Richmond Reimagined Gave NASCAR Fans An Experience Of A Lifetime

RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond Reimagined didn’t disappoint this past weekend at Richmond Raceway, and in fact, it raised the bar for future projects in the NASCAR industry.

Throughout the September NASCAR weekend at Richmond Raceway, fans got their first experience with the track’s new $30 million interactive infield. As soon as fans rose from the frontstretch tunnel, they were welcomed to a wide area inside the infield that’s called the DC Solar FanGrounds. The DC Solar FanGrounds featured an array of food options, entertainment for fans of all ages and a view that is close as you can get to the teams in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage area.

“Based on the feedback we received from fans, we feel like we delivered on the promise to fans to immerse them in the racing experience like never before at Richmond Raceway.” said Richmond Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier.

Photo Credit: Hunter Thomas/TheFourthTurn.com | NASCAR fans enjoy lunch right next to tech inspection.

The most unique aspect of the new infield is the pedestrian walkway that stretches along the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage. Fan can literally walk up to a gate that overlooks the garage stalls and watch crew members work on the race cars. Drivers can walk up and sign autographs as well. It’s an experience that offers an extremely rare view. In fact, Richmond Raceway is the only track on the NASCAR schedule that offers a ground-level viewing area of this magnitude.

Photo Credit: Hunter Thomas/TheFourthTurn.com | Fans look on as Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s team works on the No 17 Ford.

Inside the infield, there are a very large array of choices for food, ranging from vegan options to sausages, seafood, carnival food, traditional track food and more. Papa John’s and Chick-fil-A had food stands too. Below are some of the menus that fans saw while in the DC Solar FanGrounds at Richmond Raceway.

Fans enjoyed their tasty food while sitting underneath five covered dining areas. Some of the covered dining areas were literally right next to tech inspection. The entire DC Solar FanGrounds featured 120 televisions. Toyota Racing had games, and there was an area that featured two portable bars. Fans could also play corn hole while watching the race at the same time. Virginia Tourism had a temporary satellite office that was connected to the garage area. Fans could poke their head in and learn more about the area and attractions away from the track.

Photo Credit: Hunter Thomas/TheFourthTurn.com | Fans play corn hole before the Federated Auto Parts 400.

Prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Go Bowling 250 and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400, fans were able to walk up to the driver intro stage located on the inside of Turn 1 and cheer on their favorite driver. After the checkered flag fell, fans inside the DC Solar FanGrounds stood just outside of Victory Lane and took part in Kyle Busch’s and Christopher Bell’s winning celebrations.

Photo Credit: Hunter Thomas/TheFourthTurn.com | Fans await their driver’s appearance prior to NASCAR Xfinity Series intros.

Overall, the entire Richmond Reimagined construction project used 6,506 cubic yards of concrete, 256,00 pounds of rebar that’s equal to 128 tons, 220, 326 square feet of slab on grade, 12,976 bolts, 329 tons of steel, 2,581 pieces of metal panel, and the tunnel featured 415 linear feet of 10×10 concrete boxes. Oh yeah, and 36,500 cubic yards of dirt was moved to allow this project to come to fruition.