Richmond Raceway (RR) is a 0.75 mile (1.207 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located outside Richmond, Virginia. It hosts two NASCAR Cup Series, two Xfinity Series, and one Craftsman Truck Series races. RR has also hosted the IndyCar Series and the USAC Silver Crown Series, as well as the International Race of Champions (IROC), and the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown.
The tracks unique shape allows drivers to reach high speeds on the straights, while its minimally banked turns allow for heavy braking and passing opportunities. It also features multiple grooves for the drivers to choose from, making it a favorite among drivers and fans and earning the nicknames "Action Track" and "America's Premier Short Track".
Richmond sold out 33 consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races before the streak ended in September 2008. It has hosted the final "regular-season" race leading up to the NASCAR Playoffs from 2004 through 2018.
History[]
Richmond Raceway opened in October 1946 as a .50 mile dirt oval, suitable for horse races as well as car races. As the track was built on a new state fairgrounds located at the site of "Strawberry Hill" farm, The track was first known as Strawberry Hill Raceway or the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds. Ted Horn won the first race at the track, a AAA Championship sanctioned, open wheel event.
The track joined the NASCAR Cup Series circuit in 1953, and Lee Petty won the first 200 lap race at the speedway. At the time, the track was known as the Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds. In 1955, Paul Sawyer and Joe Weatherly purchased the property. In 1964, the Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds became the Virginia State Fairgrounds, and the track became an early pioneer of night racing with a special Tuesday night race held under temporary lights. In 1968, the half mile dirt oval was paved, and was remeasured as a 0.542 mile oval. In 1969, the paved track became known as the Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway.
In 1988, the track underwent a major renovation into its present D-shaped configuration, with a wider surface, banking in the turns, and expansion to 0.75 miles. The first race on the new configuration was ran in the fall of that year. The track's name was updated to Richmond International Raceway at the time. Night racing returned to Richmond in September 1991, when permanent lighting was added to the circuit.
The former name for the entire raceway complex was Strawberry Hill until RR bought out the Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1999. In the same year, the International Speedway Corporation purchased the track. The races at Strawberry Hill, which are a series of steeplechase horse races, were moved to Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia in 2001. The Richmond Raceway Complex still hosts over 190 events, including consumer/trade shows, and outdoor festivals through the year, and consists of five permanent Exhibition/Meeting facilities as well as the Ally Torque Club which overlooks the raceway, the Virginia Business Systems Media Center and Dixie Vodka Victory Lane Club.
In 2017, as part of a $30 million renovation of the infield, the track was renamed Richmond Raceway.
Track Specifications[]
- 0.75 mile, D-Shaped Oval. 60-foot width with a 10-foot apron.
- Frontstretch length: 1,290 feet, Backstretch length: 860 feet.
- Banking: Turns: 14°; Frontstretch: 8°; Backstretch: 2°
- Seating Capacity: 60,000 (was 71,000, 91,000, and 112,029)
Major events[]
Current Events[]
- NASCAR Cup Series - Toyota Owners 400 (March); Cook Out 400 (July)
- Xfinity Series - ToyotaCare 250 (March)
- Craftsman Truck Series - Worldwide Express 250 (July)
Former Events[]
- AAA Sprint Cars (1946-1948, 1952-1953)
- AAA Stock Car (1952)
- ARDC Midgets (1946-1948)
- Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown (2011-2013)
- Indycar Series
- Indy Richmond 300 (2001-2009)
- International Race of Champions (2004-2005)
- NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
- UNOH 100 (2011-2015)
- NASCAR Convertible Division (1957-1959)
- NASCAR Grand American (1968-1970)
- NASCAR Goody's Dash Series (1975, 1976, 1979-1981)
- NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series (1991)
- NASCAR Sportsman Series (1990)
- NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (1990-1993, 1997, 1999-2002)
- URC Sprint Cars (1956, 1960)
- USAC Silver Crown Series
- USAC Honda National Midget Championship
Track Records & Stats[]
| Record | Record Holder & Record |
|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying | Jeff Gordon, 20.674 secs (130.599 mph); 2013 |
| NASCAR Cup Series Race | Dale Jarrett, 2:45:04 (109.047 mph); 1997. |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying | Kyle Busch, 20.874 secs (129.348 mph); 2004 |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Race | Dale Jarrett, 1:47:13 (104.928 mph); 1995 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying | David Starr, 21.319 secs (126.648 mph); 2005 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race | Bob Keselowski, 1:26:21 (104.227 mph); 1997 |
| Most Wins (Cup Series) | Richard Petty, 13 |
| Most Top 5s (Cup Series) | Richard Petty, 34 |
| Most Top 10s (Cup Series) | Richard Petty, 41 |
| Most Starts (Cup Series) | Richard Petty, 63 |
| Most Poles (Cup Series) | Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, 8 |
| Most Laps Completed (Cup Series) | Richard Petty, 21,135 |
| Most Laps Led (Cup Series) | Richard Petty, 5,142 |
| Highest Average Start* (Cup Series) | Bobby Isaac (3.7) |
| Highest Average Finish* (Cup Series) | Kyle Busch (5.0) |
*= minimum 10 starts
Trivia[]
- Richard Petty holds the record of most wins at Richmond with 13 victories, Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace are tied with six.
- Richmond is the site of the famous battle between Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip in 1986. Earnhardt tapped Waltrip in turn 4 and both drivers hit the wall, handing the win to none other than Kyle Petty who avoided the crash and won.
- From 2001 to 2002, the fall event sponsored the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 presented by the Looney Tunes and in 2003, the event was renamed the Chevy Rock and Roll 400.