The Benefit Laps will be held on Friday, March 30th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with the last group taking the track at 3:30 PM that day. The cost is $25 per session, which will last from 20 to 25 minutes. Donations of $25 either in cash or by major credit card will be accepted.

TMI AutoTech, Inc. will once again be offering rides in the Ariel Atom – the world’s quickest and most unique supercar – for $10 per session. All donations will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of North Carolina® and RMHC of Roanoke®, and are eligible for tax deduction.

Ronald McDonald House® has allowed families to focus on the health and well being of their critically ill children by keeping families together who are in need of a community of hope, comfort and empathy. Their programs provide families with the comforts of home – private bedrooms, inviting community spaces, daily home-cooked meals and stocked kitchen, a play room, computer room and laundry facilities – as well as a network of support through interactions with other families, staff and volunteers.

Families with critically ill children face immense emotional, physical and financial challenges; knowing that Ronald McDonald House Charities® will be there to support them in a safe and caring environment helps to alleviate some of these struggles.

“The Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina and the Roanoke Ronald McDonald House are very excited and proud about our relationship with VIR. This event is a great way for people at the track on March 30th to help seriously ill children and their families stay at 6 of our region’s Ronald McDonald Houses. It’s a special event where they can help others in need, while they enjoy the experience of driving on this world-class track.” – Fred Huebner, President of the Board of Directors, Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina.

We invite you to come and join in the fun for a great cause.

A thrilling new addition to this year’s spectator schedule will be the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Scheduled for September, this event will bring racing speeds never before seen at our historic track – and the first race ever on the 4.1 miles Grand Course.

The 2012 spectator schedule includes dates for CCS Motorcycle Roadracing, Chump Car World Series, NARRA featuring USGTC and F1000 Series, NASA OctoberFast with VIR’s 2nd Annual BrewFest, and our season finale is the SCCA Charge of the Headlight Brigade. The annual Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historic Races will take place in October, while the Stock Car Open Test dates remain tentative at this time.

2012 Season Spectator Schedule

Mar. 31 – Chump Car World Series
“St. Guinness – Patron Saint of Perpetual Indulgence Challenge Pint” – 14-Hour Enduro
Return to the era when racing was fun and cheap…when Bondo beat carbon-fiber; when a crescent wrench was the most valuable tool in your box; when home-made engineering made everyone sit up and take notice; and when adding a little theme to your car didn’t get you laughed off of pit lane.
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May 29-30 – Stock Car Open Test Days (tentative)
See the biggest names in stock car racing on the track at VIR as they test in preparation for NASCAR’s road race circuits. Please note that these dates are tentative. Sign up for VIR’s FanBlast newsletter or Friend us on Facebook for the latest information on who will be here. (No paddock access)
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June 16-17 – CCS 12th Annual Virginia Festival
of Speed Motorcycle Roadracing
The annual battle for the CCS Mid-Atlantic Championship rolls in for their 10th Paul Farrell Memorial. The pressure will be on as caution is thrown to the wind and riders get set to battle it out. Additional races and activities are in the works, making this a unique event to experience as a rider and a fan! Visit www.ccsracing.us to get the lowdown on all the riders, teams and the points standings.
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July 6-8 – North American Road Racing Association featuring the USGTC and F1000 Series
Race the nation with the North American Road Racing Association, America’s new home for high-end, high-performance cars. The event features NARRA’s US GT Championship, Whelen US TimeTrial Championship, Viper SRT Cup, US Performance Driver Education program and the Formula 1000 Championship Series. Visit www.NARRAonline.com and www.f1000champ.com for more information.
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Aug. 11-12 – Chump Car World Series – “VIR 24-Hour Classic”
It will be a hot summer night at VIR when Chump Car returns with your favorite wacky “junkers n’ clunkers” 24-hr endurance race. This series is for gear-heads, for people who love driving and driving fast. It’s not about gimmicks or theatrics. Rather, it’s for grassroots race teams and for Chumps like you that have always wanted to go road racing without all the hassle. It’s about “Joe Average” and almost-race-ready cars. Visit www.chumpcar.com for series and entry information.
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Sept. 12-15 – American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón
VIRginia International Raceway and our partners in the surrounding communities are thrilled to see the historic assault that will be delivered by the American Le Mans Series by Tequila Patrón – including the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda and the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX5 Cup to race here for the first time ever on the 4.1 mile Grand Course. VIR is proud to present our fans and sponsors with the leaders in cutting edge racing technology and the global leaders in Green Racing – racing at speeds never before seen at our historic track. This is truly an event not to be missed. Visit www.americanlemans.com for more information about the series and this event at VIR.
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Sept. 22-23 – CCS Fall CycleFest of Speed Motorcycle Roadracing
VIRginia International Raceway’s Championship Cup Series Fall CycleFest brings some of motorcycle road racing’s best teams & riders onto the track. Look for extremely close, side-by-side, knee dragging action as the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders for the coveted season crown! Visit www.CCSracing.us for all the news leading up to this event!
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Oct. 5-7 – Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historic Races & Car Show
Join us in celebrating VIR 1957, the year the track first opened. Old friendships & cherished memories will return with every turn of the tire as VIR continues the tradition of its annual Gold Cup Historic Races & Car Show – with live music & special entertainment.
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Oct. 13 – NASA OctoberFast / VIR BrewFest
NASA comes to VIR with many different motorsports programs on a number of different levels, including High Performance Driving Events (HPDE), Rally Sport, Time Trial, NASA-X and Competition Racing programs. Visit www.nasaracing.net for more information. In addition to the excitement on track, VIR celebrates the Second Annual BrewFest with many great beers, food vendors, music, car show and karting.
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Oct. 27 – SCCA Charge of the Headlight Brigade (13-hour Enduro)
Hosted by the NC Region SCCA, this will be one the stops that makes up the coveted Triple Crown of amateur endurance racing. With great food, lodging and good times in store, settle in for a day to remember. Full event information can be found at www.NCRscca.com.
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Tickets for all events will be available at VIRnow.com beginning February 1, 2012.
>>SEE ALL TICKETS

The list of American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón venues continues to grow with the addition of historic Virginia International Raceway for the 2012 season. North America’s leading sports car championship will contest its first race at VIR on Saturday, Sept. 15 in a four-hour enduro.

The first ALMS race at VIR – located in Danville, Va. – also will mark the first competition on the track’s impressive 4.1-mile, 21-turn Grand Course. It’s a safe bet that track speed records will fall at the hands of the world’s most exotic prototype sports cars and premier production-based GT cars. The race will be broadcast on ESPN2.

“For years we have received numerous inquiries from fans and competitors on when we would race at VIR, I’m proud to say that time is now,” said Scott Atherton, ALMS President and CEO. “Virginia International Raceway is an excellent addition to what no doubt will be a fantastic 2012 season for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Given VIR’s history and acclaim as a world-class road racing facility, this is a natural fit. We look forward to working closely with the VIR team to introduce their fans and lots of new ones to the fastest, toughest and most entertaining competition VIR has witnessed.”

Competitors over the years have heaped praise on the circuit. Paul Newman once opined that “if there’s a heaven on Earth, it’s VIR.” Car and Driver named it one of the six best road courses in the U.S. and called a lap around the Grand Course the closest thing in America to a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

“The list of drivers and manufacturers who have achieved success at VIR is a storied one,” Atherton said. “We are thrilled at the prospect of ushering in a new era of competition at VIR as the first series to run its Grand Course. The sights and sounds of our prototype and GT cars racing at high speeds around such a demanding and picturesque layout will create a spectacle no one should miss.”

The American Le Mans Series by Tequila Patrón – including the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda and the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX5 Cup to race here September 13th-15th – will add a spectacular new chapter to the storied history of VIR.

“Virginia International Raceway and our partners in the surrounding communities are thrilled to witness the incomparable show that will be delivered by the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and IMSA’s top-flight development championships,” said Connie Nyholm, managing partner of VIR.” To be able to give our fans and sponsors the leaders in cutting edge racing technology and the Global Leader in Green Racing, competing at speeds never seen at our historic track is an opportunity not to be missed.”

Tickets for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón race at VIR on September 15 will be available at VIRnow.com beginning February 1, 2012. More information on The American Le Mans Series by Tequila Patrón is available at americanlemans.com.

On those two nights only the purchase of two entreés will get you two glasses of champagne, a long-stemmed rose, and a $50 gift certificate to the Oak Tree Spa. Call 434.822.7700 ext. 122 for reservations and information on our March Specials.

Lodge Rooms are also available for $99 per night. Call 434.822.7700 ext. 101 for room reservations.

Holiday Laps will be held on Friday, November 11th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with the last group taking the track at 3:30 PM that day. The cost is $25 per session, which will last from 20 to 25 minutes. Donations of $25 in cash, unwrapped toys or non-perishable food items will be accepted. All donations are tax deductible and will benefit the Danville Salvation Army and their Christmas Holiday programs.

Winter Driving Package Rates available on the VIR Full Course, North Course, Patriot Course, South Course and Grand West Course.

Subject to availability. All bookings are final.

Winter Driving Package Includes:

• Based on 6 person package
• Hot track times are from 9 AM to 4:30 PM
• Available Sunday – Monday, December 12, 2011 thru February 23, 2012
• EMS services to include ambulance and fire truck
• Maximum of 6 cars allowed on the track at any one time
• Priced for one night stay, based on 6 rooms – includes breakfast, lunch & dinner (alcohol not included)

You may custom design your Winter Driving Package by adding:

• Additional Nights of Lodging
• Additional Meal Tickets
• Additional Rooms
• Villas Upgrade
• Additional Fire or Rescue Truck
• Corner Workers
• Pit Lane Garage

Contact Kevin Massey-Shaw at 434.822.7700 ext. 104 or by e-mail at kshaw@virclub.com for reservations or additional information.

*December and January weekends based on availability. February weekends not available. Pricing based on a one night stay, single occupancy with lodging in either the Lodge or Pit Lane Rooms. Additional fees apply to Villas at South Bend.

Ben David Jewelers was founded by Ben & Rebecca David in Danville Virginia in 1959. Ben David’s knowledge of the jewelry business and his store’s warm, friendly atmosphere, earned Ben David’s a reputation for excellence in Danville. After 50 years of service to Danville and the Dan River Region of Virginia & North Carolina, Leon & Mark David, sons of founder Ben David, now operate the free standing Diamond & Jewelry superstore.

“Ben David’s is proud to have been chosen to design and produce the Grand Am Champion Ring for VIR.  It has been a pleasure working VIR and the entire staff for this event.  The Dan River Region is fortunate to have VIR as a part of our community.”  — Mark David, co-owner of Ben David Jewelers

Kerrigan Smith, Director of Track Operations worked closely with Ben David’s in the concept and design of the new ring. Smith commented,  ” The part I love the most about this is the rich history both Ben David Jewelers and VIR have in this community with VIR opening in 1957 and BDJ opening in 1959. As we strive to show our level of commitment to our partners at Grand American Road Racing and to our title sponsors, VW and Bosch; Ben David’s only punctuates that point with their delivery of exclusive VIR podium rings for our Grand Am winners.”
Connie Nyholm, co-owner of VIR added, “I am most excited about the signature VIR pieces that Ben David Jewelers is making, and especially the trophy rings. It’s another way we are working with our partners to differentiate each of our brands.”

The ring can be viewed at Ben David Jewelers by the public up to May 13th.  Please visit them during the Bosch Engineering 250, May 13-14 at the VIR Club Tent in front of the Pagoda.

“When you consider that these nominations came from an entire year’s worth of American Le Mans, AMA Road Racing, AMA SuperCross, Continental Sports Car, Formula One, Grand Am, Indy Racing League, Lucas Oil Late Model, Monster Jam, Moto2, MotoGP, NASCAR Nationwide, Sprint Cup and Truck series along with NHRA, World of Outlaws & WRC events, it’s pretty phenomenal that two of these moments happened at just one track,” said Rod Short, Director of Marketing & Public Relations for VIR. “These nominations, along with the recent international TV coverage of our resort as seen on BBC’s “Top Gear” TV program, bring great value not only to our facility, competitors & sponsors, but also to road racing and to the region we’re as a whole.”

A non-lethal crash that occurred during the Continental Sports Car Challenge Bosch Engineering 200 was nominated for the “Biggest Hit” category and the finish from the AMA Daytona SportBike category during the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro SuperBike Nationals presented by Foremost Insurance was chosen for the “Best Finish” award. Following below are links to each video clip where they can be viewed:

“Biggest Hit” Category

“I honestly don’t think the sport would be the same without the occasional crash to remind us how difficult racing really is, and what is at stake, ” said Bob Varsha, the host of SPEED’s coverage of Formula One about the category nominations.

“Best Finish” Category

“Great finishes are the result of equally matched rivals racing without regard to the next lap, or even the next corner,” Varsha continued on about the Best Finishes category. “When guys are racing hard, you can see it in their reactions after the race is over. They wanted it to go on forever. And we wanted it to, as well.”

Fans can view all the nominated video clips on www.SpeedPerformanceAwards.com and vote for their favorites there, which will be unveiled during special TV programming scheduled for February 2011.