Coming off a weekend of NASCAR action, Richmond International Raceway (Richmond) is already gearing up for the September weekend presented by Who’s Your Driver. Both the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Virginia529 College Savings 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series races will return for two nights of racing “under the lights.” New in 2017, fans will also get to witness the crowning of the inaugural regular season Monster Energy Series champion following the Federated Auto Parts 400.
“We had a memorable April week of NASCAR action at Richmond from Thursday’s inaugural Checkered Flag 5K & Kids Fun Run to Sunday’s Track Takeover driven by AAA and the TOYOTA OWNERS 400,” said Richmond President Dennis Bickmeier. “Our team is already preparing for September when America’s Premier Short Track takes NASCAR’s best under the lights. With the addition of crowning a regular season champion adding even more significance to the weekend, I invite NASCAR and Richmond fans to come out and witness history both on and off the track.”
On September 8-9, the sport will come together to say “Thank You” to NASCAR fans around the world over Fan Appreciation Weekend. Richmond will build on the success of last year’s event to make it bigger and better for 2017. The Classic Amphitheater will be the epicenter of entertainment over Fan Appreciation Weekend with a series of musical performances and the return of Gridside Live! featuring drivers who have qualified for the playoffs.
Fan Appreciation Weekend will also give fans one final opportunity to say “Thank You” to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at Richmond. The 14-time most popular driver will retire at the end of the 2017 season after an impressive career, including three Cup wins and four XFINITY Series victories at America’s Premier Short Track. Fans will get to cheer on Earnhardt Jr’s final laps in a regular season Monster Energy Series race at Richmond.
As the Richmond team looks forward to another weekend of NASCAR action, the track is coming off an action-packed April weekend. Joey Logano went from starting last to first as he held off his Team Penske teammate Brad Keselowski to score the victory in the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, April 30.
In the first-ever stage race in the Monster Energy Series at Richmond, Matt Kenseth, driver of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota Camry, captured the green-checkered flag in Stage 1, while Keselowski took Stage 2. Kenseth led the most laps of the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 at 164 followed by Keselowski at 110 laps led.
Before the action started on Sunday, fans took to the historic track for Track Takeover driven by AAA. The fan-friendly event was open to all ticketholders of the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 from 10 a.m. to noon. Fans walked around the entire ¾-mile D-shaped oval and experience the 14-degree turns. Along the way, fans engaged with interactive displays providing behind-the-scenes looks at the sport including the official Richmond Pace Car, Air Titans, and Safety-Kleen.
RIR PR
