Richmond Raceway
D-shaped Oval (1988−present) | |
| Location | 600 East Laburnum Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23222 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°35′30.08″N 77°25′15.28″W / 37.5916889°N 77.4209111°W |
| Capacity | Exact figure unknown; less than 50,000 |
| Owner | NASCAR (2019–present) International Speedway Corporation (1999–2019) |
| Opened | 11 October 1946 |
| Construction cost | $10,000 USD |
| Former names | Richmond International Raceway (1988–2017) Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway (1969–1988) No official name (1946–1968) |
| Major events | Current: NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 (1958–present) Toyota Owners 400 (1953, 1955–1957, 1959–2019, 2021–2024) NASCAR Truck Series eero 250 (1995–2005, 2020–present) Former: IndyCar Series Indy Richmond 300 (2001–2009) NASCAR Xfinity Series ToyotaCare 250 (1982–1984, 1990–2020, 2022–2024) Go Bowling 250 (1982–2021) |
| Website | richmondraceway |
| D-Shaped Oval (1988–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.750 mi (1.207 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | Turns: 14° Frontstretch: 8° Backstretch: 2° |
| Race lap record | 0:15.9368 seconds (169.423 mph) ( Sam Hornish Jr., Dallara IR-03, 2004, IndyCar) |
Richmond Raceway (formerly known as the Richmond International Raceway from 1988 to 2017 and as the Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway from 1969 to 1988) is a 0.750 mi (1.207 km) D-shaped oval short track in Richmond, Virginia. It has hosted major races since its inaugural season of racing in 1946, including NASCAR and IndyCar races. The track is owned by NASCAR and led by track president Lori Collier Waran.
Initially built in 1946 as part of the Atlantic Rural Exposition (now known as the State Fair of Virginia), the track initially held horse and open-wheel racing. In the following decades, the track hosted annual NASCAR races. Starting in the early 1970s, the track declined in its condition, leading to numerous racetrack proposals being made to replace the track. After all proposals failed, in 1988, the track was expanded into a 0.75 mi (1.21 km) and underwent mass expansion over the following years. Heading into the 2000s, the facility was bought out by the France family. Starting in the 2010s, the track significantly downsized, reducing seating capacity to less than half of its peak.