TOYOTA
No, the state fair isn't back at RIR - but don't tell that to our partners at TOYOTA. Once again they've pulled out all the stops for their display at RIR, complete with a Ferris wheel, their latest models, giveaways, driver appearances and the Richmond debut of the Toyota Thrill Ride. Experience award-winning performance with a professional driver behind the wheel at this all-new attraction.


Virginia529 Kids Zone
Bring the entire family out to the Virginia529 Kids Zone Powered by the Science Museum of Virginia and enjoy lots of free fun all weekend long. On Sunday, it'll also play host to the NASCAR Youth Autograph session, featuring Sprint Cup drivers Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson and Casey Mears. Kids 12 & younger can pick up their wristbands for the event starting at 8:00 am in the Kids Zone!


Fanatics Display
Your one stop shop for everything NASCAR, the Fanatics Superstore has everything you need from an RIR hat, to Kyle Busch socks, to that Dale Junior koozie we know you've had your eyes on. Located in the heart of the RIR Midway, be sure to swing through over the weekend for all the latest gear, driver appearances and more.


Smithfield
Come out to the Smithfield display and check out the ’67 Plymouth Belvedere, which stars in the NBC Sports documentary film, Building 43, airing later in May. A tribute to Richard Petty's record 1967 race season (27 wins, 10 consecutive victories to close out the season), the car will serve as the centerpiece of a Smithfield Foods/Albertsons-Safeway in-store promotion in the Fall 2016, where the Plymouth will be awarded to a participating consumer at the 2017 Daytona 500.

Miller Lite Party Zone
The Miller Lite Party Zone is located just outside of the Frontsretch Gate, making it the perfect place to swing by for a drink or some cornhole on your way into the race. The Party Zone is a free place for fans to enjoy live music, interactive tailgate games, cold drinks, some favorite tailgate foods and other fun events you won’t want to miss!
8:08 AM

Your One-Stop Shop for Race Weekend Gifs

From Facebook to Twitter, the NASCAR community lights up social media every week with gifs. We’ve compiled our favorites – and our recommended ways to use them – for your posting pleasure. No need to thank us – just promise us you’ll use #ToyotaCare250 and #TOYOTAOWNERS400 so we can see your masterpieces, okay?

Pre-Race

Recommendations: 
When something is really, really exciting.
Examples:
“Waking up on Race Day morning like…” 
“When you see the track on the horizon, before setting up your tailgate.” 

Recommendations: 
When it’s ‘go time.’
Examples:
“Driving to RIR like…”
“When you have to find that extra gear to get to race weekend during the work week.”

Recommendations: 
When someone disagrees with you or lets you down.
Examples:
“When you find out your friend doesn’t have his tickets yet.”

Recommendations: 
Race Weekend IS THE BEST WEEKEND EVER.
Examples:
This one should speak for itself, honestly.

Recommendations: 
GET PSYCHED.
Examples:
“Packing up the grill and cooler to head to the track.”
“When you put the car in park and step out to the tailgate.”
 
Recommendations: 
Reflecting on the gorgeous weather… or if you’re a Kanye fan.
Examples:
“Packing sunscreen for Richmond!”
“Woke up an optimist, sun was shining I’m positive.” 

Recommendations: 
Maybe if you’re a little bit fashionably late.
Examples:
“Showing up at Track Takeover at 9:05 am instead of 9:00 am.”

Race Time

Recommendations: 
PARTY TIME. And/or a dance-off.
Examples:
“When your team gets you off pit road in first.”
“When you hear your jam during Track Takeover.”
 
Recommendations: 
When you just CANNOT.
Examples:
“The field just went three-wide into turn 1.”
“I need to take my blood pressure medication after these heat races.”
“Green. White. Checkered.”

Recommendations: 
Thumbs up, let ‘er rip!
Examples:
“Two heats down…one sprint race stands between one of these drivers and $100,000!”
“First restart of the race. LET’S DO THIS.”

Recommendations: 
When Joey Logano smokes someone.
Examples:
“Joey Logano to P1.”

Recommendations: 
When you try something risky.
Examples:
“(Driver)’s dive bomb into turn 1 for the lead had them like…”

Recommendations:
 Oh shhhh-----
Examples:
“Kyle Busch closed the door on (driver).”

Recommendations: 
Thumbs up….we think?
Examples:
“Back to racing!”
“Pace car lights are off. One lap ‘til we go racing!”

Recommendations: 
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Examples:
“Fans of ______ be like…”

Post Race & Extras


Recommendations: 
This race is freaking awesome.
Examples:
“Race weekend, a whole summer of fun, and then back at RIR in September? Awww, yeah.”

Recommendations: 
Celebrating with the team.
Example:
“Another successful race weekend at Richmond.”
“Brought my buddy for the first time and he/she LOVED IT."


Now you’re all set. See you on the internet, race fans.
10:03 AM
Track Takeover. You’ve heard the name by now, for sure. “Your feet meet our pavement….” “The track is yours!” Our taglines sure are catchy, but they don’t quite tell you what to expect from this year’s event – or why ours is unlike anything else you’ve ever seen before.

We were the first to swing open our gates to the fans three years ago. Other tracks thought we were crazy when we thought up the idea – why are we giving away access that fans would pay for? Because for us, it’s all about the race day experience for the best fans in sports. We were so excited to bring that one-of-a-kind experience to our fans first – and for FREE.

So, we’ve had three years under our belts to make Track Takeover even better. Here’s what you can expect this year, driven by our friends at AAA.



Track Takeover driven by AAA Schedule:
  • 7:00 am – Parking Lots Open
  • 8:00 am – Grandstand Gates Open
  • 9:00 am – Track Portals Open – Track Takeover driven by AAA begins!
  • 9:20 – 9:30 am – Miss Sprint Cup Q&A on the Fronstretch Stage
  • 9:45 am – Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Pit Crew on the Fronstretch Stage
  • 10:00 am – Austin Dillon Appearance on the Frontstretch Stage
  • 10:20 am – Richard Childress Appearance on the Frontstretch Stage
  • 11:15 am – Track Takeover ends, get ready to go racing!
Friends and Vendors:



All of this is hosted by Michael Blair, emcee extraordinaire. Plus, make sure to sign the start/finish line too, just hours before the green flag waves to kick off the TOYOTA OWNERS 400.

We can’t wait to see you there.

8:04 PM

American Idol Winner to Perform National Anthem Before Sunday’s Race at RIR

From the Hollywood stage to the River City, American Idol Season XV winner Trent Harmon will perform the National Anthem prior to the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 this Sunday, April 24 at Richmond International Raceway.

Harmon previously performed at the Auto Club 400 alongside Idol’s Top 5 contestants in March. The Mississippi native has traveled coast-to-coast since earning the ultimate American Idol honors, debuting his Country single “Falling.” The track was written by Idol judge and Country superstar Keith Urban with Dallas Davison and Brett James. Harmon performed his coronation song during the series finale surrounded by Idol alumni and fellow contestants.

“We had the privilege of singing ‘God Bless America’ while filming American Idol. It was an amazing feeling and I am very excited and humbled to get the chance to return to the raceway and sing the National Anthem,” shared Harmon.

Harmon will serve as the headliner to the Pre-Race Ceremony for the TOYOTA OWNERS 400, which will also include a performance of “God Bless America” by the USAF Heritage of America Band, skydivers and a six-plane flyover by the Bandit Flight Team.

Already in the studio, Harmon is eager to get to work on his debut Country album for Big Machine Records. For the latest updates, follow Harmon on Twitter.

Great seats are still available for the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 race weekend at RIR. Tickets for Sunday’s race start at $40, and every admission gets you access to Track Takeover Driven by AAA, which gives fans access to the track just hours before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. Click here or call 866-455-7223 to purchase. Fans unable to attend the event can tune in at 1:00 p.m. EST on FOX.
11:00 AM
Don't things just have to break right, errr left, for Matt Kenseth at some point? The early leader in Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway suffered a pair of tire failures that put him in the garage early. While JGR teammate Carl Edwards raced his way to his first win of the season, Kenseth's 36th-place finish currently bumps him outside the Chase field of 16. "We really weren’t very tight, our Camry was pretty fast today. I was encouraged even though we didn’t have the result. I have a smile on my face and we’ll go to Richmond and try again.” It'll be the second time in two weeks the No 20 driver swings through RVA. Kenseth took some time last week to make a pit stop at the Science Museum of Virginia.

Erik Jones

NASCAR's gone heat racing. On Saturday, fans caught their first glimpse of the Dash4Cash format coming to Richmond this weekend- and rising star Erik Jones didn't disappoint. After Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch duked it out most of the afternoon, the rookie Jones seized the lead with just over a lap to go and took home his first win of 2016. "I lost my voice because I’ve been screaming so much on the cool down lap. We got a really good restart and Kyle just left the top open and we went up there...he worked pretty hard to keep us behind him. We just kept digging and it worked out.  Just an awesome feeling." No doubt he'll try and keep that awesome feeling alive this weekend in the ToyotaCare 250.
 
Dewcision

Three cars. Two choices. One primary. A trio of Team Hendrick drivers will sport Mountain Dew primaries inspired by the company's "DEWcision" campaign. Chase Elliott (No. 24), Kasey Kahne (No. 5) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88) took to Twitter to showcase their new paint schemes on Monday.  Elliott’s car will have the colors of “Baja Blast,” Kahne will be a pitchman for “Pitch Black” and Earnhardt will be “undecided” with both flavors on his car.

NASCAR Green

For the second consecutive year, the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 race weekend will be officially recognized as the NASCAR Race to Green race. From Green-inspired paint schemes, to a fresh finish on the Start/Finish line, and more - fans will definitely be seeing green this weekend in Richmond. But far from a one-time event, RIR works year round to be a Sustainable Short Track. Check out our continued commitment to sustainable living and renewable resources.
9:00 AM
It's just a few short days until race week in Richmond, but that's not all the River City has going on.  It's Richmond Restaurant Week from April 18-24 and by participating you can help eliminate area hunger through our partnership with The Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

Here's the scoop. Go to any of these restaurants and for $29.16 per person you'll get a three course meal created by one of Richmond's premier chefs. For each meal sold, $4.16 will be donated back to The Central Virginia Food Bank, a longtime community partner of Richmond International Raceway. Come to Richmond for the racing- but definitely don't skip out on the food. We've highlighted some of our favorites below:

Amuse at the VMFA
You’ll find fine art and even finer food at Amuse Restaurant at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Think: in-season, fresh, local ingredients, not only in their meals, but in their cocktails too. Stop by for Chef Greg Haley’s latest masterpiece and stay for an incredible collection of art – including traveling exhibits in town for just a little while. (Amuse has plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options, too.)

Family Meal
Family Meal
Got a hungry group? We’ve got you covered. Family Meal stands by its name – the menu consists of your favorite southern-style dishes, with a twist. The incredibly generous portions make it the perfect place to go after traveling to the city, before heading to the hotel.  Located in Willow Lawn just off the I-95 interchange, this spot is one of the most centrally-located and closest to the track.

The Tobacco Company
In the heart of Richmond's Shockoe Slip, The Tobacco Company is where colonial charm meets popular nightlife. Within walking distance from several of our fine hotels, visiting teams and drivers have this spot at the top of their dining to-do lists when visiting Virginia’s capital. With decadent Restaurant Week dishes like Oysters Monterey and Leg of Lamb - you should too.

The Grill
Also near Willow Lawn, The Grill is located in Richmond’s West End on the corner of Libbie and Patterson. Serving everything from breakfast to fried pickles to New York strip, this neighborhood grill has something for everyone. Stop by for a quick breakfast on your way to the track or grab drinks on the covered patio during one of Richmond’s trademark warm spring evenings after the race.

SUPPER
What started as a quaint, 24-seater storefront in Scott's Addition has grown into one of the RVA's go-to joints for creative culinary flavors. LUNCH. | SUPPER! has the aura of a local diner, but the grub of a five-star joint - making it a favorite spot for, well, lunch or supper. It's also just a short walk from Isley, Ardent and Veil Breweries.
5:02 PM


Arrive early to avoid traffic. Lots open at 7AM on Sunday, giving you all morning to tailgate for the TOYOTA OWNERS 400!  Be sure to follow @HenricoPolice on Twitter for the most up-to-date traffic information.
Parking Information


While we have a number of free parking options at RIR, you can take your race day experience to another level with premium parking in our permit-only lots (Lot D, P1 and P2). It’s the easiest way to get a head start on your race day tailgate.


On Sunday morning, the track is yours. All TOYOTA OWNERS 400 ticketholders are invited to the Track Takeover driven by AAA! Enjoy Q&A's with NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Austin Dillon and team owner Richard Childress, interactive displays and more!
More Info


Who's going to be where and when? What time is XFINITY practice again? When can I head out to the Midway and grab some funnel cake? All those answers and more with our Weekend Schedule.
View Schedule


What could make race weekend even better? Well how does Garage Access, a Driver Intro Pass or FanVision Rental sound? We got you covered on all of these, and more!
Good Deals


Check out the Midway, find the best food pit stops or check the view from your seat.  We've got all the info you'll need to get in and around the facility on race day.
Maps on Maps on Maps


Families and NASCAR really go hand in hand! With the RIR Kids Club display, the Virginia529 Kids Zone and Acceleration Nation, there's something for the kiddos to do all day long!
Experience Family Fun


Go behind-the-scenes with us on race day, and follow us on social media. We're bringing all the best sights, sounds and stories to you all weekend long - you've got to see it. 


Need assistance? Guests can stop by any of our Guest Services booths OR send a text to 69050 and include RIRFAN in the body of the message, and we'll be in touch with how we can help!


Make race weekend fun and exciting for everyone. Be respectful…BECAUSE IT MATTERS.
RIR Respect
6:09 PM
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