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Indy Richmond 300

From Alfawiki
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Indy Richmond 300, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 8 August 2025
Indy Richmond 300
Company typeSporting event
IndustryMotorsport
Founded2001
Defunct2009
FateRemoved from IndyCar calendar due to expenses and sponsorship difficulties
Headquarters
Richmond, Virginia
,
United States
Area served
United States
ParentIndyCar Series

The Indy Richmond 300—previously known as the SunTrust Indy Challenge—was an IndyCar Series competition hosted at Richmond Raceway in Virginia from 2001 through 2009. Originally set for 250 laps (covering 187.5 miles) until 2007, the race distance was increased to 300 laps during its final two editions.

Debuting as a Saturday night spectacle, the event quickly became one of the most prominent IndyCar races held in the traditional "NASCAR Country," embodying the classic short track "bull ring" format reminiscent of the AAA and USAC periods of American Championship Car Racing.

The ISC frequently scheduled this race alongside other open-wheel competitions; initially, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour served as a support series before being succeeded by USAC-sanctioned open-wheel short track races.

In earlier history, AAA organized two National Championship sprint car contests at this venue when it was known as Strawberry Hill Speedway. Additionally, nearby Martinsville Speedway hosted two NASCAR Championship Car races during the early 1950s.

On July 30, 2009, Richmond International Raceway President Doug Fritz declared that the SunTrust Indy Challenge would be removed from the 2010 IndyCar calendar due to escalating expenses and difficulties securing sponsorship.

In August 2019, IndyCar confirmed a return to Richmond for the 2020 season, taking over from the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. Nevertheless, this planned race was canceled in May 2020 owing to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and local health restrictions.

Past winners

Season Date Driver Team Chassis Engine Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Report
Laps Miles (km)
AAA Championship Car history
1946 October 12 United States Ted Horn Ted Horn Engineering Offy 20 10 (16.093) 0:07:27 80.537
November 10 United States Tommy Hinnershitz Ted Horn Engineering 25 12.5 (20.116)
1947
–
2000
Not held
IndyCar Series history
2001 June 30 United States Buddy Lazier Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 250 187.5 (301.752) 1:55:27 97.435 Report
2002 June 29 United States Sam Hornish Jr. Panther Racing Dallara Chevrolet 250 187.5 (301.752) 1:53:30 99.124 Report
2003 June 28 Template:Country data NZLTemplate:Namespace detect showall Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing G-Force Toyota 206* 154.5 (248.643) 1:26:48 106.798 Report
2004 June 26 Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Dan Wheldon Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 250 187.5 (301.752) 1:38:11 114.589 Report
2005 June 25 Template:Country data BRATemplate:Namespace detect showallHélio Castroneves Team Penske Dallara Toyota 250 187.5 (301.752) 1:38:33 114.153 Report
2006 June 24 United StatesSam Hornish Jr. Team Penske Dallara Honda 250 187.5 (301.752) 1:26:49 129.572 Report
2007 June 30 Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showallDario Franchitti Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 250 187.5 (301.752) 1:24:20 133.408 Report
2008 June 28 Template:Country data BRATemplate:Namespace detect showallTony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 300 225 (362.102) 2:04:06 108.79 Report
2009 June 27

     


Support race winners

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Year Date Winner Distance Covered
Laps Miles (km)
2001 June 29 Tony Hirschman 156 117 mi (188 km)
2002 June 28 Todd Szegedy 150 112.50 mi (181.05 km)
Source: Richmond Raceway event archive from The Third Turn
USAC Silver Crown Series
Year Date Winner Distance Covered
Laps Miles (km)
2001 June 30 Aaron Fike 100 75 mi (121 km)
2002 June 29 Dave Steele 100 75 mi (121 km)
2003 June 28 Dave Steele 100 75 mi (121 km)
2004 June 26 Bobby East 100 75 mi (121 km)
2005 June 25 Dave Steele 100 75 mi (121 km)
2006 June 24 Bud Kaeding 100 75 mi (121 km)
2007 June 30 Brian Tyler 100 75 mi (121 km)
2008 June 28 Chet Fillip 100 75 mi (121 km)
2009 June 27 Brian Tyler 100 75 mi (121 km)
Source: Richmond Raceway event archive from The Third Turn
June 25 Bobby Santos III align=center 60 align=center Template:Convert 45 mi km abbr=on
USAC National Sprint Car Series
Year Date Winner Distance Covered
Laps Miles (km)
2004 June 25 Jason McCord 60 45 mi (72 km)
2005 June 24 Ron Gregory 60 45 mi (72 km)
2006 June 23 Brian Tyler 60 45 mi (72 km)
2007 June 30 Bobby East 30 22.50 mi (36.21 km)
"2008"
June 27   
Jerry Coons Jr   
align=center 60   
align=center Template:Convert 45 mi km abbr=on  


External links