HANK KURZ Jr.
Denny Hamlin waves to the crowd during driver introductions prior to the state of the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Sunday, April 18, 2021. A #fedexstrong hashtag was added to the car after the shootings at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Bowman denies Hamlin with swift late move at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 18, 2021 06:50 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Another week, another agonizing loss for Denny Hamlin.

Martin Truex Jr. (19) does a burnout as he celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, April 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Elliott would love to find a way to be different at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 17, 2021 05:29 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Like many drivers in NASCAR’s top series, Chase Elliott

Kyle Busch (51) leads Grant Enfinger (98) during a restart in the NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday, April 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Nemechek outruns boss to win NASCAR truck race at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 17, 2021 05:03 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — John Hunter Nemechek passed teammate Chandler Smith with

FILE - Hooters 500 winner Bill Elliott, left, and NASCAR Winston Cup champion Alan Kulwicki celebrate in Victory Lane following the Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., in this Nov. 15, 1992, file photo. Chase Elliott will honor the late Alan Kulwicki by racing the same Hooters paint scheme that was on Kulwicki’s car in the 1992 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway when Kulwicki beat Bill Elliott for the Winston Cup title. Chase Elliott will run the paint scheme at Darlington Raceway on May 9, 2021. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
NASCAR, motorsports approach to virus vaccine varies greatly

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 16, 2021 05:05 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Bubba Wallace says get the shot, like he did.

Martin Truex Jr. (19) celebrates with the winners' trophy after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, April 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Truex outlasts teammate Hamlin to win again at Martinsville

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 11, 2021 08:29 PM EDT
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. admits to being surprised by his

Daniel Hemric (18) and Brandon Jones (19) lead the field at the restart of the rain delayed NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, April 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Josh Berry gets 1st career Xfinity victory at Martinsville

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 11, 2021 02:01 PM EDT
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Josh Berry has worked for several years as a coach for

Pole-sitter Harrison Burton (20) stands next to his car before the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Friday, April 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Rain pushes finish of Xfinity race at Martinsville to Sunday

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 10, 2021 12:32 AM EDT
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville

FILE - In this March 24, 2019 file photo, NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski greets fans during driver introductions prior to the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va. Keselowski didn’t get the finish he hoped for last weekend of April 4, 2021, when NASCAR’s Cup Series ran on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway, but the 2012 champion didn’t dwell too long on his 11th place finish. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Keselowski, Truex eager for more success at Martinsville

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 09, 2021 01:10 PM EDT
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Brad Keselowski didn’t get the finish he hoped for two

Brad Keselowski collects the checkered flag after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Richmond, Va. (James H. Wallace/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)
NASCAR: Keselowski dominates in playoff win at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 12, 2020 11:44 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Brad Keselowski entered NASCAR's playoffs certain he has

Justin Allgaier (7) celebrates after winning a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Richmond, Va. Allgaier swept the two days of racing in the Xfinity Series. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Justin Allgaier completes Xfinity weekend sweep at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 12, 2020 05:39 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Justin Allgaier didn't panic when a late caution made a

Justin Allgaier celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Allgaier outruns Haley for NASCAR Xfinity win at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 11, 2020 09:52 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Justin Allgaier gave up the lead, bided his time and then

Grant Enfinger gets out of his car as he celebrates after winning a NASCAR Truck Series auto race Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Enfinger rallies to win truck race at Richmond Raceway

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 10, 2020 10:21 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Grant Enfinger started the season with a win, and finished

Will Power, of Australia, drives into turn one during the Aeroscreen testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
IndyCar back on track at Richmond for 1st time in a decade

By Hank Kurz Jr. Oct. 15, 2019 04:38 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — IndyCar turned laps at Richmond Raceway for the first time in a

Martin Truex Jr. celebrates his win in the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Truex wins again at Richmond; Gibbs' Jones disqualified

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 21, 2019 05:32 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. seemed to have a "pinch me" moment as he

Christopher Bell makes a pit stop during the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Bell opens Xfinity playoffs with dominant run

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 20, 2019 09:51 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Christopher Bell passed pole-sitter Austin Cindric for the lead

Brad Keselowski, front center, smiles in the garage after winning the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Keselowski wins pole for NASCAR playoff race at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 20, 2019 07:51 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Brad Keselowski has won the pole for Saturday night's NASCAR Cup

FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, file photo ,Kyle Busch prepares for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nev. The NASCAR playoffs didn't start the way Busch wanted, with him relegated to a middle-of-the-pack finish at Las Vegas that dropped him to fourth in the championship race. Now, though, the series arrives at Richmond Raceway, where no one else in the field can touch his six career victories. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens, File)
Busch looks to rebound as NASCAR playoffs move to Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 20, 2019 06:59 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The NASCAR playoffs didn't start the way Kyle Busch wanted. An

Cole Custer does a burnout as he celebrates winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., Friday, April 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Custer pulls away to win NASCAR Xfinity race at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 12, 2019 09:20 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Cole Custer was openly hoping for rain to shorten the NASCAR

Kevin Harvick speaks to the media after winning the pole for Saturday's NASCAR Cup auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Friday, April 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Harvick wins pole at Richmond Raceway

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 12, 2019 07:13 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Kevin Harvick won the pole for Saturday night's Monster Energy

Fans watch the team of Joey Logano as they work on the car in the garage at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Friday, April 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Hamlin hoping for some hometown advantage

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 12, 2019 05:32 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Denny Hamlin would love to think he has an advantage when it