Richmond Raceway’s modernized infield is set for its spring debut this weekend and offers fans a variety of unique vantage points of all the action taking place at the 3/4 mile D-shaped oval. Image from Richmond Raceway.
When NASCAR rolls into Richmond Raceway for the Toyota Spring Race Weekend beginning April 12, fans will experience the spring debut of the DC Solar FanGrounds, a key initiative by Richmond to modernize its track.
The FanGrounds launched during Richmond’s first-ever NASCAR Playoff Race Weekend last fall as part of Richmond Raceway Reimagined, a $30 million infield redevelopment project. Track president Dennis Bickmeier expects a positive reaction from race fans for the spring debut.
“People will be surprised by the access they have at our facility,” said Bickmeier. “We could show a video on it and talk about it, but for people to experience it for the first time last fall was remarkable. We’ve taken testimonials from the September weekend to help promote the FanGrounds for this weekend’s doubleheader.”
One of the unique aspects of the FanGrounds is not only the access it grants fans, but also that everything is centralized in one location.
“We’ve programmed the entire infield with driver Q&A’s, music, food and everything fans want for an authentic, engaging race experience,” said Bickmeier. “It’s basically its own village. The access fans get to the cars and race teams in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage is special and something we’re proud to give them at Richmond Raceway.
… a #FanGrounds pass gets you THIS close to the cars inside the garage area as teams and drivers prepare their cars for battle in the #ToyotaOwners400 and #ToyotaCare250. pic.twitter.com/anle9WALxU
— Richmond Raceway (@RichmondRaceway) April 8, 2019
From driver appearances to exclusive activations and even the pre-race ceremonies, the FanGrounds contains activities for all racing fans attending the action at Richmond Raceway.
From the beginning, Richmond’s executive team decided on a strategy of involving longstanding partners in the redesign. To that end, they approached the likes of MARS, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Markel, Virginia Lottery and Eternal Fan about deepening their ties to the track.
“It was a new attraction and gave us something fresh to have a conversation with our partners about,” said Bickmeier. “We came to the table with a new way for them to engage with their customers, and we knew going in that every partner is different. We went to a variety of prospects and had different conversations with each partner about how we could help them meet their objectives in the FanGrounds.”
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For MARS, its executives wanted the chance to have one-on-one interactions with fans and promote its brand, while also showing off its No. 18 Toyota Camry show car and allowing fans to sample products.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation brought its storied“Virginia is for Racing Lovers” messaging to the FanGrounds. In addition to their space in one of the FanGrounds’ neighborhoods, the tourism center has a standalone welcome center to help fans make the most of the experience in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Perhaps one of the most unique activations came following Richmond Raceway’s conversations with the team at Eternal Fan. Eternal Fan got involved with track’s new pedestrian tunnel and launched a Fan Memories program, in which fans can purchase plaques and have them placed on the wall of the pedestrian tunnel, cementing their place as a loyal Richmond Raceway supporter.
“The team at Eternal Fan wanted to be involved with the new memories that fans would make in the modernized infield,” said Bickmeier. “There are many places where you see engraved bricks, but these plaques are truly something different. The Fan Memories idea was not only a first for us but also a first for Eternal Fan.”
STORY: Richmond Reimagined Gave @NASCAR Fans An Experience Of A Lifetime —> https://t.co/M8xbv5Fkfd#NASCAR | @RichmondRaceway pic.twitter.com/yPN5YP0v5P
— Hunter Thomas (@HunterThomas08) September 24, 2018
Lastly, the track wanted to upgrade its luxury experience and feels it did so with the Victory Lane Club, which will make its spring debut this upcoming weekend and features benefits like access to the driver and crew chief meeting plus a weekend FanGrounds pass. The team at Richmond toured many stadiums through the Southeast, and even nationally, with a focus on what the stick-and-ball sports have done to draw inspiration for the club.
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“It’s a small club with slightly more than 100 members,” said Bickmeier. “You see a lot of court and field-level hospitality in traditional stick-and-ball sports. But in racing, hospitality is typically in suites above the grandstands. We wanted hospitality at the ground level, so that’s where our inspiration came from for the Victory Lane Club.”
The Victory Lane Club also features unique vantage points, as fans are able to peer into the garages and see NASCAR teams prepare their cars ahead of the weekend. There’s also rooftop access to see the stock cars rolled out onto the starting grid. . A short trip outside and on to the roof, yes, fans are given access to the roof of the club, provides a breathtaking view of the 3,300-pound stock cars as they are rolled out onto the starting grid.
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The club is all inclusive with a multitude of benefits including a hot pass, access to the driver and crew chief meeting, and a weekend FanGrounds pass.
With race week officially here and Bickmeier believes Richmond’s upgrades will satisfy fans who have come to expect a willingness from the track to push its boundaries.
“We’ve gained a reputation at Richmond for being willing to try different things and not just sticking to the status quo,” said Bickmeir. “We did that with the way we structured the FanGrounds and the Victory Lane Club. The reaction in the fall was spectacular and we expect that to continue for the spring debut over the Toyota Spring Race Weekend.”
