NASCAR drivers take on Chesapeake Bay

NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers Brendan Gaughan – driver of the No. 62 South Point Hotel and Casino Chevrolet – and Scott Wimmer – driver of the No. 40 Chevrolet –went from behind the wheel to behind the reel April 7 off the coast of Virginia Beach, Va. In the area to promote the Lipton Tea 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Friday, May 1, the drivers had an adventurous excursion in the Chesapeake Bay.

“We had an exciting day,” Wimmer said. “We got to go out in the Chesapeake Bay. Richmond International Raceway put on a great program here. We got to go out fishing and actually caught fish. That was pretty exciting, and I had a lot of fun doing it.”

“It was pretty neat,” Gaughan said. He is currently eighth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series point standings. “I’ve never been out in the Chesapeake Bay. It was a great time. We all caught plenty of sharks.”

Although Gaughan has done his fair share of angling, he’d like to add a new trophy to his collection.

“I have a marlin hanging on a wall at one of my parents’ houses,” Gaughan said. “I do not have a Richmond trophy so I would be much happier with the Lipton Tea 250 trophy in my bedroom.”

Tickets are available now for the Friday, May 1, Lipton Tea 250—a race that provides plenty of excitement for drivers and fans at America’s Premier Short Track. The weekend also includes the Saturday, May 2, Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Both races will run under the lights.

“I love night racing,” Wimmer said. “I think the cars look better under the lights. I think the energy of the racing is just a little more exciting. If you want to see side by side racing, we can beat and bang and usually hang on to it and not tear too many cars up. It’s a place where you see hard racing. We have a great mix of drivers, a great mix of fans who come to these races. It’s an exciting event for everybody.”

Tickets are on sale now for the Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and the Lipton Tea 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Tickets for Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race start at $40. Tickets for Friday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race, which includes practice and Wawa Pole Qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series, are $45 reserved and $35 general admission in advance. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult in general admission sections on Friday only. Tickets for both races can be purchased by logging on to the race track’s web site or calling 866-455-RACE (7223).