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Richmond Raceway Gearing Up For NASCAR Doubleheader And 9/11 Remembrance

by Hunter Thomas September 9, 2021 0 comments

RICHMOND, Va. – On Saturday, Richmond Raceway will host a NASCAR doubleheader and remember and honor those who lost their lives 20 years ago during 9/11.

NASCAR is without a doubt, the most patriotic mainstream sports industry in America, and on Saturday, Richmond Raceway will hand out American flags to fans and will the pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 will feature patriotic elements.

“You’ll see a lot of pageantry, mainly directed towards the Cup race, but there will be a moment in the Xfinity race that I think will be very special and visually impactful,” said Richmond Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier. “A lot of elements around pre-race for Cup. The fans that are in attendance that day will be given small American flags that they can wave during the race and during each of those moments, one in the Xfinity race and one in the Cup race as I mentioned. You’ll see a heavy military and first responder presence as part of our pre-race ceremony.”

The track even had representatives from the 9/11 Memorial Foundation in New York play a role in planning the patriotic elements. One aspect of the weekend will be an 1,100 lbs. piece of steel of the World Trade Center that will be on display in the track’s midway. The artifact will give fans an opportunity to reflect on what happed on 9/11 in 2001.

“NASCAR races are always extremely patriotic,” Bickmeier said. “I think we’re kicking it up times 100 on this weekend, so I’m excited about that. A piece of one of the World Trade Center will be on display out in our midway, and with that, I think that just gives fans that want to go and view it, just a moment to have some reflection on what happened 20 years ago and 20 years later. Everything that we’ve done as a NASCAR industry has been around a vision of honor and remember.”

This past weekend at Darlington Raceway, many of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contenders earned more than just a Darlington Stripe and are now in a hole heading into this weekend’s Playoff race at Richmond Raceway. Alex Bowman, six-time Richmond winner Kyle Busch, William Byron and Michael McDowell are below the Playoff cutline. On the flip side, Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Aric Almirola and Tyler Reddick will look to improve their position in the Playoff standings and continue to stay above the cutline.

“There’s a lot packed into this weekend,” Bickmeier said. “When you go down the list of things that are happening this weekend, and you start with the Federated Auto Parts 400, the second Playoff race. As we saw in Darlington, nice win by our local guy, Denny Hamlin, and then a lot of Playoff drivers that didn’t fair as well in Darlington have to come to Richmond and get it done. I’m excited to see how everything plays out there on the track”.

Prior to the NASCAR Cup Series race, fans will be treated to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Go Bowling 250. Although it’s not a NASCAR Playoff race, fans will have an opportunity to see drivers fight for the final spots before the Playoffs get underway following Bristol. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will also be competing as well.

The Go Bowling 250 will broadcast live on NBCSN and MRN at 2:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Federated Auto Parts 400 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Photo Credit: Hunter Thomas/TheFourthTurn.com