In the Pits- KSR

Is Richmond the model for the next wave of Nextel Cup tracks?

Having raced on virtually every type of track from high-banked superspeedways to flat half-milers at more than 300 different venues around the nation during his long career, Ken Schrader clearly doesn’t play favorites when it comes to tracks. That’s not to say, however, that the Fenton, MO native doesn’t like some tracks more than others.

In last month’s issue of our sister publication Pro Trucker, Schrader made it clear that he prefers multi-grooved tracks— tracks where the drivers have options on where they can pass, rather than tracks where they’re trapped in a must-play game of follow-the-leader. As an example of the latter, Schrader mentioned Bristol. As an example of the former, Schrader points to Richmond.

Both Bristol and Richmond are considered short tracks, but the similarities between the two as far as the racing is concerned are as different as night and day.

“Bristol’s so frustrating because you know you’re faster than the car in front of you, but he knows that, too,” Schrader said. “He also knows that as long as he keeps it glued to the bottom, there’s only one thing I can do to get around him, and that’s bump him.”

Not so at Richmond.

“I love racing at Richmond,” Schrader said on the eve of the September Nextel Cup event, the 26th and final event before the 10-race Chase for the Championship. “It’s smooth, multi-groove and wide; there’s plenty of room to race. Apparently I’m not the only one who likes racing there.

“You know a few years ago, well, now it’s been about seven or 10 years ago, everyone was talking about building more mile-and-a-half speedways, like that was the way to go, more like Charlotte and Atlanta. So, next thing we have Texas, Kansas, Chi-cago and Homestead. All tracks si-milar in many aspects to Charlotte and Atlanta.

“I can understand why. Owners were thinking mile-and-half tracks made better business sense, and it’s been hard to argue with the results. All of those new places I just mentioned not only have stock car races but the IRL runs there as well. They have more seats, more room to expand and more luxury suites. All of those have obviously done pretty well.

“But now it seems like people are pointing at Richmond as the track ‘we need to build more of.’ As a result, the new tracks that some are proposing to be built in the Pacific Northwest and near New York City are rumored to be short tracks similar to Richmond. It’s (RIR) big enough to accommodate over 100,000 fans, and it now hosts an open wheel event. Generally, short tracks produce closer, more exciting racing.”