“The Road to Richmond” Starts Now!

“’The Road to Richmond’ starts here,” announced Richmond International Raceway president Doug Fritz in a press conference at Daytona International Speedway today.  “Everything that happens in the next 10 weeks culminates in the ‘One Last Race to Make The Chase’ NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond on Saturday, September 10.”

Starting with this weekend’s race in Daytona, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will follow “The Road to Richmond” and the Race to The Chase, making stops in Kentucky, New Hampshire, Indianapolis, Pocono, Watkins Glen, Michigan, Bristol and Atlanta, before coming to America’s Premier Short Track for the “One Last Race to Make The Chase” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend.

Richmond’s September 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event “under the lights” marks the 26th race of the season. Once the checkered flag flies Saturday night, the field will be set for the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.

“’The Road to Richmond’ is a great opportunity for us to remind race fans that Richmond hosts the ‘One Last Race to Make The Chase’ and to promote the new Chase format,” explained Fritz.  “And the fact that everything that happens from Daytona on leads to what you’ll see at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday night, September 10.”

Previous Chase formats have led to fireworks in the Saturday night beating and banging that race fans enjoy at Richmond International Raceway.  In 2004, Jeremy Mayfield won the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 in dramatic fashion, racing his way into the top 10 and earning a berth in the inaugural Chase.  In 2006, Kasey Kahne knocked Tony Stewart out of Chase contention.  And in 2009, the Chase field was unsettled until the final lap of the race, as Brian Vickers edged Kyle Busch by just eight points for the final position in NASCAR’s playoffs.

“This year’s format has the makings of one of, if not the most epic ‘One Last Race to Make The Chase’ events,” said Fritz.  “With the two wild card drivers racing their way in, there could potentially be more drivers than ever having a shot at racing their way into The Chase.”

Each week, Richmond International Raceway will provide race fans with an overview of the upcoming race.  Using the NASCAR loop data, America’s Premier Short Track will provide an overview of the drivers to keep an eye on, along with information on how they’ve typically run at Richmond.  And as “The Road to Richmond” gets shorter, we’ll tell you who stands a chance at making the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and what they have to do to lock themselves in.

RIR PR

Now that you’re on “The Road to Richmond,” be sure to get your tickets for the “One Last Race to Make The Chase” NASCAR weekend at Richmond International Raceway, September 9-10.