Night time is the right time for Hardee's 250

CONCORD, N.C. -- Drivers and race fans alike seem to get a charge out of night-time racing at Richmond.

“There seems to be electricity in the air,” two-time Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie said.

The first night race of the season for the Busch Series is Friday night's Hardee's 250 at Richmond International Raceway (7:30 p.m. ET; FX, MRN). There’s always something about racing under the lights that brings out the best -- or beast -- in drivers.

	Jimmy Spencer

When the series first raced there in 1982, the need for electricity wasn’t what it was today. The track was a .542-mile facility and Tommy Houston won in broad daylight.

In 1988, the track was rebuilt to its current 3/4-mile distance and the lights were added beginning in 1991, with Harry Gant the winner.

The track record of 125.780 mph is held by Matt Kenseth, while the race record is 84.028 mph, set by Dale Jarrett.

Jimmy Spencer swept both races last season, becoming the third driver in series history to do so, joining Mark Martin and Gant.

“We tested at Richmond a few weeks ago, and we were really fast,” Spencer said. “You always have confidence when you go back to the tracks where you’ve won. Last year, the Yellow team put together a really fast car, and we won both races.

“I think we’ll be just as fast this time, if not faster. When you’ve run well at a certain track you hope you don’t have to change a whole lot, maybe just a few improvements. I really like Richmond, always have. It’s exciting for the fans. It’s good short-track racing.”

With a win Friday night, Spencer would join Gant as the only other driver to win three consecutive races at Richmond.

“Yeah, but you have to win it first,” Spencer said. “Our first goal is to get qualified. Once we do that, then we’ll go after that third straight win. I think we can do it.

“And if we do, then it will be an honor to be mentioned along with Harry Gant. He was a great race car driver.”

Kenny Wallace has three wins at Richmond, the most of any active driver, the last coming in 1996.

That leaves the opportunity wide open for some other competitors to get in the record books of the track located on the Virginia State Fairgrounds.

	Bobby Hamilton Jr.

One such driver might be Bobby Hamilton Jr. Through the last few races, despite strong showings, the finishes didn’t reflect the team’s capabilities

Hamilton Jr. is hoping a short track like Richmond will be beneficial to the team, and to turn things around.

“Getting back to a short track will be a nice change of pace after racing at Talladega and then California,” Hamilton Jr. said. “Hopefully, it will change our luck too.

“We have had some great runs the past few races and this team just keeps getting better. But luck has definitely not been on our side lately. Hopefully, that will change in Richmond."

Hamilton Jr. said driving at RIR is a test of a driver's ability to remain agressive but patient.

“Richmond is a tricky track that’s rough on your equipment, especially the brakes and the motor," he said. "You have to be aggressive but you also have to take care of your car.”