What’s Happening?

After the Olympic break, NASCAR heads to a traditional venue, and the stakes are getting higher and higher. Richmond Raceway presents a unique challenge and a big opportunity as the Playoffs near across the NASCAR National Touring Series. Here’s everything you need to know about the weekend.

• NASCAR held its first race at Richmond in 1953, and they have raced at the track every year since 1955, including two races every season since 1959. Originally a 0.542-mile bullring, the track was reconfigured in 1988 into the modern 0.75-mile D-shaped oval we know today.
• The Cup Series is making their second visit to the Virginia short track this season. This is the series’ first return trip to a venue this season, and it starts a string of 10 out of the final 14 races being second visits. However, the biggest story of the weekend is NASCAR using multiple tire compounds just like the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro.
• The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series joins alongside the Cup Series as the Xfinity Series enjoys a third off-weekend. This is the only Richmond race on the Truck Series schedule, but it’s a big one as the final race of the regular season. The Playoff bubble is tight, and plenty of dark horses are desperate to sneak into the Playoffs.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times ET)

Saturday, August 10th – Truck Series RACE

• 2:30-4:00 PM – Truck Series Practice/Qualifying on FS1
• 4:30-6:30 PM – Cup Series Practice/Qualifying on NBC Sports App
• 7:30 PM – Truck Series Clean Harbors 250 on FS1

Sunday, August 11th – Cup Series RACE 

• 6:00 PM – Cup Series Cook Out 400 on USA

Race Facts

Richmond Raceway

• Year Built: 1953, Reconfigured in 1988
• Length: 0.75 Miles
• Shape: D-Shaped Oval
• Banking: 14 Degrees in Turns; 8 Degrees on Frontstretch; 2 Degrees on Backstretch
• Surface: Asphalt
• Lights?: Yes
• Rain Tires?: Yes

Truck Series

• Race Length: 250 Laps (187.5 Miles)
• Stages: 70 Laps (Stages 1 and 2), 110 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winner: Carson Hocevar (2023)
• Former Winners in the Field: Grant Enfinger (2020)

Cup Series

• Race Length: 400 Laps (300 Miles)
• Stages: 70 Laps (Stage 1 and 2), 160 Laps (Stage 2), 170 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winners: Denny Hamlin (Spring 2024) and Chris Buescher (Summer 2023)
• Former Richmond Winners in the Field: Kyle Busch (6 Wins), Denny Hamlin (5 Wins), Martin Truex Jr. (3 Wins), Brad Keselowski (2 Wins), Kyle Larson (2 Wins), Joey Logano (2 Wins), Chris Buescher (Summer 2023), and Alex Bowman (Spring 2021)

Entry Lists

Craftsman Truck Series
A total of 38 trucks are entered for 36 spots at Richmond, leaving two entered trucks out of the race. Notable entrants include William Sawalich (No. 1), Connor Zilisch (No. 7), Trey Hutchens III (No. 14), Jerry Bohlman (No. 20), Keith McGee (No. 22), Kaden Honeycutt (No. 45), Conner Jones (No. 66), Stefan Parson (No. 75), Justin Carroll (No. 90) and Mason Maggio (No. 21).

NASCAR Cup Series
The NASCAR Cup Series has 39 cars entered for 40 spots at Richmond, meaning no car will be sent home. Notable charter entrants include Riley Herbst (No. 15) and Ty Dillon (No. 16). A notable open entrant is Parker Retzlaff (No. 66), who will be making his Cup Series debut.

Qualifying Order

Truck Series

Cup Series

What To Watch For

Truck Series

Despite Ty Majeski leading a race-high 168 laps in 2023, Carson Hocevar took home the win after taking the lead with only four laps to go. Majeski is looking for his second win of the season this weekend, after he won at another short track, Indianapolis Raceway Park prior to the Olympic break. Prior to that, Christian Eckes and Corey Heim were the dominant short track aces, so it looks to be a battle between those three at Richmond.

However, the bigger battle is the Playoff picture. Seven drivers (Eckes, Heim, Majeski, Nick Sanchez, Rajah Caruth, Tyler Ankrum, and Grant Enfinger) are all locked in, but none of their point positions are solidified. Each points position from 1st through 10th pays bonus points, so these drivers each have something to race for. Eckes is in the best position of all, and only needs to score 11 points at Richmond to lock up the Regular Season Championship and the 15 Playoff points that goes with it.

The Playoff bubble is a bit tighter, with seven drivers within one race of the Playoff cutline (Taylor Gray +48, Ben Rhodes +22, Tanner Gray +5, Daniel Dye -5, Stewart Friesen -16, Matt Crafton -43, and Chase Purdy -44). However, dark horses like Layne Riggs, Ty Dillon, and Matt Mills could win and push the cutline to just below Rhodes. Either way, this will be a tight battle all throughout the night.

Cup Series

Denny Hamlin won the spring race at Richmond in controversial fashion as NASCAR did not penalize him for jumping the last restart. Martin Truex Jr. led 228 laps in the spring as his car came to life after night fell. However Ford won the summer race at Richmond in 2023 with Chris Buescher, and Ryan Blaney won the most recent short track race at Iowa, making Ford a genuine threat at Richmond.

However, all of this takes a backseat to the “Option” tires. NASCAR will bring multiple tire compounds including the harder “Prime” tires that are slower but last longer alongside the softer “Option” tires that are faster but wear out more quickly. Teams will be allotted two “Option” sets along with six “Primary” sets for the race. For more information, check out the article below.

This article will be updated as more information about the weekend comes out.