Richmond with nine each. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with eight.
• Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Richmond with 34; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 18.
• Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Richmond with 41. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 28.
• Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Richmond International Raceway with a 7.909.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond International Raceway with a 10.412.

• There have been two NSCS races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Richmond International Raceway: spring of 2008 (400/410) and spring of 2013 (400/406).
• Only four of the 115 races at Richmond International Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions: spring of 1962, spring of 1977, spring of 1982 and spring of 2003.
• Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway seven times; most recently the fall of 2014.
• Bobby Labonte (09/11/1993) and Brian Vickers (05/15/2004) posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Richmond.  
• Tony Stewart (09/11/1999) and Kasey Kahne (05/14/2005) posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Richmond.  
• Eight drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Richmond International Raceway. Richard Petty leads the series in consecutive wins at Richmond after posting seven consecutive wins from the fall of 1970 – 1973. Jimmie Johnson (2007 sweep) is the only active driver with consecutive wins at Richmond.
• All of the 15 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Richmond International Raceway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart won at Richmond in their second appearance.
• Joe Nemechek competed at Richmond International Raceway 18 times before winning in 1994; the longest span of any the 15 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
• Greg Biffle leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Richmond without visiting Victory Lane at 25.
• Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway was the (09/12/1998) race won by Jeff Burton with a MOV of 0.051 second.
• Two female drivers have competed at Richmond in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

Bristol Motor Speedway: History

Bristol Motor Speedway:

History

·         Groundbreaking for Bristol International Speedway, as Bristol Motor Speedway was originally known, took place in 1960. The track was an exact half-mile.

·         First NASCAR Sprint Cup race was July 30, 1961; Jack Smith won the event (with relief from Johnny Allen).

·         In the fall of 1969, the track was reshaped and re-measured to .533-miles.

·         The name changed to Bristol International Raceway in 1978.

·         The first night race was held in the fall of 1978.

·         The surface was changed from asphalt to concrete in 1992.

·         The name changed to Bristol Motor Speedway in May 1996.

·         The track was resurfaced between races in 2007, and the turns were ground down in 2012 to eliminate part of the progressive banking.

Notebook

·         There have been 108 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway since the first race in 1961, two races each season.

·         All races have been scheduled for 500 laps, except for both races in 1976 and the second in 1977, which were 400 laps.

·         432 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol; 302 in more than one.

·         NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Bristol with 60. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 44 starts.

·         Fred Lorenzen won the inaugural Coors Light pole with a speed of 79.225 mph.

·         47 different drivers have poles at Bristol, led by Mark Martin and Cale Yarborough with nine each.  Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with five.

·         The race winner has started from the pole 22 times, the most productive starting position. The last driver to win from the pole was Carl Edwards, in the night race of 2008.

·         Four drivers have won from the pole position multiple times: Bobby Allison (1972 twice), Cale Yarborough (1973, 1977 twice, 1980), Darrell Waltrip (1981 twice, 1982) and Rusty Wallace (1991, 1993, 1999, 2000).

·         10 different drivers have posted consecutive poles at Bristol Motor Speedway; Mark Martin is the only of the 10 to win four consecutive poles at Bristol: Fireball Roberts (swept 1962), Fred Lorenzen (swept 1963), Richard Petty (1967-’68), Bobby Allison (swept 1972), Cale Yarborough (swept 1973; swept 1977; swept 1980), Darrell Waltrip (swept 1981), Geoff Bodine (swept 1986), Mark Martin (swept 1995-1996– all four races; and swept 2009); Rusty Wallace (swept 1998), Jeff Gordon (swept 2002) and Denny Hamlin (fall 2013, spring 2014).

·         Jeff Gordon leads (active drivers) the series in average starting position at Bristol with a 7.318. 

·         Youngest Bristol pole winner: Joey Logano (3/21/2010 – 19 years, 9 months, 25 days) – his first series career pole.

·         Oldest Bristol pole winner: Harry Gant (8/27/1994 – 54 years, 7 months, 17 days).

·         42 different drivers have won at Bristol, led by Darrell Waltrip (12). Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch each have five wins, the most among active drivers.

·         Junior Johnson leads the series in car owner wins at Bristol with 16; Roger Penske and Jack Roush are tied among active car owners for the most wins at Bristol with 11 each.

·         12 drivers have won consecutive races at Bristol led by Darrell Waltrip with seven consecutive victories from 1981-1984. The other 11 are Fred Lorenzen (1963-1964 sweep), David Pearson (1968 sweep), Bobby Allison (1972 sweep), Cale Yarborough did it twice (1974 sweep and four straight from 1976-1977), Richard Petty (1975 sweep), Dale Earnhardt also did twice (1985 sweep and 1987 sweep), Alan Kulwicki (1992 sweep), Rusty Wallace (2000 sweep), Kurt Busch (2003 sweep and 2004 spring race), Kyle Busch (2009 sweep), and Brad Keselowski (2011 fall-2012 spring).

·         Youngest Bristol winner: Kyle Busch (03/25/2007 – 21 years, 10 months, 23 days).

·         Oldest Bristol winner: Dale Earnhardt (08/28/1999 – 48 years, 3 months, 30 days).

·         Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Bristol; led by Chevrolet with 43 victories; followed by Ford with 35. Toyota is ranked fifth among manufacturers with six wins at Bristol.

·         35 of the 108 (32.4%) races at Bristol have been won from the front row: Pole position (22 wins); second-place (13 wins).

·         86 of the 108 (79.6%) races have been won from a top-10 starting position; including 53 from the first four spots.

·         Five of the 108 (4.6%) races have been won from a starting position outside the top 20; most recent was Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2004 – he started 30^th. 

·         The deepest in the field that a race winner has started is 38th, by Elliott Sadler; in 2001.

·         Richard Petty leads the series in runner-up finishes at Bristol with 10; Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers with four.

·         Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty lead the series in top-five finishes at Bristol with 26 each. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 16; followed by Matt Kenseth (12) and Kevin Harvick (nine).

·         Richard Petty has 37 top-10 finishes at Bristol, more than any other driver. Jeff Gordon leads the series among active drivers in top-10 finishes with 24; followed by Matt Kenseth (19) and Kurt Busch (15).

·         Greg Biffle leads the series (active drivers) in average finishing position at Bristol with an 11.917.

·         Eight of the last 10 races have ended with a Margin of Victory of less than a second at BMS.   

·         There has been four green-white-checkered finishes at Bristol – all four were the spring race: 2007 (500/504); 2008 (500/506); 2009 (500/503); 2014 (500/503).

·         Two of the 107 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the event on 3/31/1996.   

·         Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway three times; most recently August 25, 2012.    

·         Kurt Busch posted his first series career win at Bristol (2002), and Joey Logano won his first pole at Bristol (2010).

·         Ryan Newman leads the series (active drivers) with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Bristol without visiting Victory Lane at 26.

·         Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Bristol was the 3/25/2007 race won by Kyle Busch with a MOV of 0.064 second.

·         Two female drivers have made NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Bristol: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.

FedEx, Autism Speaks and Dover International Speedway come together again

FedEx, Autism Speaks and Dover International Speedway come together again for the May 31, 2015 “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race

Autism Speaks Day at the Races program returns

DOVER, Del. – FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), Autism Speaks and Dover International Speedway (NYSE: DVD) are pleased to announce their renewed collaboration for the “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, May 31, 2015. This marks the fifth year the three have worked together to raise awareness for an important cause.

“We couldn’t be happier to have FedEx back on board as title sponsor for our spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event,” said Michael Tatoian, president and CEO of Dover International Speedway. “Their involvement helps elevate the weekend to the next level, and their support of Autism Speaks should not go unnoticed. They truly are engaged in this effort and an exemplary corporate citizen.”

With its return as title sponsor of the “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks,” FedEx continues to maintain a strong presence in NASCAR, including their primary sponsorship of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry, driven by Denny Hamlin and fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing.

FedEx, Autism Speaks and the Speedway are working to finalize additional elements of the race weekend, but are pleased to announce the return of the popular Autism Speaks Day at the Races program. This special event returns for the fourth year and provides the opportunity for those on the autism spectrum and their families to attend a NASCAR race in a safe environment. The ticket package includes pre-race appearances by NASCAR drivers and personalities; brief presentations by educational speakers in the morning; food and drink; seating in the air-conditioned grandstands at the Monster Mile, which offers great views of the race along the backstretch of the track; and much more.

A reserved area near their seats provides a quiet zone, with muted lighting and sound, allows attendees to take a break from the race and crowds when necessary. The room includes comfortable seating, games, and video screens to help fans keep up with the races or watch family friendly movies.

Tickets cost $88 for adults and $20 for children ages 14 and under. Autism Speaks will receive a portion of the proceeds. To purchase tickets to Autism Speaks Day at the Races, call 800-441-RACE or visit www.MonsterMileOffers.com/AutismSpeaks.

This marks the ninth straight year that Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, will partner with Dover International Speedway to help raise funds and awareness for the cause throughout the weekend.

Autism Speaks will once again be represented by drivers in all three national touring series, who will feature decals on their cars throughout the weekend. This is something that has taken place in previous race weekends at Dover, with 67 drivers participating in 2014.

For tickets or more information, call 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com. You can also keep up with the Monster Mile at Facebook.com/DoverInternationalSpeedway and at @MonsterMile on both Twitter and Instagram.

Texas Motor Speedway: History

Texas Motor Speedway:
History

• Construction on Texas Motor Speedway began in 1995.
• The first NASCAR national series race at TMS was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 5, 1997 – won by Mark Martin.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was on April 6, 1997 – won by Jeff Burton.
• The track underwent a repave between the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
• In 2011, the spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was moved from Sunday to Saturday night under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway.
• Texas Motor Speedway hosted its first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on November 6, 2005 – won by Carl Edwards.

Notebook

• There have been 28 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, one NSCS event from 1997 - 2004 and two races per year since 2005.
• 140 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas; 115 in more than one.
• Jeff Gordon is the only drive to have made all 28 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway.
• Jeremy Mayfield was the first Coors Light pole winner, in 1998 with a speed of 185.906 mph. The inaugural Coors Light pole at Texas Motor Speedway in 1997 was cancelled due to weather conditions.
• Twenty drivers have Coors Light poles at Texas, led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte and Martin Truex Jr. with two each.
• Two drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Texas Motor Speedway: Bobby Labonte (2003 and 2004) and Ryan Newman (2005 sweep).
• Youngest Texas Coors Light pole winner: Brian Vickers (11/05/2006 – 23 years, 0 months, 12 days).
• Oldest Texas Coors Light pole winner: Bill Elliott (4/08/2002 – 46 years, 6 months, 0 days).

• Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions twice in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway; the inaugural event in 1997 and the spring race of 2007. The actual race has never been rain shortened, but was postponed to Monday last season due to weather.
• 18 different drivers have won at Texas Motor Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with four victories.
• Seven drivers have multiple wins at Texas Motor Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (four), Carl Edwards (three), Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart each have two.
• Roush Fenway Racing leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in wins at Texas Motor Speedway with nine; followed by Hendrick Motorsports with six and Joe Gibbs Racing with four.
• Three of the 28 (11.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; Kasey Kahne (2006), Jimmie Johnson (2012) and Kyle Busch (2013).
• The third-place starting position is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Texas Motor Speedway, producing more wins than any other starting position (six) – most recent: Jimmie Johnson (fall of 2014).
• Six of the 28 (21.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the front row: three from the pole and three from second-place.
• 22 of the 28 (78.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
• Four of the 28 (14.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Texas Motor Speedway is 31st, by Matt Kenseth in 2002.
• Youngest Texas winner: Joey Logano (03/30/2003 – 23 years, 10 months, 14 days).
• Oldest Texas winner: Dale Jarrett (04/01/2001 – 44 years, 4 months, 6 days).
• Jimmie Johnson leads the series in runner-up finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with five; followed by Matt Kenseth with four and Jeff Gordon with three.
• Matt Kenseth leads the series in top-five finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with 13; followed by Jimmie Johnson with 11, Jeff Gordon with nine and Greg Biffle with eight.
• Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson lead the series in top-10 finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with 17 each; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 14.
• Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Texas Motor Speedway with an 8.5. Johnson is the only active driver with an average starting position at Texas in the top 10.
• Two active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top 10 at Texas: Matt Kenseth (8.9) and Jimmie Johnson (9.0).
• 
  There have been five NSCS green-white-checker finishes at Texas Motor Speedway: fall 2006 (334/339), spring 2008 (334/339), fall 2012 (334/335), spring 2014 (334/340) and fall 2014 (334/341).
• Casey Mears has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway without posting a DNF (21).
• Jeff Burton (4/06/1997) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (4/02/2000) won their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career race at Texas Motor Speedway.
• David Ragan (4/09/2011) and Martin Truex Jr. (11/04/2007) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Texas Motor Speedway.  
• 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski (11/02/2008) and Trevor Bayne (11/07/2010) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Texas Motor Speedway.
• Two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Texas Motor Speedway: Carl Edwards (2008 sweep) and Denny Hamlin (2010 sweep). Jimmie Johnson has won the last three consecutive Chase races at Texas Motor Speedway (2012, 2013 and 2014).
• 11 of the 12 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Texas Motor Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won at Texas in his first appearance; Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman won in their second appearance at TMS.
• Jeff Gordon competed at Texas Motor Speedway 16 times before winning in the spring of 2009; the longest span of any the 12 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
• Only three of the 12 winning drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Texas Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (16) Kyle Busch (15) and Kurt Busch (13).
• Kevin Harvick leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 23.
• Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway was the (4/4/2004) race won by Elliott Sadler with a MOV of 0.028 second ahead of Kasey Kahne.
• Two female drivers have made NSCS starts at Texas Motor Speedway: Shawna Robinson and Danica Patrick

TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY INSTALLS ADDITIONAL TIRE BARRIERS

SPEEDWAY INSTALLS ADDITIONAL TIRE BARRIERS IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT WEEK'S DUCK COMMANDER 500 NASCAR DOUBLEHEADER

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 1, 2015) - Texas Motor Speedway, following the recommendations and guidance of NASCAR officials, completed a two-day installation project Wednesday to add 250 feet of tire barriers in preparation for next week's Duck Commander 500 NASCAR doubleheader weekend. 

The tire bundles were added to five inner wall areas of the 1.5-mile oval per the instruction of NASCAR as to the specific locations, length of runs and general construction of the safety addition. The inner wall at the exit of pit lane was the most wide-ranging area with 115 feet of tire bundles while areas near pit lane entry, the jet truck staging area in Turn 1 and emergency vehicle cut-out areas in turns 1 and 4 varied between 30 and 35 feet each. Approximately 450 tires were used in constructing the barriers, which will complement the existing, extensive SAFER Barrier system that encompasses the majority of the walls.

"NASCAR officials were here last Sunday and examined the speedway," Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. "We always follow their advice on safety matters, but they requested we only add 250 feet of tire barriers. Considering that the inside wall and outside walls total almost 16,000 feet, adding 250 feet of tire packs is a minor addition. To me, that means NASCAR found the track to be extremely safe."

The tire bundles, which consist of a combination of racing and street tires, are bolted together using heavy-duty nuts, bolts and washers.  The tires are secured to the wall with a 3/8-inch cable that runs through the top row of tires of each tire bundle as well as cable clamps that are also used on the speedway's wheel fence. The purpose of the cable is to minimize the tires becoming dislodged should they be heavily impacted.

The cars go on track Thursday, April 9, with a pair of XFINITY Series practices, beginning at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. CT, in preparation for the following evening's O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 XFINITY Series race (7:30 p.m. CT). The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series begins its on-track activity Friday, April 10, in preparation for the following evening's Duck Commander 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race (6:30 p.m.).