NASCAR is a big part of Virginia. Martinsville, Bristol and Richmond have driven NASCAR and a big part of Virginia tourism for many years. To celebrate some of that history, Richmond International Raceway is going back in time a bit and pulling up a name from the past for the Sprint Cup race this Saturday. “Capitol City” was the namesake of the race for many years and will be again this weekend as RIR and the Virginia Tourism Corporation present the main event.

Richmond is celebrating 60 years of racing this year. The “Capital City 400 Presented by Virginia is for Lovers” is the Sprint Cup Series race to crown the weekend.

The Nationwide Series runs Friday with the “Virginia 529 College Savings 250”. Thursday is the Denny Hamlin Foundation fundraiser and the K&N Pro Series “Blue Ox 100”

The “Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown” is a fund raising event putting Cup drivers on the track to race with regional Late Model drivers. Already scheduled to run are:

  •     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

With the Virginia Tourism Corporation coming on board for the Cup race, Richmond International Raceway has full sponsorship for a full weekend of racing. RIR is always a great show for the fans with big pre-race fun and much to do out in the midway before the green flag drops.

Tickets for all events can still be had with packages available to save money with the family. Thursday, many of the Cup drivers scheduled for the Hamlin race will be doing a Q&A with fans earlier in the afternoon. Friday, you can see first hand even more action as Cup drivers mix the field for the Nationwide Series. Saturday, RIR is the center for Racing Lovers with the “Capitol City 400 presented by Virginia is for Lovers”.

Let’s go racing, Virginia!

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