Sunday night, Richmond Raceway will host its second NASCAR Cup Series race of the season. If the rumors are true about the 2025 schedule, it might be the last time Richmond has two races for the foreseeable future.
The Athletic reported that Richmond would be on the chopping block to lose one of its race dates if NASCAR were able to secure a new venue. An international trip, potentially to Canada or Mexico, was connected to the conversation about the Virginia short track, built in 1946 and having hosted NASCAR races since 1953 (two per year since 1959).
“I kind of understand NASCAR’s decision because … if the fans turned out here and we sold out every race, then there would be two races,” Virginia native Denny Hamlin said. “They’re going to do things that the fans want to participate in. What’s crazy is that it’s always one of our top five [ratings] markets that watch us on TV, but [they] don’t actually come to the racetrack itself.
“So, it’s interesting. There are plenty of racing fans around here, but getting to the racetrack has been challenging in the past.”
The 0.750-mile track sits outside Richmond amid neighborhoods, restaurants and businesses, but attendance has significantly dropped over the years — down from when there were consistent sellouts. It was revealed in 2019 that the seating capacity had been reduced.
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Another criticism over the years — the racing itself. Richmond has gone from being dubbed “The Action Track” to one where viewers aren’t entertained by the action on the racetrack even if teams and drivers find it to be enjoyably challenging.
There was a time when Richmond played a significant part in the NASCAR calendar. It was the regular-season finale from 2004 through 2017 before becoming the second postseason race from 2018 through 2021. Since then, it’s been moved further ahead on the calendar as one of the races leading into the postseason.
Nothing has helped make Richmond the draw it once was — not even the $30 million infield redevelopment project it underwent in 2018, as Hamlin also noted.
“I think that has all been a really positive thing, but sometimes these are the cycles that you have to go through,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s a learning moment for the track, and everyone involved that can get this track back, reinvigorated as one of the top short tracks that we have on our schedule. It certainly is a shame if it goes to one week, but the audience here has made it warranted.”