Every spring, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runs the first of two yearly events at Richmond International Raceway -- the Crown Royal 400. Race sponsor, Crown Royal, names the race in honor of a different contest winner each year.

Crown Royal became the naming sponsor of RIR's sprint race in 2006, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning that year. General Motors was the previous sponsor of the race, dubbing it the Chevrolet American Revolution for several years and the Pontiac Excitement 400 for many season before that. It was in 2007 that Crown Royal began giving naming rights to contest winners. That first race was dubbed the Crown Royal presents The Jim Stewart 400.

Other recent winners of the event include Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch.

Over the years, since its birth in 1953, the track that is now known as Richmond International Raceway has undergone a surface change from dirt to asphalt, three name changes (starting with Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds), and four configuration changes to become the track it is today.

Lights were added to RIR in 1991, and the track has since become the only track on the NASCAR circuit to host all of its major events after dark. http://www.nascar.comhttp://www.rir.com

The 2010 running of the Crown Royal 400 is scheduled for May 1 at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va. The complete name for the 2010 event will be the Crown Royal presents The Heath Calhoun 400. Live television coverage is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET start on FOX.

Kyle Busch is the defending winner of the race, taking the checkered flag in May 2009. Denny Hamlin will enter the weekend as the most recent Richmond International Raceway winner, claiming victory in the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at the track in Sept. 2009.