Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400

NASCAR race infobox
Name=Crown Royal presents the Dan Lowry 400
Logo=CrownRoyal_08_RIR.gif
Img_size=58px
Venue=Richmond International Raceway
Sponsor=Crown Royal
First race=1953
Distance=300 miles (483 km)
Laps=400
Previous names=Richmond 200 (1953, 1955-1956, 1958-1961)

Richmond 250 (1957, 1962-1968)

Richmond 500 (1969-1975)

Richmond 400 (1976-1983)

Miller High Life 400 (1984-1987)

Pontiac 400 (1988-1995)

Pontiac Excitement 400 (1996-2003)

Chevy American Revolution 400 (2004-2005)

Crown Royal 400 (2006)

"'Crown Royal presents the Jim Stewart 400 (2007)

The Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 [ [http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Fan_wins_naming_rghts_to_May_race_at_Richmond.html Fan crowned the winner of 'Your Name Here' contest for Richmond race] 2/28/2008. Retrieved 2/29/2008.] is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia.

In 2007, Crown Royal's second year as the title sponsor of the race, the company decided to run an essay contest during Daytona Speedweeks with the winner having the Crown Royal 400 in May named after them. The winner of this essay contest was Jim Stewart from Houma, Louisiana, hence the name "Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400". The promotion was so popular that Crown Royal decided to run it again in 2008, this time with Dan Lowry of Columbiana, Ohio winning.

The race is currently held as a Saturday night event in early May. For several years, it was held as a daytime event the weekend after the Daytona 500 in February. Lights were installed at the facility in 1991, but the spring race remained during the day. Consistent cold weather, and even a snow delay in 1989, prompted track officials to move the race later in the spring. The race was moved around to May or June, and permanently moved from Sunday afternoons to Saturday nights. After a few years, the race eventually fixed as a May race date by 1999.

In 2007, for the first time in the track's history, the track's races aired on network television. The Crown Royal 400 aired on FOX. The race was originally shown on FX.

Past winners

Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400
* 2008 Clint BowyerCrown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400
* 2007 Jimmie Johnson (race moved to Sunday afternoon due to rain, first COT win at Richmond)Crown Royal 400
* 2006 Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Chevy American Revolution 400
* 2005 Kasey Kahne
* 2004 Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Pontiac Excitement 400
* 2003 Joe Nemechek (393 laps due to rain)
* 2002 Tony Stewart (race was started on Saturday night but was finished on Sunday afternoon due to rain.)
* 2001 Tony Stewart
* 2000 Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* 1999 Dale Jarrett
* 1998 Terry Labonte (race moved to a Saturday night event)
* 1997 Rusty Wallace
* 1996 Jeff GordonPontiac 400
* 1995 Terry Labonte
* 1994 Ernie Irvan
* 1993 Davey Allison
* 1992 Bill Elliott
* 1991 Dale Earnhardt
* 1990 Mark Martin
* 1989 Rusty Wallace (race rescheduled one month later due to snow)
* 1988 Neil Bonnett (last race on old layout)Miller High Life 400
* 1987 Dale Earnhardt
* 1986 Kyle Petty
* 1985 Dale Earnhardt
* 1984 Ricky RuddRichmond 400
* 1983 Bobby Allison
* 1982 Dave Marcis (250 laps due to rain)
* 1981 Darrell Waltrip
* 1980 Darrell Waltrip
* 1979 Cale Yarborough
* 1978 Benny Parsons
* 1977 Cale Yarborough (245 laps due to rain)
* 1976 Dave MarcisRichmond 500
* 1975 Richard Petty
* 1974 Bobby Allison
* 1973 Richard Petty
* 1972 Richard Petty
* 1971 Richard Petty
* 1970 James Hylton
* 1969 David PearsonRichmond 250
* 1968 David Pearson
* 1967 Richard Petty
* 1966 David Pearson
* 1965 Junior Johnson
* 1964 David Pearson
* 1963 Joe Weatherly
* 1962 Rex WhiteRichmond 200
* 1961 Richard Petty
* 1960 Lee Petty
* 1959 Tom Pistone
* 1958 Speedy ThompsonRichmond 250
* 1957 Paul GoldsmithRichmond 200
* 1956 Buck Baker
* 1955 Tim Flock
* 1953 Lee Petty

References