The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Apr. 22, 2016
What to Watch: Friday
by The Frontstretch Staff
Rick Allen, NBC's main Sprint Cup announcer was once again on play-by-play Sunday for IndyCar. While I don't have a problem with that, note that he's technically the sub while Leigh Diffey is the primary play-by-play guy. However, Diffey has stated he won't make his INDYCAR debut until the end of June at Road America. I think NBCSN may need to hire a third full-time play-by-play guy so that the broadcasts can have continuity.
Yesterday in Potts' Shots, we ran a picture provided by a friend of John Potts where Scott Dixon clearly violated the rule but suffered no consequences.
NBCSN provided some good coverage here. They informed fans of the specific rule and spelled out the individual punishments that the stewards could use as per the new penalty consequences unveiled in between St. Petersburg and Phoenix. Ultimately, they used the mildest one (the warning). There was admittedly some outrage in the booth and in the pits at the announced penalty (which took entirely too long to be announced, mind you). However, given the many passes that officials gave Sunday I have no idea what the heck you were honestly expecting.
Apparently, Chilton did this "cut through" at least once or twice before it even made air. Allen noticed the shortcut and made note of it. Ten laps later, INDYCAR called down to the No. 8 pit and notified the they were watching Chilton and no more "corner cutting" would be tolerated. Just goes to show that the officiating crew did a terrible job Sunday; it was like they were on another planet. They had better be on their game this weekend in Alabama.
Records and facts
Last year, the race was scheduled to run Saturday night but was postponed to Sunday afternoon due to rain. When the race was actually run, Kurt Busch dominated, leading 291 laps (including 127 of the last 128) on the way to victory. Kevin Harvick was second followed by Jimmie Johnson, Jamie McMurray and Joey Logano.
All-time, Richard Petty is the winningest driver at Richmond with 13 career victories. Three of those came when Richmond was a dirt track while the other ten were on the paved 0.542-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Speedway that was in place until 1988, including seven in a row from 1970-73. Bobby Allison had seven wins while Darrell Waltrip, David Pearson and Rusty Wallace each had six.
Among active drivers, Kyle Busch has the most victories at Richmond with four. Four others (Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson) have three wins each.
Track Facts
Track / Race Length: .750-mile D-shaped oval, 400 laps (300 miles)
Banking: 14 degrees
Frontstretch: 1,290 feet, banked 8 degrees
Backstretch: 860 feet, banked 5 degrees
Grandstand Seating: 59,000
Pit Road Speed: 40 mph
Pace Car Speed: 45 mph
Opened: 1946
Website: http://www.rir.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichmondInternationalRaceway
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RIRInsider
Pre-Race Schedule:
Happy Hour: Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. on FOX Sports 1
Say What?!
"I'm looking forward to getting back to Richmond. The surface is worn out and slick, so that makes it fun to drive. It's a wide track and I think with the new tire we'll be able to pass and that's always good for the racing. I really enjoy short-track racing in general and I think we're going to have a good race. Then, in the XFINITY race, I'll get to participate in the heat races, which will be pretty cool. It should be a good weekend and I think the fans will enjoy it." - Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
"I tend to like short tracks. I think they make for good passing and I've always enjoyed going to Richmond. I had fun racing IndyCars there. I liked driving the XFINITY car there, as well. We didn't have the greatest results, but it was still fun... we are definitely going to be moving around a lot more at Richmond this weekend. I kind of think we're going to be miserable some of the time. I mean, there are times where the tires fall off and you're like, 'Shoot me out here, it's terrible.' And I have a feeling we're going to have a few 'shoot me' moments this weekend where it's just going to be moving all around and it's going to be a lot of work. But as long as we have the opportunity to pass, I mean, even if you're slip-sliding around and it feels like crap and you're passing somebody, it's still fun." - Danica Patrick
"The daytime race will make it tough. The asphalt will really change temperature and it will change how the race plays out. I like the night races there, but I think it's going to be interesting to see how it all plays out. It's another good short track. You've got to figure out how to manage tires, manage brakes, and be there at the end. The new downforce package probably won't play as big of a role at Richmond. It'll be there, and we'll notice it getting into Turn 1 more than anywhere else. You'll have the higher speed and trying to keep a solid arc on entry. So you might see it a little bit there, but for the most part it's going to be typical short-track racing." - Chris Buescher
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by the Frontstretch Staff
Q: NASCAR has made a multitude of changes in recent years in an attempt to please race fans. In the past, that wasn't really the case. However, that began to change at Richmond in 1998. First, the Spring race was moved from March to early June in order to avoid the typical cold weather. Then, NASCAR did something unprecedented late in the race. What was it?
Thursday's Answer:
Q: The 1989 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the first spring race held on the new 3/4-mile Richmond International Raceway. However, it also made history for another reason. What was it?
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