Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, going into the Cook Out 400 this Sunday, August 11 at 6 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
At Richmond Raceway – Statistics & Tidbits Season Race #: 23 of 36 (August 11, 2024) Race Purse: $7,925,121 Track Size: 0.75-mile Asphalt Oval (3/4-mile) Banking/Turns: 14 degrees Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees Frontstretch Length: 1,290 feet Backstretch Length: 860 feet Race Length: 400 laps / 300 miles Stage 1 Length: 70 laps Stage 2 Length: 160 laps (Ends on Lap 230) Final Stage Length: 170 laps (Ends on Lap 400)
QUALIFYING & RACE RECORDS
Track Qualifying Record: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 130.599 mph, 20.674 secs., September 4, 2013
2023 Pole Winner: Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 113.689 mph, 23.749 secs., July 29, 2023
2023 Race Winner: Chris Buescher, Ford, 98.783 mph, (03:02:13), July 30, 2023
HISTORY
Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond Raceway held its first race in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track.
The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway was held on April 19, 1953 and won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Lee Petty in a Petty Enterprises Dodge with an average speed of 45.535 mph.
In 1955, Paul Sawyer and former driver Joe Weatherly bought the property; the track was then known as the Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds.
The spring 1964 race was run on a Tuesday night under temporary lighting.
The track name changed to Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1967.
The track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt between Cup Series races in 1968. The first 24 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Richmond Raceway were run on a dirt surface (1953-1968). NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson won the final Richmond race on dirt, driving a Holman-Moody Racing 1968 Ford to Victory Lane.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty won the first NASCAR Cup Series race on the paved Richmond surface in 1968 driving a Petty Enterprises’
The track’s name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969, and the track was re-measured to 0.542-mile in 1970.
The track was rebuilt as a three-quarters-mile D-shaped oval following the February 21, 1988 race.
The first race under permanent lights was September 7, 1991.
In 1999, International Speedway Corporation purchased the raceway and surrounding property. It was the first season with both races as night races and the track was renamed to Richmond International Raceway.
In 2017, the track underwent renovations to upgrade the amenities for fans and in the process changed the name of the track to Richmond Raceway.
In total, there have been 135 NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway, one event from 1953 – 1958 and two races per year since 1959 to 2019, 2021-2022. Due to the pandemic in 2020, the Cup Series only raced at Richmond Raceway once that season.
Richmond Raceway ranks third on the all-time list of tracks that have hosted the most NASCAR Cup Series races with 135, behind only Daytona (154) and Martinsville (151).
STARTS
A total of 531 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway; 355 drivers have competed in more than one Cup race at Richmond.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Richmond Raceway with 63.
Top five in Cup Series starts at Richmond (All-Time): Richard Petty (63), Mark Martin (56), Ricky Rudd (55), Terry Labonte (55), and Kyle Petty (54).
Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Richmond Raceway with 37.
Top five in Cup Series starts at Richmond (Active): Kyle Busch (37), Martin Truex Jr. (36), Denny Hamlin (35), Joey Logano (30), and Brad Keselowski (29).
Dick Rathmann (two series starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Richmond Raceway with a 2.000.
Kyle Larson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Richmond Raceway with an 8.474 in 19 starts.
Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Drivers
Avg Finish
Races
Rank
Active Drivers
Avg Finish
Races
1
Dick Rathmann
2.000
2
1
Kyle Larson
8.474
19
2
Herb Thomas
3.000
2
2
Denny Hamlin
9.257
35
3
Billy Wade
3.667
3
3
William Byron
9.750
12
4
Bobby Isaac
3.700
10
4
Ty Gibbs
10.750
4
5
Ned Jarrett
4.077
13
5
Joey Logano
10.933
30
6
Glen Wood
4.333
3
6
Brad Keselowski
11.517
29
7
Speedy Thompson
4.600
5
7
Kyle Busch
11.676
37
8
Marvin Panch
5.000
3
8
Martin Truex Jr
11.972
36
9
Cotton Owens
5.111
9
9
Ryan Blaney
13.375
16
10
Bill Morgan
6.000
2
10
Chase Elliott
13.938
16
A total of 51 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have made their series debut at Richmond Raceway; the most recent was Chandler Smith (April 2, 2023).
Of the drivers who have made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at Richmond Raceway, Harold Carmac posted the best finish – sixth on April 1, 1962.
NASCAR Cup Series Drivers That Made First Career Start at Richmond Raceway
Driver
Date
Driver
Date
1
Chandler Smith
4/2/2023
27
Joey Arrington
9/8/1974
2
Daniel Hemric
4/21/2018
28
Jerry Hufflin
2/24/1974
3
Jeffrey Earnhardt
9/12/2015
29
Jimmy Hailey
2/24/1974
4
Jason Keller
5/3/2003
30
Travis Tiller
2/24/1974
5
Tim Sauter
9/7/2002
31
Baxter Price
9/9/1973
6
Randy Renfrow
5/5/2002
32
Les Covey
2/27/1972
7
Casey Atwood
9/9/2000
33
Phil Finney
11/14/1971
8
Kenny Irwin Jr
9/6/1997
34
Al Grinnan
3/7/1971
9
Jeff Green
9/10/1994
35
Ed Hessert
4/13/1969
10
Ward Burton
3/6/1994
36
John Kenney
4/13/1969
11
Jeff Fuller
3/8/1992
37
Frog Fagan
9/10/1967
12
Bill Meacham
2/25/1990
38
Jim Wright
4/30/1967
13
Lee Faulk
9/11/1988
39
Bill Dennis
9/9/1962
14
Doug French
9/13/1987
40
Melvin Bradley
9/9/1962
15
Ernie Irvan
9/13/1987
41
Harold Carmac
4/1/1962
16
Steve Christman
3/8/1987
42
Jim Bray
4/1/1962
17
Ron Shephard
9/7/1986
43
Al Disney
9/10/1961
18
Alan Kulwicki
9/8/1985
44
Aubrey Boles
6/21/1959
19
Eddie Dickerson
9/7/1980
45
Bob Hundley
6/21/1959
20
Tommy Houston
2/24/1980
46
John McDaniel
9/14/1958
21
Bill Elswick
9/9/1979
47
Ray Fanning
9/14/1958
22
Joe Fields
3/11/1979
48
Dick Klank
5/5/1957
23
Nelson Oswald
2/26/1978
49
Chick Dawson
5/22/1955
24
Woody Fisher
2/26/1978
50
Nace Mattingly
5/22/1955
25
Robin Schildnecht
2/27/1977
51
Sonny Hutchins
5/22/1955
26
Larry LeMay
9/12/1976
POLES
A total of 58 different drivers have won at least one pole at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series; 31 drivers have won multiple poles at Richmond.
Buck Baker won the inaugural pole at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1953 with a speed of 48.465 mph in an Oldsmobile owned by Bob Griffin.
NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 sweep, 1974, 1975) and Bobby Allison (1972 sweep, 1973 sweep, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1982) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Richmond Raceway with eight poles each.
Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Richmond Raceway with three poles (2006, 2008, 2016).
A total of eight of the 58 NASCAR Cup Series Richmond Raceway pole winners are active this weekend.
Active Pole Winners (8)
Poles
Seasons
Denny Hamlin
3
2016, 2008, 2006
Kyle Larson
2
2024, 2022
Brad Keselowski
2
2019, 2014
Joey Logano
2
2015 sweep
Tyler Reddick
1
2023
Ryan Blaney
1
2022
Kyle Busch
1
2010
Martin Truex Jr
1
2018
11 different drivers have won consecutive poles at Richmond – Buck Baker (1953, 1956), Ned Jarrett (1960 sweep, 1964 sweep), Rex White (1962, 1963), Richard Petty (1969, 1970 sweep, Bobby Allison (1972-1974), Darrell Waltrip (1983, 1984 sweep, 1985), Alan Kulwicki (1987 sweep), Ted Musgrave (1994 sweep), Joey Logano (2015 sweep), Matt Kenseth (2017 sweep) and Kevin Harvick (2018, 2019) – Logano is the only active driver to accomplish the feat.
Bobby Allison holds the record for most consecutive poles at Richmond Raceway with five straight from 1972-1974; Darrell Waltrip has posted the second-most consecutive poles at Richmond with four-straight from 1983-1985.
Nine different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted their first career pole at Richmond Raceway – none are currently active – most recent was Brian Vickers on May 15, 2004.
First-Time Pole Winners
Date
Russ Hepler
Sunday, May 5, 1957
Ned Jarrett
Sunday, June 5, 1960
Dave Marcis
Sunday, March 7, 1971
Bill Dennis
Sunday, November 14, 1971
Morgan Shepherd
Sunday, February 22, 1981
Alan Kulwicki
Sunday, March 8, 1987
Bobby Labonte
Saturday, September 11, 1993
Ted Musgrave
Sunday, March 6, 1994
Brian Vickers
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Youngest Richmond Cup pole winner: Brian Vickers (May 15, 2004 – 20 years, 6 months, 21 days).
Oldest Richmond Cup pole winner: Mark Martin (April 28, 2012 – 53 years, 3 months, 19 days).
A total of 51 different owners have won at least one pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway.
Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Richmond Raceway with 19 poles among 10 drivers: Geoff Bodine (1985, 1989), Ricky Rudd (1990), Ken Schrader (1993), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2013), Terry Labonte (1996, 2003), Jimmie Johnson (2002, 2007), Kyle Larson (2022, 2024), Brian Vickers (2004), Mark Martin (2009), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2012).
A total of nine different manufacturers have posted at least one pole at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet (48); followed by Ford (35), Dodge (11), Toyota (11), Pontiac (six), Plymouth (five), Mercury (three), Buick (two) and Oldsmobile (two).
WINS
A total of 54 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway, and 34 of them have won multiple times at the 0.75-mile track.
The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway (dirt surface) was held on April 19, 1953, and won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Lee Petty in a Petty Enterprises Dodge with an average speed of 45.535 mph.
A total of eight of the 54 NASCAR Cup Series Richmond Raceway winners at entered this weekend:
Active Race Winners (8)
Wins
Season
Kyle Busch
6
2018 sweep, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
Denny Hamlin
5
2024, 2022, 2016, 2010, 2009
Martin Truex Jr
3
2021, 2019 sweep
Kyle Larson
2
2023, 2017
Brad Keselowski
2
2020, 2014
Joey Logano
2
2017, 2014
Chris Buescher
1
2023
Alex Bowman
1
2021
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Richmond Raceway with 13 victories (spring 1961, 1967 sweep, fall 1968, fall 1970, 1971 sweep, 1972 sweep, 1973 sweep, fall 1974 and spring 1975) – the third-most wins by a single driver at a single track in series history behind his 15 wins at Martinsville and North Wilkesboro.
Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in wins at Richmond Raceway with six victories (spring 2009, spring 2010, spring 2011, spring 2012, 2018 sweep).
A total of 11 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Richmond Raceway; Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. are the only active drivers to accomplish the feat:
Joe Weatherly (1962-1963)
David Pearson (1965, 1966 sweep)
Richard Petty (1970, 1971 sweep, 1972 sweep, 1973 sweep)
Cale Yarborough (1976-1977)
Bobby Allison (1982, 1983 sweep)
Dale Earnhardt (1987 sweep, 1990-1991)
Rusty Wallace (1989 sweep)
Terry Labonte (1994-1995)
Jimmie Johnson (2007 sweep)
Kyle Busch (2018 sweep)
Martin Truex Jr. (2019 sweep)
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in consecutive wins at Richmond Raceway with seven consecutive victories from the fall race of 1970 to the fall race of 1973.
Youngest Richmond Cup winner: Richard Petty (April 23, 1961 – 23 years, 9 months, 21 days).
Oldest Richmond Cup winner: Harry Gant (September 7, 1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 28 days).
Five drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Richmond Raceway – Kasey Kahne (2005), Tony Stewart (1999), Kyle Petty (1986), Neil Bonnett (1977) and James Hylton (1970)
Michael McDowell leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers in starts at Richmond Raceway without visiting Victory Lane at 26; followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with 22 and Austin Dillon with 20 starts without a win.
A total of 27 different starting positions have led to victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway.
The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the NASCAR Cup Series field, producing more winners than any other starting position at Richmond Raceway with 24 victories (17.8%).
The second-most proficient starting position in the NASCAR Cup Series field at Richmond Raceway is the third starting position with 18 victories (13.3%).
More than half of the NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway have been won from a top-five starting position (54.8%).
NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Position at Richmond Raceway
Starting Pos.
Wins
Winning %
Starting Pos.
Wins
Winning %
Starting Pos.
Wins
Winning %
1
24
17.78%
10
3
2.22%
21
1
0.74%
2
14
10.37%
11
3
2.22%
22
2
1.48%
3
18
13.33%
12
2
1.48%
23
1
0.74%
4
11
8.15%
13
4
2.96%
24
2
1.48%
5
7
5.19%
14
3
2.22%
25
2
1.48%
6
7
5.19%
16
3
2.22%
26
2
1.48%
7
11
8.15%
17
2
1.48%
28
1
0.74%
8
3
2.22%
19
1
0.74%
31
1
0.74%
9
4
2.96%
20
2
1.48%
32
1
0.74%
Stats
Winning %
Wins
Winning from the First Starting Position:
17.78%
24
Winning from the Front Row:
28.15%
38
Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:
54.81%
74
Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position:
75.56%
102
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:
9.63%
13
A total of 15 different drivers have won from the pole or first starting position at Richmond Raceway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty with six victories from the first starting position.
Richmond Winners
Wins From The Pole
Seasons
Richard Petty
6
1975, 1974, 1970, 1968, 1967, 1961
Darrell Waltrip
3
1984, 1980, 1978
Bobby Allison
2
1982, 1974
David Pearson
2
1969, 1966
Denny Hamlin
1
2016
Brad Keselowski
1
2014
Kyle Busch
1
2010
Jimmie Johnson
1
2007
Kasey Kahne
1
2005
Bill Elliott
1
1992
Davey Allison
1
1988
Junior Johnson
1
1965
Cotton Owens
1
1959
Speedy Thompson
1
1958
Buck Baker
1
1956
Only three active drivers have been able to win from the pole or first starting position at Richmond in the Cup Series: Kyle Busch (2010), Brad Keselowski (2014) and Denny Hamlin (2016).
The deepest in the field that a NASCAR Cup Series race winner has started at Richmond Raceway is 32nd, by Kyle Busch in the spring race of 2018.
A total of 13 drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway after starting outside the top-20 (9.63%) – which is the second-most all-time behind Daytona International Speedway with 14.
In total 37 different organizations have won at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Joe Gibbs Racing leads the NASCAR Cup Series in victories at Richmond Raceway with 19 wins among six drivers – Tony Stewart (1999, 2001, 2002), Denny Hamlin (2009, 2010, 2016, 2022, 2024), Kyle Busch (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018 sweep), Matt Kenseth (2015), Carl Edwards (2016), Martin Truex Jr. (2019 sweep, 2021).
Petty Enterprises has the second-most NASCAR Cup Series wins at Richmond Raceway with 15 victories.
A total of nine different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway.
Chevrolet leads the series in wins at Richmond with 40 victories; followed by Ford (35), Dodge (17), Toyota (17), Pontiac (11) Plymouth (10), Buick (two), Oldsmobile (two) and Chrysler (one).
Chevrolet holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive wins at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series with six consecutive victories from 2006-2008.
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Runner-Up Finishes:
A total of 60 different drivers have finished runner-up in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.
NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Richard Petty are tied for the series-most runner-up finishes at Richmond Raceway with nine each; followed by Jeff Gordon with eight second-place finishes
Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Richmond with seven second-place finishes.
Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Drivers
Runner-Ups
Rank
Active Drivers
Runner-Ups
1
Bobby Allison
9
1
Kyle Busch
7
Richard Petty
9
2
Denny Hamlin
5
3
Jeff Gordon
8
3
Joey Logano
3
4
Dale Earnhardt
7
4
Brad Keselowski
1
Kyle Busch
7
Chase Elliott
1
Christopher Bell
1
Josh Berry
1
Kyle Larson
1
Martin Truex Jr
1
Top-Five Finishes:
A total of 143 different drivers have finished in the top-five in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Richmond with 34 top fives.
Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-five finishes at Richmond with 19 top fives each.
Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Drivers
Top Fives
Rank
Active Drivers
Top Fives
1
Richard Petty
34
1
Denny Hamlin
19
2
Dale Earnhardt
25
Kyle Busch
19
3
Bobby Allison
23
3
Joey Logano
14
4
Darrell Waltrip
22
4
Martin Truex Jr
10
Rusty Wallace
22
5
Brad Keselowski
6
Chase Elliott
6
Top-10 Finishes:
A total of 246 different drivers have finished in the top-10 in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Richmond with 41.
Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top 10s at Richmond Raceway with 28 top-10 finishes.
Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Drivers
Top 10s
Rank
Active Drivers
Top 10s
1
Richard Petty
41
1
Kyle Busch
28
2
Dale Earnhardt
33
2
Denny Hamlin
23
Darrell Waltrip
33
3
Joey Logano
19
4
Kevin Harvick
31
4
Martin Truex Jr
18
Mark Martin
31
5
Brad Keselowski
15
Average Finishes:
Lee Petty (seven series starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond Raceway with a 4.857.
Josh Berry (two series starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond Raceway with a 6.500.
Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Drivers
Avg Finish
Races
Rank
Active Drivers
Avg Finish
Races
1
Lee Petty
4.857
7
1
Josh Berry
6.500
2
2
Tommy Irwin
5.333
3
2
Kyle Busch
7.432
37
3
Paul Goldsmith
5.500
4
3
Christopher Bell
7.500
8
4
Herb Thomas
6.000
2
4
Denny Hamlin
8.314
35
5
Rex White
6.300
10
5
Joey Logano
9.733
31
6
Glen Wood
6.333
3
6
Chase Elliott
10.813
16
7
Speedy Thompson
6.400
5
7
Kyle Larson
10.842
19
8
Josh Berry
6.500
3
8
Brad Keselowski
11.966
29
9
Ned Jarrett
6.769
13
9
Martin Truex Jr
15.028
36
10
Billy Wade
7.000
3
10
William Byron
15.167
12
In the last five starts at Richmond Raceway, since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, seven drivers have an average finish inside the top-10 – Denny Hamlin (5.6), Josh Berry (6.5), Martin Truex Jr. (6.6), Joey Logano (7.2), Christopher Bell (7.6), Kyle Larson (8.4) and Chase Elliott (9.3).
LAP LEADERS
A total of 146 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have led at least one lap at Richmond Raceway.
NASCAR Hall of Famer RichardPetty leads the NACAR Cup Series in laps led at Richmond Raceway with 5,136 laps led in 63 starts.
Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at Richmond Raceway with 2,243 laps led in 35 starts.
The most laps led by the NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Richmond Raceway was 488 laps led of the scheduled 500 (97.6%) by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty on September 13, 1970; he started from the pole.
The most laps led by a NASCAR Cup Series driver that did not win the race at Richmond Raceway was 381 laps led of the scheduled 407 (93.6%) by Denny Hamlin on May 3, 2008; he started from the pole but finished 24th.
The fewest laps led by the NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Richmond Raceway was three laps of the scheduled 406 by Kevin Harvick on April 27, 2013; he started the race in 17th.
Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022 (five total Richmond races), only 20 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway, led by Martin Truex Jr. with 382 laps led.
Top 10 Lap Leaders in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway (All-Time)
Rank
All-Time Lap Leaders
Races
Led
Completed
% Led
1
Richard Petty
63
5,136
21,135
24%
2
Rusty Wallace
44
3,024
16,730
18%
3
Bobby Allison
38
2,961
14,313
21%
4
Denny Hamlin
35
2,243
14,018
16%
5
Darrell Waltrip
51
2,172
18,741
12%
6
Dale Earnhardt
44
1,976
16,808
12%
7
Jeff Gordon
47
1,637
17,669
9%
8
Martin Truex Jr
36
1,587
14,095
11%
9
Kyle Busch
37
1,530
14,835
10%
10
Brad Keselowski
29
1,280
11,579
11%
Top 10 Lap Leaders in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway (Active)
Rank
Active Lap Leaders
Races
Led
Completed
% Led
1
Denny Hamlin
35
2,243
14,018
16%
2
Martin Truex Jr
36
1,587
14,095
11%
3
Kyle Busch
37
1,530
14,835
10%
4
Brad Keselowski
29
1,280
11,579
11%
5
Joey Logano
30
651
11,913
5%
6
Kyle Larson
19
329
7,342
4%
7
William Byron
12
239
4,798
5%
8
Ryan Blaney
16
131
6,260
2%
9
Christopher Bell
8
108
3,205
3%
10
Chase Elliott
16
100
6,419
2%
Ross Chastain
11
100
4,254
2%
FEMALE COMPETITORS
Two female drivers, Danica Patrick and Janet Guthrie have competed at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series. Below are their stats at Richmond:
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Driver Rating
Danica Patrick
19
23
Saturday, September 9, 2017
63.5
Danica Patrick
21
18
Sunday, April 30, 2017
56.9
Danica Patrick
29
15
Saturday, September 10, 2016
66.4
Danica Patrick
21
24
Sunday, April 24, 2016
56.8
Danica Patrick
14
19
Saturday, September 12, 2015
61.1
Danica Patrick
21
25
Sunday, April 26, 2015
56.5
Danica Patrick
13
16
Saturday, September 6, 2014
75.5
Danica Patrick
35
34
Saturday, April 26, 2014
36.5
Danica Patrick
36
30
Saturday, September 7, 2013
39.1
Danica Patrick
30
29
Saturday, April 27, 2013
42.6
Averages
23.9
23.3
55.5
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Janet Guthrie
14
12
Sunday, September 11, 1977
Janet Guthrie
13
12
Sunday, February 27, 1977
Averages
13.5
12
TRACK / EVENT SPECIFIC STATS
The closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway was the race on September 12, 1998 – won by Jeff Burton with a Margin of Victory of 0.051-second over second-place finisher Jeff Gordon.
Top 10 Closest Margin of Victories at Richmond in the NASCAR Cup Series
Rank
Margin of Victory
Date
Winner
Runner-Up
1
0.051
Saturday, September 12, 1998
Jeff Burton
Jeff Gordon
2
0.100
Saturday, September 7, 1996
Ernie Irvan
Jeff Gordon
3
0.139
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Kevin Harvick
Carl Edwards
4
0.153
Saturday, September 9, 2006
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
5
0.159
Saturday, May 6, 2000
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Terry Labonte
6
0.159
Saturday, September 6, 2003
Ryan Newman
Jeremy Mayfield
7
0.178
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Martin Truex Jr
Joey Logano
8
0.269
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
9
0.343
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Kevin Harvick
Clint Bowyer
10
0.365
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Jimmie Johnson
Tony Stewart
The largest margin of victory since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993 in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway, was the race on September 7, 2002 – won by Matt Kenseth with a Margin of Victory of 6.184 seconds over second-place finisher Ryan Newman.
Top Five Largest Margin of Victories at Richmond in the NASCAR Cup Series
Rank
Margin of Victory
Date
Winner
Runner-Up
1
6.184
Saturday, September 7, 2002
Matt Kenseth
Ryan Newman
2
5.600
Saturday, September 9, 1995
Rusty Wallace
Terry Labonte
3
4.928
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Jeremy Mayfield
Dale Earnhardt Jr
4
3.007
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Jimmie Johnson
Tony Stewart
5
2.751
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Kyle Busch
Tony Stewart
A total of six NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway have resulted in NASCAR Overtime:
Date
Scheduled
Actual
Overtime Laps
Race Winner
Sunday, March 31, 2024
400
407
7
Denny Hamlin
Saturday, April 21, 2018
400
402
2
Kyle Busch
Saturday, September 9, 2017
400
404
4
Kyle Larson
Saturday, September 10, 2016
400
407
7
Denny Hamlin
Saturday, April 27, 2013
400
406
6
Kevin Harvick
Saturday, May 3, 2008
400
410
10
Clint Bowyer
Four of the 135 NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions:
Date
Scheduled Laps
Actual Laps
Fewer Laps
Race Winner
Saturday, May 3, 2003
400
393
-7
Joe Nemechek
Sunday, February 21, 1982
400
250
-150
Dave Marcis
Sunday, February 27, 1977
400
245
-155
Cale Yarborough
Sunday, April 1, 1962
250
180
-70
Rex White
Qualifying has been cancelled in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway 12 times:
Season
Reason For Cancellation
1955
Weather
1962 (spring)
Weather
1967 (fall)
Weather
1986 (spring)
Weather
1997 (spring)
Weather
2008 (fall)
Weather
2014 (spring)
Weather
2016 (spring)
Weather
2020 (fall)
Pandemic
2021 (spring)
Pandemic
2021 (fall)
Pandemic
2023 (spring)
Weather
Largest number of lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway is 25 and it has happened twice – Feb. 24, 1991 and March 3, 1996. Earlier this season the Richmond race produced 16 lead changes.
Largest number of leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway is 12 and it has happened four times – 1986, 2003, 2004 and 2007. Earlier this season the Richmond race produced seven different leaders.
The final pass for the lead to win the race took place on the following laps in the last 12 NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway:
March 2024: Denny Hamlin passed Martin Truex Jr. on Lap 401 – 7 laps to go – to win.
July 2023: Chris Buescher passed Denny Hamlin on Lap 394 – 7 laps to go – to win.
April 2023: Kyle Larson passed William Byron on Lap 376 – 25 laps to go – to win.
2022: Kevin Harvick passed Denny Hamlin on Lap 353 – 48 laps to go – to win.
April 2022: Denny Hamlin passed William Byron on Lap 396 – 5 laps to go – to win.
2021: Martin Truex Jr. passed Kyle Larson on Lap 350 – 51 laps to go – to win.
April 2021: Alex Bowman passed Denny Hamlin on Lap 391 – 10 laps to go – to win.
2020: Brad Keselowski passed Austin Dillon on Lap 353 – 48 laps to go – to win.
2019: Martin Truex Jr. passed Kyle Busch on Lap 375 – 26 laps to go – to win.
April 2019: Martin Truex Jr. passed Brad Keselowski on Lap 322 – 79 laps to go – to win.
2018: Kyle Busch passed Brad Keselowski on Lap 364 – 37 laps to go – to win.
April 2018: Kyle Busch passed Martin Truex Jr. on Lap 392 – 11 laps to go – to win.
NASCAR IN VIRGINIA
There have been 561 NASCAR national series races among 10 tracks in the state of Virginia.
Martinsville Speedway hosted the very first NASCAR national series race in the state of Virginia on Sept. 25, 1949 – the NASCAR Cup Series event was won by Red Byron (Oldsmobile).
NASCAR Tracks in Virginia
City
Cup
Xfinity
Truck
Combined
First Year
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville
151
42
47
240
1949
Richmond Raceway
Richmond
135
78
15
228
1953
Langley Field Speedway
Hampton
9
14
0
23
1964
New River Valley Speedway
Dublin
0
4
0
4
1989
Norfolk Speedway
Norfolk
2
0
0
2
1956
Old Dominion Speedway
Manassas
7
0
0
7
1958
Princess Anne Speedway
Norfolk
1
0
0
1
1953
South Boston Speedway
South Boston
10
35
3
48
1960
Southside Speedway
Richmond
4
0
0
4
1961
Starkey Speedway
Roanoke
4
0
0
4
1958
Totals
323
173
65
561
VIRGINIA IN NASCAR
A total of 190 different drivers with their home state recorded as Virginia have made at least one start in a NASCAR national series race.
20 drivers from Virginia have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series. 11 of the 20 Virginia native NASCAR winners have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.
In total the drivers from Virginia have won 276 NASCAR national series races combined.
