Racing Virginia will be represented at Richmond Raceway during the track’s fall race weekend, presented by Who’s Your Driver, on Sept. 8-9. Team Racing Virginia (TRV) will join a current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver to discuss short track racing at Gridside Live! as part of Fan Appreciation Weekend in The Classic Amphitheater on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 2:05 p.m. Fans will also get to cheer the future of Racing Virginia as ten youth drivers will be introduced with the top 10 qualifying drivers prior to the Virginia529 College Savings 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race on Friday, Sept. 8.
The inaugural class of TRV racers include Chase Burrow, Macy Causey, Zach Lightfoot, and Timmy “Mini” Tyrell. This group of talented young drivers are the future faces of racing in the Commonwealth and were selected to form the inaugural TRV. The class was introduced to fans and media at Richmond in June.
The backbone of any sport is its future, and in Virginia the racing scene has a strong population of young drivers who are developing their skills at local tracks. TRV was formed to promote and support the future development of local drivers and race teams under the Racing Virginia platform. All members of TRV are from Virginia, under 18 years of age, and compete regularly in the Commonwealth, or in a national touring series.
TRV drivers will take to The Classic Amphitheater stage during Gridside Live! to discuss the importance of supporting local short tracks. They will be joined by a current Monster Energy Series driver who has qualified for the Playoffs and has a strong connection to continuing the tradition of racing at local short tracks. The Monster Energy Series driver will be shared as part of the Gridside Live! announcement on Wednesday. TRV will answer questions about their racing careers and who their role models are within the sport. TRV will also have the chance to ask NASCAR drivers questions about their path to the top. Gridside Live! takes place in The Classic Amphitheater on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with the TRV segment at 2:05 p.m.
“Racing Virginia is an initiative launched earlier this year to support the growth of motorsports in the Commonwealth,” said Richmond President Dennis Bickmeier. “In its first year, the platform has made it easier for fans to follow motor racing in Virginia and provide exclusive state-based content to better connect with the core audience of NASCAR. By including Racing Virginia drivers as part of our fall race weekend, we are continuing to support the grass roots level of our sport that is mission critical to the overall health of the racing industry. This continues to be our commitment to help it grow, and flourish in Virginia.”
Race fans will be introduced to the future of Racing Virginia as ten youth drivers will be introduced with the top 10 qualifying drivers in the Virginia529 College Savings 250. The Racing Virginia youth drivers who will be introduced during NXS driver introductions include:
- Autumn Weaver, age 13, of Suffolk, VA
- Layton Harrison, age 9, of Dinwiddie, VA
- Conner Jones, age 11, of Fredericksburg, VA
- Peyton Lee, age 11, of Mechanicsville, VA
- Rachel Rae Ingram, age 11, of Spring Grove, VA
- Jasman Pellek, age 14, of Virginia Beach, VA
- Robbie Pellek, age 10, of Virginia Beach, VA
- Morgan O’Neill, age 14, of Chesterfield, VA
- Donnie Greybeck, age 12, of Virginia Beach, VA
- Caitlyn Joyner, age 14, of Virginia Beach, VA
In addition to being introduced at NXS driver introductions, the young racers will have the chance to join their paired driver on the starting grid during the invocation and performance of the National Anthem. These up-and-coming drivers will now have the opportunity to get advice from a veteran driver. All Racing Virginia youth drivers represented are under the age of 14 and race in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Richmond will also display local Virginia racers’ cars, including TRV and Racing Virginia youth drivers, in the Midway over the fall race weekend. The move is to promote local racing, and to showcase the importance short tracks play in growing motorsports. Multiple types of cars will be displayed, including late model UCARS, Legends, Bandoleros, limited sportsman, super streets, and dirt modifieds. The cars along with the Racing Virginia drivers will be on hand in various locations around the Midway.
Racing Virginia is an unprecedented collaboration among Virginia’s motorsports venues providing exclusive news and information about racing action in the Commonwealth. Racing in Virginia comes in many forms, from running on dirt tracks, to paved ovals, on drag strips and even on road courses. There are currently over 25 motorsports facilities in operation throughout Virginia.
The Racing Virginia platform shares news and information from racing venues from Langley Speedway to Lonesome Pine Raceway, making it easy for fans to have access to news, schedules, and tickets. Racing Virginia showcases exclusive original content each week from regular contributors including two of the most respected personalities in the sport, Joe Moore and Randy Hallman.
For more information on Racing Virginia, please visit racingvirginia.com or follow on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Richmond Raceway hosts NASCAR for two nights of racing “under the lights” on September 8-9. The fall race weekend, presented by Who’s Your Driver, will see history on display as Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes his final, career, two-race appearance as a driver.
The weekend gets started on Friday, Sept. 8, with on-track practice for both series and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Pole Qualifying for both weekend races. The action then dials up as the rising stars of tomorrow compete in the Virginia529 College Savings 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m., the sport’s best take to the track for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race as NASCAR crowns 2017 Regular Season Champion.
Tickets are available now for both races and can be purchased online at richmondraceway.com or by calling the Richmond Ticket Office, toll-free, at 866-455-7223.
Richmond Raceway PR
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