NASCAR returns to Richmond International Raceway, as the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series cars take to the track today.

Qualifying for tonight's Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI NASCAR Busch Series event "under the lights" is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. today.
Jason Leffler was the fastest qualifier last year, lapping the circuit in 21.372 seconds, 126.372 mph. The NASCAR Busch Series qualifying record at Richmond is held by Kyle Busch, set on May 13, 2004 with a lap of 20.874 seconds, 129.348 mph.

No less than 18 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers will attempt to qualify for tonight's Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI. These drivers
include: Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer, Ward Burton, Casey Mears, J. J. Yeley, Dave Blaney, Reed Sorensen, David Stremme, Scott Riggs and David Ragan.

American Idol star and Richmond native Elliott Yamin will perform the National Anthem tonight. Yamin is also schedule to make several fan hospitality appearances, in addition to singing "God Bless America" for tomorrow evening's Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400.

NASCAR officials have invited racecar driver/radio show host Tony Stewart to observe the Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI NASCAR Busch Series race from the control tower. Stewart will observe NASCAR officials as they call the race to gain a better understanding of what happens in race control, including how decisions are made regarding when to call a caution.

Continuing it's tradition of maintaining a fan-friendly facility, Richmond International Raceway has completed its spectacular new expansion project, The Commonwealth Grandstand. This project has added nearly 8,000 seats to the facility on three different levels. The structure is 180 feet in height, with the highest seat at 168 feet, more than twice the height of the previous highest grandstand seat. The new grandstand complex features a new TORQUE club level, which provides outside seating for 700 people, two buffets, two fully-stocked bars and more than 60 plasma screen televisions.