Richmond II: Richmond Int'l Raceway news 2010-09-08

NASCAR NATIONWIDE "TECH TALK" ON FRIDAY INTRODUCES FANS TO SERIES' NEW CAR

Richmond, VA (September 8, 2010) -- With the anticipated debut Friday night of the new Nationwide car at Richmond International Raceway, the track and NASCAR will host a Nationwide "Tech Talk" to familiarize fans with the machine.

Tech Talk with Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash and driver Trevor Bayne will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday at the Nationwide Display on The Midway, located near the Capital One Corporate Hospitality Pavilion. The event is free.

"We really enjoyed hosting 'Tech Talks' at Daytona and Michigan, our first two races for the new car," Balash said. "It's a great opportunity for our fans to learn the differences between the current car and the new car. Trevor (Bayne) and I look forward to spending some time with the great fans in Richmond."

NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers will test the new car Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in preparation for Friday night's Virginia 529 College Savings 250 race "under the lights" at America's Premier Short Track. The race marks the third event this season of the new car, featuring the new models -- Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger, as well as the sportier models of the Chevrolet Impala and Toyota Camry. Richmond is the first short-track event of the year for the new car.

When series owners met with NASCAR's competition executives last summer, the consensus was to race at tracks of varying length. The first race was July 1 at Daytona's 2.5-mile high-banked superspeedway, where Dale Earnhardt Jr. won in a Chevrolet Impala. Brad Keselowski drove his Dodge Challenger to the win in Race No. 2 at Michigan's 2-mile flatter, wider surface on Aug. 14.

"I think this is a cool opportunity for me to explain the new Toyota Camry to our fans," Bayne said. "I really want them to understand how safe and fun these cars are to drive. The new car puts a lot of the driving back in the drivers' hands. I really look forward to seeing how they will drive at Richmond."

The Thursday NASCAR Nationwide Series new car test session is a prelude to the Friday, September 10 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 race "under the lights." Tickets are on sale now and start at $30 for General Admission seating. Advance reserved seats are $40. Tickets at the gate on Friday are $35 (General Admission) and $45 (Reserved). Children 12 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult in general admission sections on Friday only.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill NASCAR Weekend at Richmond continues on Saturday night with the Air Guard 400, which is "One Last Race to Make The Chase." Tickets are available for the Air Guard 400, with a limited number of $40 tickets still remaining. For tickets and information to both races, click here or call 866-455-RACE (7223).

-source: rir