Richmond Raceway (RR) is a , ''D''-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

in unincorporated Henrico County. It hosts the

NASCAR Cup Series The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, and from 1950 to 1970 it was known as the Grand National Division. In 1971, ...

NASCAR Xfinity Series The NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) is a stock car racing series organized by NASCAR. It is promoted as NASCAR's second-tier circuit to the organization's top level Cup Series. NXS events are frequently held as a support race on the day prior to a ...

and the

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and is the only series in NASCAR to race production pickup truck based stock cars. The series is one of ...

. Known as "America's premier short track", it has formerly hosted events such as the

International Race of Champions International Race of Champions (IROC) was a North American auto racing competition, created by Les Richter, Roger Penske and Mike Phelps, promoted as an equivalent of an American motorsports All-Star Game. Despite its name, the IROC was primar ...

, Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, and the USAC sprint car series. Due to Richmond Raceway's unique "D" shape which allows drivers to reach high speeds, its racing grooves, and proclivity for contact Richmond is a favorite among NASCAR drivers and fans. Nicknamed the "Action Track", Richmond sold out 33 consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races before the streak ended in September 2008 due to the

Great Recession The Great Recession was a period of marked general decline, i.e. a recession, observed in national economies globally that occurred from late 2007 into 2009. The scale and timing of the recession varied from country to country (see map). At ...

as well as the impact of Tropical Storm Hanna. Richmond has hosted the final "regular-season" race, leading up to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series

playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eit ...

, each year since the concept was introduced in 2004 until 2018 when it was moved into the playoffs. In 2010, the track introduced a state-of-the-art video scoring tower that boasts more LED square footage than any other in the motorsports industry. The cap features four HD LED screens that measure 38 feet wide by 24 feet high. The screens broadcast live race action and pre-produced videos and graphics. The stem shows the running order and has the ability to rotate through the entire field. Prior to 2019, the raceway had a track seating of 59,000.

History

Racing in Virginia

Racing sports has a long tradition in Virginia, dating back to colonial English times. From 1898 to the

first World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, the Deep Run Hunt Club the Northside area of Ginter Park was the site of the club's somewhat annual

steeplechase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

race. After a decade hiatus, the annual races were moved to

Curles Neck Curles Neck Plantation (also known as Curles Neck Farm) is located between State Route 5 and the north bank of the James River in the Varina district of Henrico County, Virginia. One of the great James River Plantations, Curles Neck has remain ...

in 1928 on the south side of Richmond.

World War II

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, all auto racing was suspended due to the

second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

. From 1942 to 1945, no events were contested, as they were prohibited by the US government primarily on account of rationing.

Races resume

The

1946 AAA Championship Car season The 1946 AAA Championship Car season was the first season of American Championship car racing following World War II. After four years without racing in the United States, the AAA Contest Board was initially concerned about having enough races, en ...

was unique in that it was the first post-war IndyCar race and because the Atlantic Rural Exposition had built a new state fairgrounds at the old Strawberry Hill Farm near Ginter Park. The ½ -mile dirt track would be suitable for both annual "Strawberry Hill" horse races and car races, and was known as the "Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds Track", "Strawberry Hill", and "Strawberry Hill Raceway" On October 12, 1946, Ted Horn gained the distinction of winning the track's first race in an open-wheel Indy-style car.http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20150420/COLUMNISTS/304209982 "In 1988, the track was totally redesigned and banked into its present D-shaped configuration."

Strawberry Hill Raceway joins national racing circuit

Two years later, when the NASCAR schedule was being formed, this short track joined several others on the circuit. In 1953, the track began hosting the

Grand National Series The name NASCAR Grand National Series refers to former names of the following NASCAR series: *National-level stock car series: **NASCAR Cup Series (known as NASCAR Grand National Series between 1950 to 1970, then the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand Nation ...

with Lee Petty winning that first race in Richmond. The original track was paved in 1968. In 1988, the track was re-designed into its present ''D''-shaped configuration. The name for the raceway complex was "Strawberry Hill" until the Virginia State Fairgrounds site was bought out in 1999 and renamed the "Richmond International Raceway". The Strawberry Hill Races, which are a series of steeplechase horse races were formerly held the third Saturday of April at the Richmond Raceway Complex. In 2001, the races were moved to

Colonial Downs Colonial Downs is a racetrack located in New Kent County, Virginia adjacent to Interstate 64, halfway between Richmond and Williamsburg. The track conducted Thoroughbred flat racing and Standardbred harness racing between 1997 and 2014, and re ...

in New Kent County, Virginia's first Thoroughbred racetrack.Strawberry Hill Races Traditions
/ref>

Richmond Raceway Complex

Richmond Raceway is located at the Richmond Raceway Complex, which is an , multi-purpose facility. The Richmond Raceway Complex also hosts the Intergalactic Bead Show, Virginia Golf Show, Bassarama, the Richmond Home and Garden Show, the RV and Camping Expo, the Richmond Boat Show, the Richmond Gun Show, the Richmond Classic Sports Card Show, the East Coast Sawmill and Logging Equipment Expo, the Craftsmen Classic Spring and Christmas Shows, Bizarre Bazaar Spring and Christmas Shows and other various arts and craft events. Outdoor festivals currently hosted by the Richmond Raceway Complex include the 102.1 "The X" chili cook-off, the ACCA Temple Pork Festival and concerts featuring local and national recording artists. Outdoor festivals that have been held there included the State Fair of Virginia, the Richmond Highland Games and Celtic Festival, the

March of Dimes March of Dimes is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. The organization was founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, to comb ...

Bikers for Babies, the K95 Country Music Festival and the Virginia Food Festival. In 2021, after NASCAR partner and online sports gambling company WynnBET launched a mobile betting app accessible to Virginia residents, it was announced that a sports betting lounge would be built at Richmond Raceway.

NASCAR-sanctioned races

Richmond Raceway is home to two NASCAR races in both the Cup Series and Xfinity Series. There are a pair of spring races, usually held on the first weekend of April. The Xfinity race is currently 250 laps (187.5 miles) and is named the

ToyotaCare 250 The ToyotaCare 250 is a NASCAR Xfinity Series race that takes place at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. The race was first held during the inaugural season for the Xfinity Series in 1982 as a 150-lap event. The race was removed from the ...

. The NASCAR Cup Series race is currently 400 laps (300 miles) and is named the Toyota Owners 400. There are a pair of fall races, usually held on the second weekend of September. The 250 lap (187.5 miles) Xfinity race is currently sponsored by Virginia 529 College Savings Plan and is named the

Go Bowling 250 The Go Bowling 250 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series stock car race that took place at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia in the month of September. It is held the night before the NASCAR Cup Series race, the Federated Auto Parts 400. Noah Gragso ...

. The 400 lap (300 miles) fall Cup race is currently sponsored by Federated Auto Parts and is named the Federated Auto Parts 400. Under the current schedule it is the final race before the playoff-style Chase for the Championship series of races that determine the Cup champion begins, and the last chance for drivers to earn a place in the Chase. Until 2005, Richmond was home to a fall

Craftsman Truck Series The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and is the only series in NASCAR to race production pickup truck based stock cars. The series is one of th ...

race. Starting with the 2006 schedule, that date was transferred to

Talladega Superspeedway Talladega Superspeedway, nicknamed “'Dega”, and formerly named Alabama International Motor Speedway (AIMS) from 1969 to 1989, is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base ...

, and the series did not return to Richmond until 2020. Until 2009, Richmond was also home to a June IndyCar Series race. In July 2009, it was announced that IndyCar would not return to the Raceway in 2010. Richmond was scheduled to return to the IndyCar schedule in 2020, replacing Pocono Raceway after violent crashes at the track in 2018 and 2019 caused outcry from several drivers. The 2020 race was canceled due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

Timeline

* October 12, 1946: driving an open-wheel car, Ted Horn wins the first race at the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds on a half-mile dirt track. * April 19, 1953: Lee Petty wins the first NASCAR "Grand National Division" race with an average speed of at the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds. * 1955: Paul Sawyer and famed racer

Joe Weatherly Joseph Herbert Weatherly (May 29, 1922 – January 19, 1964) was an American stock car racing driver. Weatherly was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009 after winning NASCAR's Grand National Series championships ...

buy the property. The track becomes known as the "Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds". * March 10, 1964: The first Richmond race to run under temporary lights * The track operated as a oval through the spring race of 1988. During the spring and summer of 1988, the track was reconfigured to its current layout of . The first race under the new configuration was in September 1988. Lights were added for the fall 1991 race. * The track was previously called "Strawberry Hill", the "Virginia State Fairgrounds", and the "Richmond Fairgrounds Speedway"; the annual fair made the track a popular venue. *

Richard Petty Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937), nicknamed "The King", is an American former stock car racing driver who raced from 1958 to 1992 in the former NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most notably ...

holds the record for most wins at Richmond with 13; David Pearson,

Darrell Waltrip Darrell Lee Waltrip (born February 5, 1947) is an American motorsports analyst, author, former national television broadcaster, and stock car driver. He raced from 1972 to 2000 in the NASCAR Cup Series (known as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series dur ...

, Rusty Wallace, and

Kyle Busch Kyle Thomas Busch (born May 2, 1985) is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing and part-tim ...

are tied for second with six. * Richmond is the site of the famous battle between

Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr. (; April 29, 1951February 18, 2001) was an American professional stock car driver and team owner, who raced from 1975 to 2001 in the former NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most notably dri ...

and Darrell Waltrip in 1986. Earnhardt tapped Waltrip in turn four and both drivers hit the wall, handing the lead to

Kyle Petty Kyle Eugene Petty (born June 2, 1960) is an American former stock car racing driver, and current racing commentator. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of racer Adam Petty, who was killed in a crash d ...

who avoided the crash and won. * Richmond hosted two

events, in 2004 and 2005, won by

Matt Kenseth Matthew Roy Kenseth (born March 10, 1972) is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He drives the No. 8 car in the Superstar Racing Experience. (SRX) Kenseth started racing on several short tracks in Wisconsin and won track cha ...

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight ...

and

Mark Martin Mark Anthony Martin (born January 9, 1959) is a retired American stock car racing driver. He has the second most wins all time in what is now the Xfinity Series with 49. He scored 40 Cup Series wins. He finished second in the NASCAR Cup Series s ...

2005 File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; " Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discover ...

, with 2005 being the final season of the series. * Site of

Tony Stewart Anthony Wayne Stewart (born May 20, 1971), nicknamed Smoke, is an American semi-retired professional stock car racing driver, current NASCAR team co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, and current co-owner of the Superstar Racing Experience. He is ...

's first career Cup Series win, in 1999. * June 30, 2001,

Indy Racing League The IndyCar Series, currently known as the NTT IndyCar Series under sponsorship, is the highest class of regional North American open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars in the United States, which has been conducted under the auspices o ...

runs their first ever short track race. * Site of

Kasey Kahne Kasey Kenneth Kahne (; born April 10, 1980) is an American dirt track racing driver and former professional stock car racing driver. He last competed in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2018, driving the No. 95 Dumont Jets/ Procore Technolo ...

's first career Cup Series win, in 2005. * May 6, 2006: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s final win in the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet before moving to Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. * June 11, 2017: Track president Dennis Bickmeier announces RIR would be renamed to "Richmond Raceway", part of a $30 million renovation of the infield known as Richmond Raceway Reimagined. * September 22, 2018:

nabs his milestone 50th-career Cup win. It's also the first time the track hosted a Playoff race.

Races and events

2019 Toyota Owners 400 from frontstretch

Current races

** Toyota Owners 400 (April) ** Federated Auto Parts 400 (August) *

(April) *

(August)

Previous races

* AAA Sprint Cars (

1946 Events January * January 6 - The first general election ever in Vietnam is held. * January 7 – The Allies recognize the Austrian republic with its 1937 borders, and divide the country into four occupation zones. * January 10 ** The ...

–1948, 1952 and 1953) * AAA Stock Car (1952) * ADRC midgets (1946–1948) * Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown (2011–2013) *

IndyCar Series The IndyCar Series, currently known as the NTT IndyCar Series under sponsorship, is the highest class of regional North American open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars in the United States, which has been conducted under the auspices o ...

** Indy Richmond 300 (2001–2009) *

(2004 & 2005) * NASCAR K&N Pro Series East ** UNOH 100 (2011–2015) *

(1982–2020) *

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and is the only series in NASCAR to race production pickup truck based stock cars. The series is one of thr ...

Cheerios Betty Crocker 200 The Worldwide Express 250 for Carrier Appreciation is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Richmond Raceway. The race was initially held from 1995 to 2005 before being removed from the schedule in 2006. The race returned to the Truck Ser ...

(1995–2005) * NASCAR Convertible Division (1957–1959) *

NASCAR Grand American Grand American was a NASCAR sanctioned series of pony car stock cars. The series ran from 1968 until 1972. The series was called "Grand Touring" from 1968 to 1969. History The series formed in 1968 under the name "Grand Touring" as a competitor ...

(1968–1970) * NASCAR Goody's Dash Series (1975, 1976, 1979–1981) *

NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series was a NASCAR-sanctioned amateur/semi-pro late model stock car racing series based in the Southeastern United States. The series was formerly known as the Slim Jim All Pro Series; it was founded i ...

(1991) * NASCAR Sportsman Series (1990) *

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) (previously the NASCAR Winston Modified Tour and NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series from 1985 until 2005) is a modified stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR in the Modified Division. The Mod ...

(1990–1993, 1997, 1999–2002) * URC sprint cars (1956, 1960) * USAC Silver Crown Series * USAC Honda National Midget Championship

Records

* NASCAR Cup Series qualifying:

Jeff Gordon Jeffery Michael Gordon (born August 4, 1971) is an American former professional stock car racing driver, who is the Vice Chairman for Hendrick Motorsports. He raced full-time from 1993 to 2015, driving the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick M ...

, 20.674 sec. (130.599 mph, 210.180 km/h); 2013 * NASCAR Cup Series race:

Dale Jarrett Dale Arnold Jarrett (born November 26, 1956) is a former American race car driver and current commentator for NBC. He is best known for winning the Daytona 500 three times (in 1993, 1996, and 2000) and winning the NASCAR Winston Cup Series champio ...

, 2 hrs. 45 min. 4 sec. (109.047 mph, 175.494 km/h); 1997 * NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying:

, 20.874 sec. (129.348 mph 208.165 km/h); 2004 * NASCAR Xfinity Series race: Dale Jarrett, 1 hr. 47 min. 13 sec. (104.928 mph, 168.685 km/h); 1995 *

qualifying:

Sam Hornish Jr. Samuel Jon Hornish Jr. (born July 2, 1979) is an American semi-retired professional auto racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 22 Ford Mustang for Team Penske in 2017. He began his top-tier raci ...

, 15.3197 sec. (176.244 mph, 283.637 km/h); 2005 * Rusty Wallace Race Experience Fastest Non Professional Driver: Paul Delagrange, 20.894 sec. (129.412 mph): 2020

Lap Records

The official race lap records at Richmond Raceway (formerly Richmond International Raceway) are listed as:

NASCAR Cup Series records

(As of 9/10/11) * minimum 10 starts

References

External links

*
Map and circuit history at RacingCircuits.info
*

o
NASCAR.com

nbsp;– Current and Past RIR News
RIR visitor's guide

Richmond Raceway Complex website

Richmond International Raceway Seating Charts
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