Not to get too deep into politics and violate the Rules of Engagement, but if you know anything about Columbus Day, you know that it was created in the late 1930s by Franklin D. Roosevelt to woo the Italian-American vote. For many years Columbus Day was celebrated on October 12, until Federal Government employees campaigned to have many Federal holidays observed on Mondays, resulting in 3-day weekends.
66 years ago on the original "real" Columbus Day - October 12, 1946, the first race of any kind was held at the current site of Richmond International Raceway.
A 20-lap AAA-sanctioned Champ Car / Big Car feature race closed the State Fair of Virginia on the beautiful new 1/2-mile dirt layout known as Strawberry Hill on the grounds of the Atlantic Rural Exposition. The event was won by AAA champion Ted Horn, who established a new 1-lap 1/2-mile dirt track record in the process.
1 1/2 years later, the same track would host the first ever NASCAR race to be staged in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a May 16, 1948 NASCAR Modified event won by Red Byron over Bill Blair and Fonty Flock.
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
