Our buddy Blake Smith is here and he's looking forward to two historic tracks hosting races this weekend.

 

Originally known as Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond International Raceway held its first race in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track. The first sanctioned NASCAR event was held in April of 1953. The Speedway will begin its 60th anniversary season with this weekend’s Capitol City 400.

Richmond International Raceway is known for some of the most competitive racing in the series. The half-mile d shaped oval is guaranteed to see more cautions during this one event than the last 2 weeks’ Sprint Cup series races combined. The low level of banking calls for a lot of driving skills and a good handling car that can “roll” through the center of the corner.

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   In May 2005, Kasey Kahne grabbed his first career victory in the spring race at Richmond. His experience and winning ways at the Virginia track combined with Hendrick equipment could lead the 32 year old driver to victory lane this weekend.

            While the Sprint Cup series makes their way to an historic track, the ARCA series will be doing the same this weekend. The ARCA series has been visiting Salem Speedway since 1955. The list of drivers to visit the historic winners circle at Salem includes Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison and Ken Schrader. There are 37 drivers entered for Sunday’s event including rising NASCAR superstar, Chase Elliott and Owensboro’s Blake Hillard.

Coverage of Saturday night’s Capitol City 400 begins at 5:30 PM on WBKR and WBKR.com. For a complete wrap-up of the weekend’s events, tune into Race Talk on Tuesday night at 7PM with Malcolm West on 92.5 WBKR and wbkr.com.

- Blake Smith

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