Toyota Owners 400
Richmond International Raceway
By Richard Tix
Another week and another short track. One of the best parts of this part of season after the West Coast Swing is what I have called the "Short Track Swing." Martinsville, Bristol, and Richmond; all short tracks, all completely different from each other.
It's a great mix that gives fans a fun variety. It also is a breath of fresh air from the 1.5 mile aero dependent tracks.
This time around Richmond International Raceway gets one day race and one night race. I have long been a fan of RIR and it is at the top of my NASCAR track bucket list, but fans have voiced their concern lately about the races being a bit dull.
Since RIR already got two stops a year it is intriguing to me to have one be a day race and the other a night. The track will also act like two different stops because it will run a bit different from a hot day to a cool night. So, Sunday will be a fun test for Cup drivers and teams as they try and figure out a day time set up once again for RIR.
**This section is just a quick look at some of Cup drivers latest finishes. This is not a tool for fantasy purposes and NBTW only is looking at end results. No deep statistic's are involved, but rather it is just a quick way to get ready for the race and get caught up on who has finished well at each track**
The Good
- Kyle Busch- Rowdy is the current leader in wins by current drivers (4 career RIR wins). His last win was in 2012, but he did have a second place finish in his only RIR start here in 2015.
- Joey Logano- JoLo has four straight top 10's including a win and three of them being top 5's. He has seemed to figure it out here with four straight races of a driver average of 106+.
- Matt Kenseth- RIR wasn't always a strong spot for Kenseth, but lately it has been. He has six top 10's in his last seven starts here including a win and three top 5's.
The Middle
- Carl Edwards- Carl has six top 10's in the last ten RIR races (including a win), but he also has three finishes outside the top 15 in that same time. It's a roller coaster ride with Carl here, but it can end up in VL.
The Bad
- Austin Dillon- Four starts and three finishes outside the top 25 (all three 27th place). Dillon's lone top 20 was 20th in the 2014 Fall race of his rookie season.
- Martin Truex Jr- 20 starts and only five career top 5's here at RIR. Only one of those resulted in a top 5 (5th). Only 12 times in 20 races did he have an average running position in the top 15.
- Paul Menard- One top 10, which was a top 5, in 18 career RIR starts for Menard. The bigger issue is he only has four top 15's in that same time and six top 20's.
About the Track
Track Stats
- Richard Petty once won 7 RIR races in a row, 9 of 10, and 12 of 17. All were from 1967 to 1975
- In 2013 Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards won from the 17th and 26th positions. Joey Logano won in 2014 (Spring) from the 17th position as well.
- In 2009 and 2010 Kyle Busch won both early season races and Denny Hamlin won both late season. Kyle also won the early season RIR race in 2011 and 2012 making it 5 straight Toyota wins and 6 in 7 (actually 7 of 8 because Bowyer won late in 2012).
- Richard Petty has the most career RIR wins with 13.
- Of current drivers Kyle Busch has the most total wins with 4.
- Richard Petty also has the most career top 5's (34), top 10's (41), and Poles (tied with Bobby Allison with 8).
Track Info
- Surface
- Asphalt
- Length
- 0.75 miles
- Banking
- Turns: 14 degrees
- Frontstretch: 8 degrees
- Backstretch: 2 degrees
Richmond
International Raceway
|
|||||
Race
|
Date
|
Cars
|
Winner(s)
|
St
|
Make / Model
|
1953-06
|
4/19/1953
|
27
|
Lee Petty
|
'53 Dodge
|
|
1955-16
|
5/22/1955
|
28
|
Tim Flock
|
22
|
'55 Chrysler
|
1956-12
|
4/29/1956
|
24
|
Buck Baker
|
1
|
'56 Dodge
|
1957-16
|
5/5/1957
|
22
|
Paul Goldsmith
|
7
|
'57 Ford
|
1958-46
|
9/14/1958
|
22
|
Speedy Thompson
|
1
|
'57 Chevrolet
|
1959-23
|
6/21/1959
|
22
|
Tom Pistone
|
12
|
'59 T-Bird
|
1959-38
|
9/13/1959
|
16
|
Cotton Owens
|
1
|
'59 T-Bird
|
1960-19
|
6/5/1960
|
19
|
Lee Petty
|
10
|
'60 Plymouth
|
1960-43
|
10/23/1960
|
19
|
Speedy Thompson
|
3
|
'60 Ford
|
1961-17
|
4/23/1961
|
12
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'60 Plymouth
|
1961-44
|
9/10/1961
|
25
|
Joe Weatherly
|
7
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1962-10
|
4/1/1962
|
25
|
Rex White
|
20
|
'61 Chevrolet
|
1962-47
|
9/9/1962
|
33
|
Joe Weatherly
|
2
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1963-15
|
4/7/1963
|
25
|
Joe Weatherly
|
3
|
'63 Pontiac
|
1963-47
|
9/8/1963
|
26
|
Ned Jarrett
|
7
|
'63 Ford
|
1964-09
|
3/10/1964
|
27
|
David Pearson
|
10
|
'64 Dodge
|
1964-53
|
9/14/1964
|
33
|
Cotton Owens
|
3
|
'64 Dodge
|
1965-07
|
3/7/1965
|
22
|
Junior Johnson
|
1
|
'65 Ford
|
1965-49
|
9/18/1965
|
37
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'65 Dodge
|
1966-19
|
5/15/1966
|
30
|
David Pearson
|
4
|
'64 Dodge
|
1966-44
|
9/11/1966
|
29
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'66 Dodge
|
1967-16
|
4/30/1967
|
24
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'67 Plymouth
|
1967-42
|
9/10/1967
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
'67 Plymouth
|
1968-06
|
3/24/1968
|
20
|
David Pearson
|
16
|
'68 Ford
|
1968-41
|
9/8/1968
|
28
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'68 Plymouth
|
1969-14
|
4/13/1969
|
28
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'69 Ford
|
1969-43
|
9/7/1969
|
25
|
Bobby Allison
|
25
|
'69 Dodge
|
1970-05
|
3/1/1970
|
26
|
James Hylton
|
3
|
'69 Ford
|
1970-40
|
9/13/1970
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'70 Plymouth
|
1971-06
|
3/7/1971
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
30
|
'70 Plymouth
|
1971-46
|
11/14/1971
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
11
|
'71 Plymouth
|
1972-03
|
2/27/1972
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
3
|
'72 Plymouth
|
1972-25
|
9/10/1972
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
3
|
'72 Plymouth
|
1973-03
|
2/25/1973
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
8
|
'73 Dodge
|
1973-23
|
9/9/1973
|
34
|
Richard Petty
|
5
|
'73 Dodge
|
1974-03
|
2/24/1974
|
28
|
Bobby Allison
|
1
|
'74 Chevrolet
|
1974-24
|
9/8/1974
|
27
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'74 Dodge
|
1975-03
|
2/23/1975
|
22
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'74 Dodge
|
1975-26
|
10/12/1975
|
28
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
2
|
'75 Chevrolet
|
1976-04
|
3/7/1976
|
30
|
Dave Marcis
|
2
|
Dodge
|
1976-23
|
9/12/1976
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-03
|
2/27/1977
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-23
|
9/11/1977
|
28
|
Neil Bonnett
|
2
|
Dodge
|
1978-03
|
2/26/1978
|
30
|
Benny Parsons
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1978-23
|
9/10/1978
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1979-04
|
3/11/1979
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
9
|
Oldsmobile
|
1979-24
|
9/9/1979
|
26
|
Bobby Allison
|
2
|
Ford
|
1980-03
|
2/24/1980
|
31
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1980-24
|
9/7/1980
|
29
|
Bobby Allison
|
2
|
Ford
|
1981-03
|
2/22/1981
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
7
|
Buick
|
1981-24
|
9/13/1981
|
32
|
Benny Parsons
|
4
|
Ford
|
1982-02
|
2/21/1982
|
32
|
Dave Marcis
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1982-23
|
9/12/1982
|
31
|
Bobby Allison
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1983-02
|
2/27/1983
|
32
|
Bobby Allison
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1983-23
|
9/11/1983
|
30
|
Bobby Allison
|
6
|
Buick
|
1984-02
|
2/26/1984
|
32
|
Ricky Rudd
|
4
|
Ford
|
1984-23
|
9/9/1984
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-02
|
2/24/1985
|
30
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-21
|
9/8/1985
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
22
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-02
|
2/23/1986
|
31
|
Kyle Petty
|
12
|
Ford
|
1986-22
|
9/7/1986
|
29
|
Tim Richmond
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-03
|
3/8/1987
|
32
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-22
|
9/13/1987
|
30
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
1988-02
|
2/21/1988
|
32
|
Neil Bonnett
|
3
|
Pontiac
|
1988-22
|
9/11/1988
|
36
|
Davey Allison
|
1
|
Ford
|
1989-04
|
3/26/1989
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
2
|
Pontiac
|
1989-22
|
9/10/1989
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
6
|
Pontiac
|
1990-02
|
2/25/1990
|
36
|
Mark Martin
|
6
|
Ford
|
1990-22
|
9/9/1990
|
36
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-02
|
2/24/1991
|
35
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
19
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-22
|
9/7/1991
|
36
|
Harry Gant
|
13
|
Oldsmobile
|
1992-03
|
3/8/1992
|
35
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1992-22
|
9/12/1992
|
35
|
Rusty Wallace
|
3
|
Pontiac
|
1993-03
|
3/7/1993
|
36
|
Davey Allison
|
14
|
Ford
|
1993-23
|
9/11/1993
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
3
|
Pontiac
|
1994-03
|
3/6/1994
|
37
|
Ernie Irvan
|
7
|
Ford
|
1994-24
|
9/10/1994
|
38
|
Terry Labonte
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1995-03
|
3/5/1995
|
38
|
Terry Labonte
|
24
|
Chevrolet
|
1995-24
|
9/9/1995
|
38
|
Rusty Wallace
|
7
|
Ford
|
1996-03
|
3/3/1996
|
40
|
Jeff Gordon
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-24
|
9/7/1996
|
40
|
Ernie Irvan
|
16
|
Ford
|
1997-03
|
3/2/1997
|
43
|
Rusty Wallace
|
7
|
Ford
|
1997-24
|
9/6/1997
|
42
|
Dale Jarrett
|
23
|
Ford
|
1998-13
|
6/6/1998
|
43
|
Terry Labonte
|
16
|
Chevrolet
|
1998-25
|
9/12/1998
|
43
|
Jeff Burton
|
3
|
Ford
|
1999-11
|
5/15/1999
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
21
|
Ford
|
1999-25
|
9/11/1999
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
2
|
Pontiac
|
2000-11
|
5/6/2000
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
2000-25
|
9/9/2000
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2001-11
|
5/5/2001
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
7
|
Pontiac
|
2001-26
|
9/8/2001
|
43
|
Ricky Rudd
|
9
|
Ford
|
2002-11
|
5/5/2002
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
3
|
Pontiac
|
2002-26
|
9/7/2002
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
25
|
Ford
|
2003-11
|
5/3/2003
|
43
|
Joe Nemechek
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-26
|
9/6/2003
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
4
|
Dodge
|
2004-11
|
5/15/2004
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2004-26
|
9/11/2004
|
43
|
Jeremy Mayfield
|
7
|
Dodge
|
2005-11
|
5/14/2005
|
43
|
Kasey Kahne
|
1
|
Dodge
|
2005-26
|
9/10/2005
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
5
|
Ford
|
2006-10
|
5/6/2006
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-26
|
9/9/2006
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-10
|
5/6/2007
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-26
|
9/8/2007
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-10
|
5/3/2008
|
43
|
Clint Bowyer
|
31
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-26
|
9/7/2008
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2009-10
|
5/2/2009
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
14
|
Toyota
|
2009-26
|
9/12/2009
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
3
|
Toyota
|
2010-10
|
5/1/2010
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
1
|
Toyota
|
2010-26
|
9/11/2010
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
14
|
Toyota
|
2011-09
|
4/30/2011
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
20
|
Toyota
|
2011-26
|
9/10/2011
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
2012-09
|
4/28/2012
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
5
|
Toyota
|
2012-26
|
9/8/2012
|
43
|
Clint Bowyer
|
4
|
Toyota
|
2013-09
|
4/27/2013
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
17
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-26
|
9/7/2013
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
26
|
Ford
|
2014-09
|
4/26/2014
|
43
|
Joey Logano
|
17
|
Ford
|
2014-26
|
9/6/2014
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
1
|
Ford
|
2015-09
|
4/26/2015
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2015-26
|
9/12/2015
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
2
|
Toyota
|
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