– Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond International Raceway 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 spring 1964 race was run on a Tuesday night under temporary lighting. – The track name changed to Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1967. – The track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt between races in 1968. – The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969. – The track was re-measured to .542-mile for 1970. – The track was rebuilt as a three-quarters-mile D-shaped oval following the Feb. 21, 1988 race. – The first race under permanent lights was Sept. 7, 1991. – The first season with both races as night races was 1999. – There have been 114 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Richmond International Raceway, one NSCS event from 1953-1958 and two races per year since 1959. – Only four of the 114 races at Richmond International Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions: spring of 1962, spring of 1977, spring of 1982 and spring of 2003. – 471 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond; 304 in more than one. – Four drivers have come from outside the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup cut-off to make the Chase at Richmond: – Jeremy Mayfield in 2004 made up a 55-point deficit – Ryan Newman in 2005 made up a one-point deficit – Kasey Kahne in 2006 made up a 30-point deficit – Brian Vickers in 2009 made up a 20-point deficit.(NASCAR)
