Richmond, KY(March 26, 2016) Richmond Raceway co-promoters Larry, Chad, and Sarah Yantz presented the track’s Test and Tune Practice Day on Saturday evening with a total of 39 race cars getting the “bugs” worked out and shaking off the “rust” for the upcoming 2016 season opener on Saturday April 2 at the 3/10 mile semi-banked clay oval known as “The Beast of the East”. 

The following is a list of drivers that were in attendance for practice on Saturday evening March 26: 
-Late Models:  Scott Combs, Perry Barnhardt, Mikah Reams, Richard Musick, Jim Robinson, Brian Walters, Elliott Despain, Brian Royalty, Derek Bottoms, Daniel Shelton, Arnie Fields -Phantom Racing Gear Modifieds:  Tim Potts, Korey Cochran, Brent Estes, John Jackson, Zack Powers, Corey Denny, Clay Reece, Russ Perry, Chance Roberson, Tyler Collis, Kevin Harkins -AR Bodies KDRA Super Stocks:  Bartley Grant, Jimmy Bailey, Eddie Hacker, Terry Cheeks, Trae Soper, Travis Preston, Kevin Harkins -Four Cylinders:  Keith Gipson, Tyler Hayes, Freddy Breeden, Clint Cox, Bill Taulbee, Jeff Taulbee, Dylan Stevens, William Cole -Warlock Race Cars Mini-Cup/Cyclones:  Josh Dickerson, Dylan Rutherford, Jagger Stevens

Richmond Raceway will kick off its 50th season of dirt track racing entertainment with the track’s 50th Annual Season Opener on Saturday April 2.  On the April 2 season opener racing card will be a full racing program for Late Models (25 laps/$1,500 to win), Phantom Racing Gear Modifieds (20 laps/$1,000 to win), AR Bodies KDRA Super Stocks (15 laps/$750 to win), Four Cylinders (12 laps/$500 to win), and Warlock Race Cars Mini-Cup/Cyclones (10 laps/$100 to win).  All divisions will utilize the practice/time trials combo format to determine heat race starting positions.  Transponders are used for timing/scoring purposes (can be rented at the track) and RACEceivers are also mandatory in all divisions.  All competitors are urged to be at the track and signed in by 5:45 p.m.  In addition, drivers in the Late Model division utilizing a Crate engine package for their race car are eligible for bonus money, as the top finishing Crate powered Late Model will get an additional $100, with the second highest Crate finisher receiving an additional $75, and the third highest Crate finisher will receive an additional $50. 

Activities for the 50th Annual Season Opener at Richmond Raceway on Saturday April 2 will see the pit area open at 3:00 p.m. and the general admission area open at 4:30 p.m.  The drivers meeting will begin at 5:45 p.m., with practice/time trials set to begin at 6:15 p.m.  Racing will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m.  All times listed are EDT.  Ticket prices for the 50th Annual Season Opener at Richmond Raceway in the general admission area will be $15 for adults, with children ages 12 and under admitted FREE.  A pit pass will be $30, children ages 6 to 12 will be $15, and children ages 5 and under are FREE.

Richmond Raceway’s 50th Annual Season Opener A-Main Payouts for April 2, 2016:
Late Models (25 laps):  1st- $1,500, 2nd- $750, 3rd- $500, 4th- $400, 5th- $350, 6th- $300, 7th- $250, 8th- $200, 9th- $190, 10th- $180, 11th- $170, 12th- $160, 13th- $150, 14th- $150, 15th- $150, 16th- $150, 17th- $150, 18th- $150 (Note- The three highest finishers drivers that utilize a Crate engine powered car will be eligible for bonuses.  The highest finishing driver using a Crate engine will receive a $100 bonus, second highest finishing driver using a Crate engine will receive a $75 bonus, and the third highest finishing driver using a Crate engine will receive a $50 bonus)

Phantom Racing Gear Modifieds (20 laps):  1st- $1,000, 2nd- $500, 3rd- $300, 4th- $200, 5th- $175, 6th- $150, 7th- $140, 8th- $130, 9th- $120, 10th- $115, 11th- $110, 12th- $105, 13th- $100, 14th- $100, 15th- $100, 16th- $100, 17th- $100, 18th- $100

AR Bodies KDRA Super Stocks (15 laps):  1st- $750, 2nd- $400, 3rd- $250, 4th- $175, 5th- $150, 6th- $125, 7th- $110, 8th- $100, 9th- $95, 10th- $90, 11th- $85, 12th- $80, 13th- $75, 14th- $75, 15th- $75, 16th- $75, 17th- $75, 18th- $75

Stock Four Cylinders (12 laps):  1st- $500, 2nd- $250, 3rd- $150, 4th- $125, 5th- $100, 6th- $90, 7th- $80, 8th- $75, 9th- $70, 10th- $65, 11th- $60, 12th- $55, 13th- $50, 14th- $50, 15th- $50, 16th- $50, 17th- $50, 18th- $50

Warlock Race Cars Mini-Cup/Cyclones (10 laps):  1st- $100, 2nd- $75, 3rd- $65, 4th- $55, 5th- $50, 6th- $45, 7th- $40, 8th- $40, 9th- $40, 10th- $40, 11th- $40, 12th- $40, 13th- $40, 14th- $40, 15th- $40, 16th- $40, 17th- $40, 18th- $40