Richmond International Raceway
Track data
Race #: 26 of 36 (9-09-06)
Track Size: .75 Mile
Event: Chevy Rock & Roll 400
Number of Laps: 400
Location: Richmond, VA
Length of Event: 300 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 1,290 Ft.
Length of Back Stretch: 860 Ft.
Degree of Banking in Corners: 14 degrees
Degree of Banking on Straights: 8 degrees Front/2 degrees Back
Qualifying/Race data:
Last year's event pole winner: Kevin Harvick 128.425 mph 9-9-05 21.024 seconds
Last year's event winner: Kurt Busch 98.567 mph 9-10-05 3 hr. 02 min, 37 sec
Track qualifying record: Brian Vickers 129.983 mph 5-14-04 20.772 seconds
Track race record: Dale Jarrett 109.047 mph 9-6-97 2 hr, 45 min, 04 sec
Historical data:
Previous winners at Richmond:
Richard Petty (13) Bobby Allison (7) David Pearson (6) Darrell Waltrip (6) Rusty Wallace (6)
Dale Earnhardt (5) Cale Yarborough (3) Joe Weatherly (3) Terry Labonte (3) Tony Stewart (3)
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (3) Benny Parsons (2) Neil Bonnett (2) Dave Marcis (2) Davey Allison (2)
Ernie Irvan (2) Dale Jarrett (2) Jeff Gordon (2) Ricky Rudd (2) Lee Petty (2)
Cotton Owens (2) Tim Flock (1) Buck Baker (1) Paul Goldsmith (1) Speedy Thompson (2)
Tom Pistone (1) Mark Martin (1) Harry Gant (1) Bill Elliott (1) James Hylton (1)
Ned Jarrett (1) Kyle Petty (1) Junior Johnson (1) Rex White (1) Tim Richmond (1)
Jeff Burton (1) Matt Kenseth (1) Joe Nemechek (1) Ryan Newman (1) Jeremy Mayfield (1)
Kasey Kahne (1) Kurt Busch (1)
Races won from the pole: 20 of 100 events (20%)
Races won from the top 10: 80 of 100 events (80%)
Races won from outside top 10: 20 of 100 events (20%)
Note: Starting position of 1953 race unknown
Track Milestones
Buck Baker won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup pole at Richmond International Raceway on dirt in 1953.
Lee Petty won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Richmond on dirt in April 1953.
In 1968 the track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt.
Kyle Petty became the first third-generation NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race winner when he won his first
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race on February 23, 1986, the Miller High Life 400 at Richmond. Richard posted
his first Richmond victory in 1961 and Lee won the very first Richmond race in 1953.
Davey Allison won the first 3/4-mile race at Richmond from the Bud Pole, the 1988 Miller High Life 400,
after the track was increased in distance from one-half mile between the two races that season.
The first night race was held in the fall of 1991.
1999 was the first season that both Richmond races were held at night.
Qualifying Update
There has been a different Bud Pole winner in each of the past 13 races at Richmond International Raceway.
Track Update
The 2006 Crown Royal 400 was the 100th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Richmond. Though there were
several “re-measurements” the first 64 were on what was basically a half-mile configuration. The last 36 have
been run on the current three-quarter-mile layout.
Manufacturer Update
All three active manufacturers have posted Richmond victories within the past three years. Ford has a slight
lead in victory lane at Richmond since the track was re-constructed to its current configuration in 1988 with 14
victories in the 36 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races there, but a Ford has won only eight of the last 20. Chevrolet
has 11 victories; Pontiac has seven and Dodge has three. The other victory was by Harry Gant in an Oldsmobile
(February 1991).
The Money
Purse $4,995,081
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $50,000
Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side – D-4060; Right-side – D-4062
Other Nextel Cup Tracks At Which This Tire Combination Is Run: Dover International Speedway
Estimated Pit Window: Every 48-52 laps, based on fuel mileage
Would You Believe?
Twenty of the 100 races at Richmond since 1953, have been won by the Bud Pole winner, but only three
times since the track was re-configured in September 1988, has the Bud Pole winner gone on to win the race:
Davey Allison (fall 1988), Bill Elliott (spring 1992) and Kasey Kahne (spring 2005).
Finishing It Up
Seventeen drivers have competed in all of the past 10 races at Richmond. Ten of those 17 have been running
at the finish for all 10 races.
Mr. Consistency
Rusty Wallace was the dominator on the 3/4-mile track at Richmond since 1988. In his 35 races Wallace
had three Bud Poles (second only to Jeff Gordon with four), six victories (twice as many as closest drivers Dale
Earnhardt Jr., Terry Labonte and Tony Stewart; three each), 21 top-fives and 27 top-10's (more than any other
driver) and led 2,933 laps (more than any other driver). His 8.171 average finish is still the best among all drivers
with more than three starts there.
Track Tidbits
The field at Richmond will consist of 43 cars. The 43rd position is reserved for a past NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup champion, if needed. If unused, it will go to the next eligible owner.
Two qualifying laps will be used to determine the starting positions with the adjustments made afterwards as
required.
There have been 100 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Richmond since 1953 – two each season since 1959.
There have been 36 races at Richmond since the track converted from 1/2 to a 3/4-mile track in the fall of
1988.
Kevin Harvick is the defending Bud Pole winner for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400.
Retired drivers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison lead all other drivers each with eight Bud Poles at
Richmond.
Jeff Gordon leads all drivers with four Bud Poles on the 3/4-mile track.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Richmond have been won from the pole 20 times since 1953, the most of
any starting position.
In the 100 races at Richmond the winner has started fifth or better 56 times.
The furthermost back in the field that a Richmond race winner started was 28th by Richard Petty in the 1971
Richmond 500 (spring).
The furthermost back in the field that a Richmond race winner has started on the 3/4-mile configuration was
25th by Matt Kenseth in the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400.
Kurt Busch is the defending champion of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400.
Richard Petty scored 13 victories at Richmond, the most of all drivers.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Tony Stewart lead all full time, active drivers – each with three victories at
Richmond. Terry Labonte also has three Richmond victories.
In the modern era of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing at Richmond (1972 to 2005), a sweep has occurred five
times. Rusty Wallace (1989) is the most recent driver to win both Richmond races in the same year.
Richard Petty won seven consecutive races at Richmond, winning the fall race in 1970 and then sweeping
1971, 1972 and 1973.
Between 1964 and 1975 Richard Petty won 12 of 24 races and David Pearson won six, giving them 75
percent of the wins at Richmond in the 12-year period.
There have been nine different race winners in the last 10 races at Richmond International Raceway. Only
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two) has repeated as winner there since the fall of 2001.
Forty-six of the 100 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races run at Richmond have been won from the top-three
starting positions. However, only 12 of the 36 races run on the current configuration have been won from third
or better. Ten races on the new configuration have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.
Qualifying at Richmond has been canceled five times: 1955, spring 1962, fall 1967; spring 1986 and spring
1997.
There have been five shortened races at Richmond: spring 1962; fall 1969; spring 1982, spring 1989 and
spring 2003.
There has never been a green-white-checkered finish at Richmond.
Youthful Success
Tony Stewart scored his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory at Richmond in his 25th career NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup start, winning the 1999 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., posted his career-first top-10 finish when he finished 10th in the 1999 Exide NASCAR
Select Batteries 400, his fourth career race. On his next visit to the Virginia track, he scored a victory, winning
the 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400 in his 32nd career start.
Ryan Newman finished second in both of his races at Richmond in his rookie season (2002) and won in his
fourth attempt there (fall 2003).
Brian Vickers won the Bud Pole and finished eighth in his career-first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at
Richmond (spring 2004).
Kyle Busch finished fourth in both of his first two races at Richmond (2005).
Denny Hamlin finished second in his first race at Richmond (spring 2006).
Joe Gibbs Racing Richmond Success
Tony Stewart has three victories and 10 top-10 finishes in his 15 races at Richmond.
Bobby Labonte posted 10 top-10 finishes in his 22 races at Richmond with Joe Gibbs Racing, including
two runner-up finishes. Labonte followed teammate Tony Stewart across the finish line in the 1999 Exide
Batteries Select 400 and then finished second to Joe Nemechek in May 2003.
Denny Hamlin finished second in the 2006 Crown Royal 400 – his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at
Richmond.
Richmond Milestones
Kyle Petty is expected to make his 775th career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Richmond International
Raceway.
Dave Blaney and Robby Gordon are each expected to make their 225th career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
start at Richmond.
Richmond Bud Pole Winners Galore
There have been 13 different Bud Pole winners in the last 13 races at Richmond.
Many Race Winners Too
There have been nine different race winners in the last 10 races at Richmond International Raceway. Dale
Earnhardt Jr., is the only repeat winner during the 10-race period. Earnhardt Jr. posted his only victory in 2006 at
Richmond in May. Earnhardt and Tony Stewart lead all active drivers, each with three victories at Richmond.
Starting Up Front is Important at Richmond
Ten of the last 11 races at Richmond have been won from a top-10 starting position, including two from the
front row and six from the top five.
Richmond Streaks
Greg Biffle has started in the top 10 in the last six straight races at Richmond.
Ryan Newman has posted nine top-15 starts in all nine of his races at Richmond.
Greg Biffle has posted four straight top-10 finishes at Richmond, the longest current streak.
Kyle Busch has scored three straight top-five finishes in three races at Richmond. His average finish of 4.3
is the best of all active drivers.
Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart have each scored three straight top-10 finishes at Richmond.
Recent Dominance at Richmond
Kyle Busch has finished in the top five in all three of his races at Richmond International Raceway.
Owner Wins at Richmond International Raceway
Petty Enterprises scored 15 wins at Richmond International Raceway, the most of any car owner. Rick
Hendrick has seven victories at Richmond.
Leading The Way at Richmond International Raceway
Richard Petty led 5,128 laps in 63 races at Richmond, the most of all drivers. Petty led just one lap in eight
races on the current 3/4-mile configuration.
Rusty Wallace led 2,933 laps on the 3/4-mile track – more than three times the total of any other driver.
Jeff Burton leads all active drivers, leading 874 laps at Richmond. Burton is second to Rusty Wallace in laps
led on the 3/4-mile configuration.
Richmond Standouts
Four drivers have started all 36 races on the 3/4-mile configuration at Richmond International Raceway:
Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin and Ken Schrader.
Jeff Gordon scored four Bud Poles in his 27 races at Richmond International Raceway, the most of all
drivers on the 3/4-mile configuration.
Rusty Wallace scored six victories at Richmond International Raceway on the 3/4-mile configuration. Dale
Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart have each scored three victories on the current configuration, the most
among active drivers. Terry Labonte also has three victories on the 3/4-mile track.
Mark Martin leads all active drivers with 12 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes at Richmond International
Raceway.
Ryan Newman leads all drivers with a 5.4 starting average in nine races on the 3/4-mile configuration at
Richmond.
Kyle Busch leads all drivers with a 4.3 finishing average in three races on the 3/4-mile configuration at
Richmond.
Who's Hot
Matt Kenseth has posted 13 top-five finishes in 2006 and ranks first in the point standings. After 25 races
one year ago, he ranked ninth.
Jimmie Johnson has scored a top-15 finish in 22 of the 25 races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
Jimmie Johnson has finished on the lead lap in the last 20 races, since Martinsville in April.
Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to score 18 top-10 finishes in the first 25 races of 2006, three more than
any other driver.
Kasey Kahne has won five races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
Denny Hamlin has scored top-15 finishes in 15 of the last 16 races. He has scored seven straight top-10
finishes.
Kevin Harvick has posted nine straight top-15 finishes. Harvick has been running at the finish in the last
37 races, the longest current streak.
Jeff Gordon has scored top-five finishes in each of the last three races and has climbed from ninth to
fourth in the point standings in the last three races.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has scored top-10 finishes in the last three races and has climbed from 10th to sixth in
the point standings in the last three races.
Casey Mears has climbed from 19th to 15th in the point standings in the last three races.
Top 10 in Points at This Track
First
Matt Kenseth finished seventh in the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway, scoring his 15th top-10 finish
in 2006. He has scored victories at California, Dover, second Michigan and Bristol this season. Kenseth climbed
from second to first in the point standings, the third time in 2006 to lead the point standings. Kenseth was also the
point leader after race No. 5 at Bristol and again after race no. 8 at Phoenix. In each case he held the lead for just
one race. He leads Jimmie Johnson by just nine points. He has clinched a spot in the 2006 Chase, his third straight
year to do so. Kenseth ranked second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings for 13 straight races, before
moving back to the top position. One year ago he ranked ninth in the point standings after 25 races. Kenseth has
ranked among the top-five in the point standings since his victory in Race No. 2 at California, 24 straight races.
Kenseth has been running at the finish in the last 19 races, since Texas in April. He has competed in 13 races at
Richmond International Raceway scoring one victory (September 2002) and seven top-10 finishes. He has been
running at the finish in 12 of his 13 races at Richmond. He finished second in this race one year ago and 38th there
in May. Kenseth has led in five of his 13 races at Richmond. Kenseth has a 15.076 finishing average at Richmond.
Kenseth has won at least one race each season for five consecutive years (2002-2006).
Second
Jimmie Johnson finished 11th in the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway. He dropped from first to second
in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, ending a 16-race streak as the point leader that began at race No.
9 at Talladega. Johnson has been the point leader after all but three of the 25 races in 2006 and now trails firstplace
Matt Kenseth by just nine points. Johnson has clinched a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup, his third straight year to do so. Johnson has finished in the top-10 in the final standings in each of his four
years as a full-time driver. Johnson has scored 18 top-10 finishes in 25 races this season, three more than any other
driver. He has scored four victories in 2006 (Daytona, Las Vegas, Talladega and Indianapolis). Johnson has scored
22 top-15s in the first 25 races, the only driver to do so. One year ago Johnson ranked third in the point standings,
258 behind then point leader and eventual champion Tony Stewart. Johnson has ranked among the top-10 for
94 straight races, since Atlanta in March 2004. Three races ago Johnson held a 124-point lead over Kenseth, the
biggest point lead of the season. Johnson has been running at the finish in his last 25 races. Johnson has competed
in nine races at Richmond International Raceway scoring just one top-10 finish, a second-place finish in May
2004. Johnson has a 21.0 average finish at Richmond, ranking last among the current top-10. He finished 25th in
this race one year ago and 12th there in May. Johnson has been running at the finish in eight of his nine races at
Richmond. He has led in just three of his nine races at Richmond. Johnson has won at least one race each season
for five consecutive years (2002-2006).
Third
Kevin Harvick finished 15th in the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway and remained third in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings for the fourth straight race. If Harvick finishes 39th or better at
Richmond (lap leader points not considered) he will clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup. In doing so, it would mark Harvick's first year in the Chase and the first time Richard Childress has had
a driver in the Chase since the programs inception in 2004. Harvick has ranked among the top 10 in the last 19
races, since Texas in April. One year ago he ranked 15th in the point standings. Harvick has scored 13 top-10
finishes in 2006 and top-15 finishes in his last nine races. Harvick has been running at the finish in the last 37
races, the longest current streak. He has competed in 11 races at Richmond International Raceway scoring five
top-10 finishes. He finished 10th in this race one year ago and third there in May. He has led in six of his 11 races
at Richmond. Harvick has a 14.0 average finish at Richmond. Harvick is 147 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey
Kahne with one race left in the “Race to the Chase”.
Fourth
Jeff Gordon finished fifth in the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway and climbed from fifth to fourth
in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Gordon will clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup by starting the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway and finishing 24th or
better, regardless of where 11th-place Kasey Kahne finishes at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.) If
successful, it would mark Gordon's second year in the Chase since the programs inception in 2004. He finished
third in final points in the 2004 inaugural year of “The Chase.” Gordon finished 11th in the final standings in
2005. It marked his 10th top-five finish in 2006. Gordon has scored two victories in 2006, winning at Infineon and
Chicago. His four DNFs in 2006 are the most of any driver in the top-10. Gordon has scored 17 top-15 finishes in
25 races in 2006. Gordon has two victories and 16 top-10 finishes in his 27 races at Richmond. Gordon finished
30th in this race one year ago and 40th there in May extending a streak of three straight finishes of 30th or worse
at Richmond that included two DNFS. Gordon's last victory at Richmond came there in September 2000. Gordon
has led 754 laps in his 27 career races at Richmond, ranking fifth in laps led on the 3/4-mile. Gordon is just 45
points behind third-place Kevin Harvick. He is 102 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with one race left in
the “Race to the Chase”.
Fifth
Kyle Busch finished eighth in the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway and dropped from fourth to fifth in
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago Busch ranked 22nd after 25 races. Busch has scored
14 top-10 finishes in 25 races in 2006. He has scored 10 top-15 finishes in the last 11 races. Busch has posted
just one DNF in 2006, an accident at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Busch has been running at the finish in the last
13 races. Busch has competed in three races at Richmond International Raceway finishing in the top five in all
three. He finished fourth in this race one year ago and fifth there in May. He has led in two of his three races there,
leading just 14 laps. He has a 4.3 average finish at Richmond, the best average finish among the current top 10
drivers. Busch is 95 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with one race left in the “Race to the Chase” and
will clinch a spot in the Chase by finishing 22nd or better at Richmond (Lap leader points are not included.) If
successful, it will mark Busch's first year in the Chase since the programs inception in 2004.
Sixth
Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished second in the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway and climbed from ninth
to sixth in the point standings, the biggest gain by a driver in the top 10. He has scored 18 top-15 finishes this
season. Earnhardt has scored one victory in 2006, winning at Richmond in May. He has competed in 14 races at
Richmond International Raceway scoring three victories and nine top-10 finishes. He finished 20th in this race one
year ago, posting his 13th top-20 finish in 14 races at Richmond. He has been running at the finish in all 14 of his
races there. Earnhardt has a 9.428 finishing average at Richmond. He has led in eight of his 14 races at Richmond.
Earnhardt is just 77 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with one race left in the “Race to the Chase”. He will
clinch a spot in the Chase by finishing 16th or better at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
Seventh
Denny Hamlin finished sixth in the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway and dropped from sixth to seventh
in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Hamlin has scored two victories in 2006, sweeping both races
at Pocono Raceway. He has scored 13 top-10 finishes in 25 races in 2006, including the last seven races. Hamlin
has been the highest finishing rookie in 13 of the 25 races this season. Hamlin has finished on the lead lap in the
last 16 races. He has been running at the finish in the last 19 races. He has competed in one race at Richmond
International Raceway scoring a second-place finish there in May. Hamlin is just one point behind sixth-place
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hamlin is 76 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with one race left in the “Race to the
Chase” and will clinch a spot in the Chase by finishing 16th or better at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not
included.)
Eighth
Tony Stewart finished ninth in the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway, scoring his 16th top-15 finishes of
the season. Stewart remained eighth in the point standings. Stewart posted four finishes of 28th or worse in the
five races leading to Pocono, dropping him from fourth to 11th before climbing back to 10th after Pocono, ninth
after Indianapolis, seventh after Watkins Glen, fifth after Michigan and then dropping to eighth after Bristol and
California. Stewart has ranked in the top-10 in 20 of the last 21 races, since Race No. 5 at Bristol. One year ago he
ranked first in the point standings. He has competed in 15 races at Richmond International Raceway scoring three
victories and 10 top-10 finishes. His last Richmond victory came there in May 2002. Stewart finished seventh in
this race one year ago and sixth there in May, extending a streak of three straight top-10 finishes at Richmond. He
has led in eight of his 15 races there. He has an 11.66 finishing average at Richmond. Stewart is 45 points ahead
of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with one race left in the “Race to the Chase”. Stewart will clinch a spot in the Chase
by finishing seventh or better at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
Ninth
Mark Martin finished 12th in the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway and climbed from 10th to ninth in
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. At this point one year ago he ranked fifth in the point standings.
He has had only one DNF (Talladega in October 2005) in the 50 races since Dover in June 2005. He has been
running at the finish in the last 32 races. Martin is the only driver in contention for a spot for the 2006 Chase that
has competed in all 36 races on the ¾-mile at Richmond. He has scored one victory (February 1990) and 21 top-
10 finishes on the ¾-mile track. He finished 13th in this race one year ago and 11th there in May. Martin has an
11.027 average finish at Richmond International Raceway. He has led in 16 of his 36 races on the ¾-mile track.
Martin has not won a race since his victory at Kansas in October 2005, 32 races ago. Martin is 32 points ahead of
11th-place Kasey Kahne with one race left in the “Race to the Chase”. Martin will clinch a spot in the Chase by
fourth or better at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
10th
Jeff Burton finished 16th in the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway and dropped from seventh to 10th in
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, posting the biggest loss among the top-10 drivers. Burton has posted
20 top-15 finishes in 2006. He has scored 14 top-10 finishes in 25 races this season. One year ago he ranked 21st
in the point standings. Burton has competed in 24 races at Richmond International Raceway scoring one victory
(September 1998) and 11 top-10 finishes there. He finished 18th in this race one year ago and 15th there in May,
extending a streak of five straight finishes outside the top-10 at Richmond that began in May 2004. He has led in
eight of his 24 races at Richmond. Burton has a 14.54 average finish at Richmond. Burton is 30 points ahead of
11th-place Kasey Kahne with one race left in the “Race to the Chase”. Burton will clinch a spot in the Chase if he
finishes third or better at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
