How Richmond Raceway's 1988 Rebuild Was Nothing Short of a NASCAR Miracle

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In less the seven months, track owner Paul Sawyer, with a little help from Caterpillar driver Richard Petty, transformed an antiquated, half-mile oval at a fairgrounds into a spanking-new, ¾-mile, D-shaped facility.

, Sterling Marlin, Lake Speed, and Rusty Wallace, the only other drivers on the lead lap. It was the 62nd Cup Series race on the property, which had started hosting NASCAR on its half-mile dirt and asphalt surfaces in 1953.

“We had planned it so carefully and had everything in line so we knew we could do it. There was a surprise or two along way, but nothing big enough to throw us off schedule. We got a lot of help from a lot of people who knew how important it was to us. As a family, we were—and still am—proud of what we did.”

Brett Bodine watched the rebuild with mixed emotions. He appreciated the old track’s history, but also knew NASCAR was nearing a time when aging half-milers would be obsolete. “That place held so much history and tradition,” he said. “Just think of the drivers who had raced there throughout the history of NASCAR. All the great ones had been there. But if the sport was going to grow, Richmond needed a new facility. And the Sawyers built a perfect three-quarter-mile.

 

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