Virginia International Raceway
Encyclopedia
The Virginia International Raceway (commonly known as just "VIR") is a road course located in the community of Alton, Virginia near Danville, Virginia
. It is found less than a half-mile from the North Carolina
/Virginia
border just outside Milton, North Carolina
on the banks of the Dan River
. VIR hosts amateur and professional automobile
and motorcycle
events, driving schools, club days, and private test rentals.
Some of the raceway's named curves include "Oak Tree", "Roller Coaster", "Hog Pen", "Horse Shoe", "NASCAR
Bend" (because NASCAR drivers Richard Petty, David Pearson and Wendell Scott had difficulties there during a 1966 Trans Am race), "Snake", "Spiral", "Fish Hook", and "The Bitch".
The track originally opened in 1957 and had been closed for decades prior to its reopening in March 2000. The track was reopened in 2000 by New Yorker Harvey Siegel using a "country club" model. Memberships to the track are sold. Each member of the VIR Club receives track time on member day, tickets to all spectator events, and other benefits. VIR's membership model has since been followed by other racetracks across the United States.
There have been at least four deaths in track history, with three fatalities coming since the reopening of the facility. The most recent death was that of 14 year old Toriano Wilson in a US Rookie Cup motorcycle race in August 2008.
and Infineon Raceway
races. Since the track is not currently active on the NASCAR circuit, a practice session is not charged against their allotment.
The track is also used by various manufacturers in testing of new or updated vehicles.
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
. It is found less than a half-mile from the North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
/Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
border just outside Milton, North Carolina
Milton, North Carolina
Milton is a town in Caswell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 132 at the 2000 census. It is adjacent to the Virginia International Raceway, which is just across the NC/VA state line.-Geography:...
on the banks of the Dan River
Dan River
The Dan River flows in the U.S. states of North Carolina and Virginia. It originates in Patrick County, Virginia, and crosses the state border into Stokes County, North Carolina. It then flows into Rockingham County. From there it goes back into Virginia. It reenters North Carolina near the...
. VIR hosts amateur and professional automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
and motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
events, driving schools, club days, and private test rentals.
Track description
VIR offers six track configurations, of which 2 can be run simultaneously. The "Full Course" is 3.27 miles in length while the "Patriot Course" stretches for 1.1 miles entirely inside the Full Course. The "North Course" is 2.25 miles long and the "South Course" covers a distance of 1.65 miles. Both consist of a portion of the "Full Course" and short connecting sections that connect to portions of the "Patriot Course" to produce the two courses that can run simultaneously. There is a second pit complex that is used only when running the "South Course". The longest configuration, "Grand East Course", is 4.2 miles long, and combines most of the "Full Course" and most of the "Patriot Course" by means of two of the short sections of connecting track used to make the "South Course" and "North Course". There is also another, seldom run, long configuration called the "Grand West Course" that uses the other two short connecting sections between the "Full Course" and the "Patriot Course."Some of the raceway's named curves include "Oak Tree", "Roller Coaster", "Hog Pen", "Horse Shoe", "NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Bend" (because NASCAR drivers Richard Petty, David Pearson and Wendell Scott had difficulties there during a 1966 Trans Am race), "Snake", "Spiral", "Fish Hook", and "The Bitch".
History
There have been at least four deaths in track history, with three fatalities coming since the reopening of the facility. The most recent death was that of 14 year old Toriano Wilson in a US Rookie Cup motorcycle race in August 2008.
Testing
The track is frequently used for test sessions by NASCAR teams. The teams use the road course to test their road course cars for the Watkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. The facility is owned by International Speedway Corporation...
and Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
races. Since the track is not currently active on the NASCAR circuit, a practice session is not charged against their allotment.
The track is also used by various manufacturers in testing of new or updated vehicles.
Simulation / Video Games
| Simulation / Video Game | Year | Configuration | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand East | Grand West | Full | North | Patriot | South | ||
| Supercar Challenge Supercar Challenge SuperCar Challenge is a simulation racer developed by Eutechnyx, published System 3, the same company that produced 2008's Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, and released on PlayStation 3 in September 2009... |
2009 | ||||||
| Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Ferrari Challenge (video game) Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli is a racing game developed by Eutechnyx and published by System 3, based on Ferrari Challenge, a single-marque motorsport championship. The Nintendo DS version features wireless multiplayer and the Wii version will use the motion sensing functionality for steering... |
2008 | ||||||
| iRacing | 2008 | ||||||