Travel Log: Richmond

Each stop along the tour this year has some aspect of history with it. That's to be expected. But no stop is quite like Richmond.

Pull into the city and it's almost like Gen. Washington himself was riding into town on horseback ready to cut off Cornwallis. Almost.

Starting with the American Revolution and the birth of a nation, and going to the repairing of a nation when it threatened to divide, Richmond has been the cornerstone for the United States nearly since Day One. So before trekking to the track, experience it.

• Jamestown, Va., is considered to be the first permanent settlement of what is now the United States. It was founded on May 14, 1607 by the London Company, a joint stock organization. It is located about 58 miles southeast of Richmond.

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• It is estimated that half of the U.S. population lives within a 500-mile radius of Richmond. That radius includes Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

• Williamsburg, Va., was home to the first theater in the United States. It opened in 1716. Williamsburg is approximately 54 miles southeast of Richmond. Today, the site of the theater is Colonial Williamsburg's Palace Green.

• St. John's church in Richmond is the location where Patrick Henry gave his address to the Virginia Convention, resulting in Virginia's military participating in the Revolutionary War. The most famous line of that speech: "Give me liberty, or give me death!"

• Two Virginia sites concluded two major wars in U.S. history. Yorktown was home of the final victory in the American Revolution, when Gen. Charles Cornwallis surrendered to Gen. George Washington in 1781. The war went on another year, but the victory proved to be the final straw for the British. About 150 miles west and 80-some years later near Appomattox, Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to end the American Civil War.

Best Burger: Carytown Burgers & Fries
Best Barbecue: Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue
Best Restaurant: Millie's Diner

Admitted as a State: June 25, 1788, as 10th state
Capital: Richmond
Nickname: Commonwealth State
Population Rank: 12th
Largest City: Virginia Beach

There's a fairground-type atmosphere to Richmond International Raceway. Think back to earlier trips this year ... Bristol ... Martinsville. Maybe it's the short-track characteristic. But Richmond's inroads are packed with fans walking to the track, sporting coolers and cutoffs.

As is the trend, Richmond publishes a thorough fan guide that helps visitors not only know what they can and cannot bring, but the best way to get inside the doors.
• Richmond International Raceway

Weekend Schedules: Cup Series | Nationwide Series | Truck Series