Denny Hamlin #NASCAR Virginia’s Finest

Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond International Raceway (RIR) 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 track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969. Remarkably, Lee Petty’s son, NASCAR Hall of Famer “The King” Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Richmond with sixty-three.

Denny Hamlin driving the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, was born in Tampa, Florida, but lived in Virginia for most of his childhood. Therefore, he is considered the hometown boy.

This year the spring Richmond Sprint Cup Race will move to a daytime start.

"I remember coming here many times as a fan and it used to be a day race. I’m looking forward to it.” Hamlin, a native of Chesterfield, located approximately 30 minutes south of the track related. “I love day races and it’s going to be a pretty exciting one because I think our FedEx team has a great shot to come here and win."

If Hamlin can win pole for the race, he will break four-way tie among active drivers for most poles. Further the feat would also tie Buck Baker, Bill Elliott, Benny Parsons and Rusty Wallace for fifth-most all-time poles at Richmond International Raceway.

Denny Hamlin won at RIR on September 11, 2010 and September 12, 2009.

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

• Two wins, seven top fives, ten top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 10.789, third-best
• Average Running Position of 8.058, second-best
• Driver Rating of 108.8, third-best
• 631 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-best
• Average Green Flag Speed of 116.398, third-fastest
• 6309 Laps in the Top 15 (82.9), third-most
• 479 Quality Passes, 11th-most

Richmond International Raceway, known as America’s Premier Short Track,
offers exciting night racing action and a commitment to the fan experience.
(NRM took this photo on her visit to the track in 2011.)

Richmond International Raceway Data

• Season Race #: 09 of 36 (04-24-16)
• Track Size: 0.75-miles
• Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 14 degrees
• Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 14 degrees
• Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees
• Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
• Frontstretch Length: 1,290 feet
• Backstretch Length: 860 feet
• Race Length: 400 laps / 300 miles

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Richmond

1. Kyle Busch (110.4
2. Kevin Harvick (110.1
3. Denny Hamlin (108.8
4. Clint Bowyer (98.6
5. Kurt Busch (94.2
6. Brad Keselowski (93.9
7. Ryan Newman (91.1
8. Jimmie Johnson (90.1)
9. Matt Kenseth (89.0)
10. Carl Edwards (88.3)