NASCAR in Virginia

Virginia has a long history with NASCAR: Martinsville Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway! Virginia also has a host of race car drivers.

Martinsville Speedway

Having celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2007, Martinsville Speedway is the shortest Sprint Cup track and possibly the toughest. With 800-foot straights and nearly-as-long turns (588 feet) that hardly bank (a mere 12 degrees), Martinsville has been called "two drag strips with a turnaround on each end." The Speedway hosted its first NASCAR-sanctioned race on July 4, 1948.

The 1973 Old Dominion 500 race at Martinsville was filmed for inclusion in "The Last American Hero," a film about the life of Junior Johnson. Additionally, NBC taped the 1978 Dogwood 500 for its "Sports World" series. It was the first Virginia race televised nationally.

2009 Martinsville NASCAR Series Races

• March 27th: Carilion Pole Day - Qualifying for Goody's Cool Orange 500 Sprint Cup Race
• March 28th: Camping World Truck Series Kroger 250
• March 29th: Goody's Cool Orange 500 Sprint Cup Race
• October 24th: Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200
• October 25th: TUMS Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Race

 

Richmond International Raceway

Richmond International Raceway held its first NASCAR race on April 19, 1953. Since then the track has undergone three name changes, five configuration changes and one surface change, from dirt to asphalt. Lights were added to the facility in 1991 and Richmond is now the only track to hold all of its major events "under the lights."

Like Martinsville, Richmond also has historic NASCAR claims to fame - Richard Petty, NASCAR's winningest driver, won the first race on the newly paved surface in 1968. He's not the only Petty to win at Richmond. His father Lee won a dirt track race there and son Kyle won a race in 1986 making RIR the only track all three Pettys have won on. Additionally, future Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart won his first Cup race in Richmond on September 11, 1999.

2009 Richmond International Raceway NASCAR Series Races

• May 1st: Lipton Tea 250 Nationwide Series Race
• May 2nd: Crown Royal Presents The Your Name Here 400
• September 11th: NASCAR Nationwide Series 250 Race
• September 12th: Chevy Rock 'n Roll 400 - Last race to make "The Chase!"

 

Bristol Motor Speedway

Dubbed "World's Fastest Half Mile," Bristol Motor Speedway opened in 1961 and hosted its first NASCAR sanctioned race on July 30, 1961 - the Volunteer 500. The oval track banks all the way around (36 degree corners and 16 degree straights), allowing drivers to quickly accelerate.

Bristol's 2001 Food City 500 was memorable for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team from Stuart. They logged a win for the fifth consecutive decade with fellow Virginian Elliott Sadler at the wheel. Sadler set a record that day as the deepest driver to ever win at Bristol; he started in 38th position.

2009 Bristol NASCAR Series Races

• March 20th: Ford Fan Friday - Qualifying for Food City 500 Sprint Cup Race
• March 21st: Scott's Turf Builder 300
• March 22nd: Food City 500 Sprint Cup Race
• August 19th: O'Reilly 200 Camping World Truck Series Race
• August 21st: Food City 250 Nationwide Series Race
• August 22nd: Sharpie 500 Sprint Cup Race

 

Virginia Has Race Car Drivers!

Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton is from South Boston and drives the #31 AT&T car for Richard Childress Racing. Burton was the 1994 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year and has recorded 21 wins over his career.

Ward Burton
Older brother of Jeff, Ward Burton is also from South Boston and previously drove the #4 State Water Heaters car for Morgan-McClure Motorsports. In addition to driving race cars, Burton serves on the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries and is the founder and president of The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. Learn more about Ward, as he is a Virginia Portrait of Passion, too!

Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin hails from Chesterfield and drives the #11 FedEx car for Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2006 Hamlin won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award and finished third in the final Cup standings, logging the highest points finish for a rookie in the modern era of NASCAR. Thus, Hamlin became the first rookie to make it into "The Chase for the Cup."

Rick Mast
Retired Nationwide and Sprint Cup series racer Rick Mast is from Rockbridge County. Mast grasped the first Brickyard 400 pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and while he never secured a Cup win, Mast clenched four poles and 36 top ten finishes over 15 years. His Nationwide career produced nine wins, 95 top tens and five poles.

Eric McClure
Chilhowie native Eric McClure is the son of Morgan-McClure Motorsports owner Larry McClure. He will drive Front Row Motorsports' #24 Hefty for the 2009 Nationwide Series season.

Danny O'Quinn, Jr.
Driving the #35 Team Rensi Motorsports car in the 2009 Nationwide Series, Coeburn son Danny O'Quinn, Jr. was the 2006 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and inked five top ten finishes.

Ricky Rudd
Chesapeake native Ricky Rudd is the retired driver of the #88 Snickers car of Robert Yates Racing. Rudd is known as the "Ironman" of NASCAR, as he holds the record for most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing. He was named the 2006 "Virginian of the Year" and inducted into the 2007 "Virginia Hall of Fame."

Elliott Sadler
The #19 Hellmann's is driven by Gillett Evernham Motorsports driver Elliott Sadler from Emporia. Sadler was fortunate to race in the inaugural "Chase for the Cup" in 2004.

Hermie Sadler
Brother to Elliott and fellow Emporian, Hermie Sadler is an analyst for Speed's NASCAR Race Day and was the 1993 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year. Sadler logged two wins, three poles and 44 top ten finishes in his Nationwide Series career.

Jason White
Richmond native Jason White will drive the #08 GunBroker.com in the 2009 Camping World Truck Series for Green Light Racing. White may also make appearances in the Nationwide Series.