Gentlemen start your engines at Richmond Raceway
Sept. 21, 2019, was the second race of the Monster Energy Series Racing playoffs. This race solidifies 16 drivers’ positions in the playoffs. These drivers are from all over the United States; the second place holder in the playoffs is local to Virginia. (11) Denny Hamlin, who drives for FedEx, is from Chesterfield, Virginia. The drivers in the playoffs are (18) Kyle Busch, (11) Denny Hamlin, (19) Martin Truex Jr., (22) Joey Logano, (4) Kevin Harvick, (2) Brad Keslowski, (9) Chase Elliott, (1) Kurt Busch (older brother to Kyle Busch), (42) Kyle Larson, (88) Alex Bowman, (20) Erik Jones, (12) Ryan Blaney, (24) William Byron, (10) Aric Almirola, (14) Clint Boyer, and (6) Ryan Newman.
All of these drivers were top 16 drivers for the season that began in February and ends in November. Their season leaves the winter months for them to practice and improve their vehicles to meet the requirements that are always changing. The children and significant others of the drivers spend their days at the track as well. The teams make accommodations for the families by way of hearing protection because the cars are so loud.
This night of the race had beautiful weather, and fans could smell the exhaust coming off of the cars and the stench of the fireworks that were set off when a professional parachutist brought in the American flag. At the beginning of every Richmond race, two to three parachutists jump in with different flags attached to them. Right after they land, the National Anthem is performed by a small band or sung by a musical artist. After the prayer is said, the most famous words in NASCAR are said by someone that is chosen prior to the race date, “Gentlemen start your engines.” After those words are spoken the roar of the cars the roar of the engines blanketed the track.
Once all of the pre-race festivities are concluded, fans wait for the equipment to be broken down so that the cars can drive on the track. This includes the stage used for driver introductions, and the vehicles used to display the drivers to the spectators. Since this was the Federated Auto Parts 400 and Toyota is a major sponsor in NASCAR, Toyota Tundras were used to transport the drivers around the track.
This race is 400 laps around a mile and a half oval track which makes this track a short track within the Monster Energy Series. Although there are 400 laps in this race, my family and I ended up leaving at lap 340 to beat the rush to get out of there. By the time we made it to our vehicle, Martin Truex Jr. #19 had won the race which kept him in the playoff standings.
As of Sept. 29, the Monster Energy Series had just finished race three of the playoffs which was held in Concord, N.C. at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The standings have been brought down to 12 from 16 and the three races that will continue with 12 drivers are Dover, DE, Talladega, AL and Kansas City, KS. Altogether there are 12 races in the playoffs in the racing community. After Delaware, Alabama, and Kansas they go to Martinsville,VA, Fort Worth TX for the AAA Texas 500 and ISM Raceway (formerly known as Phoenix Speedway) with eight top drivers. Finally, the series is down to four of the top 16 drivers at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the final race of the season, naming the 2019 Monster Energy Cup Series winner.
