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By: the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Richmond International Raceway

Richmond International Raceway is renowned for conducting its races at night under the lights.
Richmond International Raceway is renowned for conducting its races at night under the lights.

Richmond International Raceway has been known for running its events at night ever since lights were installed in the early '90s. A NASCAR track since 1­953, it was originally a half-mile oval, being reconfigur­ed in 1988 to its current .75-mile length.

Races hosted during its long history include the Richmond 250/400/500 (1962-1983), the Capital City 300/400/500 (1962-1980), the Wrangler Sanforset 400 (1981-1985), the Miller High Life/Genuine Draft 400 (1984-1995),­ and the Pontiac Excitement 400 (1988-2003). In 2006 it hosted the Richmond 400 and the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. These "400" races run 400 laps, equal to 300 miles. ­

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Richmond International Raceway Visitor Information

Richmond International Raceway contact information: Richmond International Raceway. 600 E. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, VA (23222). Phone toll-free 866-455-RACE (7223). www.rir.com.

Richmond International Raceway diagram: Download a PDF of the Richmond International Raceway layout.

Richmond International Raceway parking: There is extensive free parking -- sometimes far from the track -- with tram service from Lots H and J. The service resumes 45 minutes after the checkered flag to give fans walking to their cars a chance to clear the paths. Be patient if you want to hitch a ride. Parking overnight on the raceway is prohibited Thursday and Friday of event weeks except for the RV lot, which has some hook-ups. The waiting list for those spots is a couple of years long. Call the track about availability. The raceway operates shuttle buses from the Richmond Coliseum (N. 7th St.) downtown beginning at 1 p.m. on NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series days, but few fans take advantage of them.

Richmond International Raceway first aid: First-aid and care centers are located outside of Turn 1 near Gate 40 and outside of Turn 4 near Gate 70.

Getting around Richmond International Raceway: The earlier you leave for the track, the less traffic you’ll encounter, right? Not exactly. Richmond aims to keep people entertained all day, with a midway, a fan festival, and live music prior to the race, so many fans get to the track early. Allow plenty of time. Several winding streets leading to the track will be one-way only on race days, so use the detailed city map or download the traffic map from the Web site, www.rir.com. Expect Laburnum Avenue leading to the main gate to be the most congested. Consider taking I-64 to I-295, exit 177, to Meadowbridge Road, exit 38B, which can be faster.­

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