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Henrico County police identified the spectator who climbed to the top of the catchfence during Saturday night’s Sprint Cup NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway as James Richard Dennis, 53, of Hopewell.

Dennis was arrested and charged with being drunk in public and disorderly conduct.

Henrico police Lt. Scott Jones said Dennis told police it was his birthday and he wanted to be on national TV. The race, the last to set the field for Chase for the Sprint Cup, was televised on ABC.

“He’s up in the stands and he’s waiting for his chance,” Jones said. “When the officers are tied up on something else, when the officers walk away, he runs down, climbs the fence, all the way to top, starts waving, and he got his wish.”

The catchfence helps protect spectators against cars leaving the track and debris. Dennis climbed to the top and sat on the curved part that overhangs the track in Turn 4 as cars whizzed by.

The incident caused a caution flag to be thrown with about 70 laps remaining in the Federated Auto Parts 400.