For the third weekend in a row, NASCAR will have a night race. Richmond Raceway will host the second race of the Round of 16 for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. The Federated Auto Parts 400 is the 28th race of the 2021 season. After some poor finishes out of several playoff drivers in last week’s Cook Out Southern 500, they will look to bounce back under the lights this Saturday night.
Richmond Raceway Overview
Richmond Raceway opened in 1946 as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds Track. The 0.75-mile D-shaped oval has hosted NASCAR Cup Series races since 1953. It has been home to both a spring and a fall Cup Series race every year since 1958. The lone exception to that was last year as the 2020 NASCAR schedule got revamped on the fly. The four turns are each banked at 14 degrees. NASCAR is doing 75th-anniversary celebrations for Richmond Raceway this season.
Last year, for the first time since 2005, the NASCAR Truck Series returned to the track for a race. It was moved back from April to September as part of the schedule changes. The Xfinity Series lost its Richmond race in the process of the adjustments. They now only have a September race date. In total, Richmond Raceway will host four NASCAR races this year. In 2019, the second race date was moved from being the regular-season finale to being a part of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Recent Richmond Raceway Renovation
Richmond Raceway recently underwent a $30 million renovation in 2017 with several upgrades being made to the track. Part of the renovation also included dropping the word “International” from the track’s name. Richmond Raceway Reimagined was created to help with the fan experience and to encourage more fans to come out to the track. The jury is still out on whether it worked or not, and this year likely won’t be a great indication given attendance restrictions.
Richmond Spring Race Recap
Denny Hamlin dominated the spring race at Richmond Raceway until a caution flew with about 10 laps to go. Alex Bowman came from third on the final restart to pass Hamlin for the lead. Bowman went on to score the first of his three wins of the season.
NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway | Weekend Racing Schedule
Go Bowling 250
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date: Saturday, September 11, 2021
Start Time: 2:30 P.M. EST
Coverage: NBCSN
Distance: 187.5 miles
Laps: 250
Federated Auto Parts 400
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Date: Saturday, September 11, 2021
Start Time: 7:30 P.M. EST
Coverage: NBCSN
Distance: 300 miles
Laps: 400
