Richmond Raceway

Description

Configuration

Richmond Raceway in its current form is measured at 0.750 mi (1.207 km), with 14° of banking in the track's turns, 8° of banking on the frontstretch, and 2° of banking on the backstretch. When the track was initially built, it was originally a 0.5 mi (0.80 km) true oval with a dirt surface. It was later paved in 1968 before being remodeled 20 years later to its current layout.

Amenities

Richmond Raceway is located in Richmond, Virginia, and is served by Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 360. The exact capacity of Richmond Raceway is unknown; according to a 2024 Richmond Times-Dispatch report, capacity is estimated to be "under 50,000". The last recorded capacity number was 51,000 seats, which was given in 2018. In total, the track complex covers approximately 575 acres (233 ha) of land according to a 2021 Richmond BizSense report.

Track history

Early exposition years

In June 1942 and in the midst of World War II, the Virginia State Fair Association bought a 460-acre (190 ha) plot of land used by a farm named Strawberry Hill. According to local media, the purchase was made due to fears of the State Fair being kicked out of their original location because of the United States Department of War potentially buying out the original location for war purposes. However, the following month, the moving of the original grandstands and fair buildings to the Strawberry Hill location was delayed until at least 1943 due to war efforts. The moving of the main grandstands was further delayed by another year before work on transferring the main fair grandstand to the Strawberry Hill location begun in 1944. In 1945, the now-named Atlantic Rural Exposition (ARE) was announced as an agriculture trade show to take place sometime in the fall of 1946 pending if WWII had ended before then. By May, $50,000 (adjusted for inflation, $894,177) was raised to start the exposition.

Three months later, a planning outline for the exposition was released in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Plans for the ARE included a 7,000-seat coliseum, an amphitheater, and a steeplechase track. In February 1946, an exposition budget of $300,000 (adjusted for inflation, $4,953,072) was approved by the exposition's board of directors; the budget included plans to build a 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km) race track for $10,000. The following month, dates for the ARE were given, with it scheduled for October 7–12. The race track was completed by June 1946, with ARE organizers stating hopes to host both harness, automobile, and motorcycle races on the oval. The first automobile race at the race track was later announced for October 12, the last day of the exposition. At the time of its opening, the track's grandstands had a capacity of 3,200.

The inaugural ARE opened as scheduled on October 7. Although harness races were scheduled two days after the exposition's opening, the races were delayed by two days due to rain. The track officially opened to the public on October 11, 1946, to host the postponed harness races, with horse Empire Grattan winning the first feature race. The first automobile races were run as scheduled a day later, with Ted Horn winning the event. The following month, the track held its first races under the sanction of the American Automobile Association (AAA). In May 1947, the first motorcycle races were held at the facility.

The following year, the track underwent a series of renovations, with numerous amenities being added. Renovations included a lighting system to host night racing, a wooden fence built around the track, and an increase in seating capacity. The first night race was later ran on May 19 of that year. In 1950, the track experienced its first fatality after spectator Charles Malcolm Little was hit in the head from a loose tire on September 31, dying from complications from his injuries on October 23. In 1953, the track held its first NASCAR Grand National Series (now known as the NASCAR Cup Series) race on April 19, with Lee Petty winning the event. Two years afterward, eventual longtime promoter Paul Sawyer began promoting races at the facility alongside Joe Weatherly, buying out Weatherly's share of the promoting lease a year later for $5,000. In 1958, the track oversaw its second fatality after racing driver Gwyn Staley crashed during a NASCAR Convertible Division event, dying from numerous injuries. The track increased its seating capacity in 1962, adding "some 4,200" seats in the track's first and fourth turns to increase its seating capacity from 4,800 to approximately 9,000. In addition, the track's pit area was also renovated alongside the installation of a new scoreboard and protective walls and guardrails.

Paving, years of disrepair, and failed replacement proposals

In August 1968, track officials announced the paving of the track, which was completed in early September. The first race on the paved surface took place on September 9 for a NASCAR Grand National Series race. In the first couple of years for the paved surface, the track length was disputed on whether if it was a true half-mile; a dispute that had existed since the track's infancy. Immediately after the track's paving, the track length was lengthened to 0.542 mi (0.872 km). However, in March 1969, the track was again reclassified as a half-mile track. Just five months after the reclassification to a half-mile, the track length of the now-named Fairgrounds Raceway was readjusted once again to 0.542 mi. In 1972, the lower lanes in the second and fourth turns were repaved. In addition, the pit road length was extended in both ways.

Starting in the early 1970s, Fairgrounds Raceway was criticized for inadequate and dated fan facilities alongside a lack of seating capacity for the track's high demand of spectators. In addition, the track was considered one of the poorest in terms of purse money offered in the Cup Series circuit during that time, with a 1974 Times-Dispatch report stating that only Bristol, Nashville, and North Wilkesboro offered lower purses. In response to the declining condition of the track, Fairgrounds Raceway co-promoters Ken Campbell and Paul Sawyer began drafting plans to build a racetrack in Prince George County for "somewhere in the $6 million range", with the proposal being leaked by the Times-Dispatch on August 19, 1973. In the official press conference to reveal plans for the proposed track later held that month, Sawyer announced that the track was planned to host a permanent seating capacity of 50,000, have 16–18° banked turns, and have a track length of 1.75 mi (2.82 km). Despite the announcement, co-promoter Ken Campbell stated that they had no intentions of abandoning the Fairgrounds Raceway, but admitted that "I'm not sure exactly what we will do at this point". He later added that he considered to let the track transition to holding only local weekly races.

In October 1973, the proposed track's zoning request to turn a 500-acre (200 ha) tract of land near U.S. Route 301 was approved by the Prince George County Board of Supervisors. By February 1974, the now named-Colonial–America Raceway was awaiting approval for a complete site plan, with Campbell stating that he hoped to start groundbreaking the following month. However, by June, no work had begun on the project due to persistent red tape delays, with Sawyer stating that the project organizers were waiting for final approval of the full project. After a further month of delays was announced the following month, a completion date was officially held off and unknown. In September, after a track repave, Fairgrounds Raceway experienced further track surface issues during the 1974 Capital City 500, with the surface having been reported to broke apart throughout the entire race. In response, the track was repaved in all four turns in time for the 1975 Richmond 500.

1988 reconfiguration and remodeling

In February 1987, after three failed replacement plans, Sawyer announced plans to renew his lease on the Fairgrounds Raceway, stating hopes to completely remodel the Fairgrounds Raceway pending the approval of the ARE. The following month, he stated that while he had not completely given up on the Isle of Wight track, he most likely was going to abandon the plan until "concrete" financing came through. Despite the Future of Hampton Roads group making last-minute proposals and a financing plan including motorsports businessmen Roger Penske and Smithfield Foods CEO Joseph W. Luter III, on June 11 of that year, Sawyer, in collaboration with the ARE, officially announced plans to enlarge and remodel the Fairgrounds Raceway. Plans included the remodeling of the true oval into a D-shaped oval, lengthening the track to 0.75 mi (1.21 km), a seating capacity of 50,000, and improved fan amenities. Work began on a new grandstand to be used at the remodeled track the following month, increasing seating capacity to near 30,000 when it was completed in August. In November, Sawyer received the final approval from the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to remodel the track.

The final race at the Fairgrounds Raceway took place on February 21, 1988, with Neil Bonnett winning the event. Work began on the remodeling of the facility soon after, with the track being renamed to the "Richmond International Raceway" (RIR). By May, with additional upgrades to the track's sewer and waters facilities alongside the construction of an infield care center, the renovation cost increased from $2.5 million to $4 million. The following month, most of the concrete retaining walls were completed, with paving being planned to be completed the following month. However, delays concerning tunnels and the rest of the remaining walls caused paving to be delayed by a couple weeks. The first tire tests on the remodeled track took place on August 16, with testers Terry Labonte and Tommy Ellis giving positive comments for the track. The track was completed in time for the 1988 Miller High Life 400 on September 11 at a cost of approximately $5 million, with Davey Allison winning the first event at the remodeled track. RIR as a whole received mostly positive reception from drivers, but it did receive some criticism for the entrance of the track's pit wall being too close to the ideal racing line. In addition, some criticism was levied towards the track's disabled seating for inadequate views and amenities.

Mass expansion

In the following years, RIR underwent extensive renovations. In 1989, renovations included the construction of a $100,000 four-side scoreboard, increased parking areas, and an infield care center. Two years later, Sawyer released plans of short-term expansion of RIR. Plans included increasing seating capacity to 90,000, increased parking to accommodate the increase in capacity, and the construction of a permanent lighting system to host night races. In April, NASCAR allowed the track to host night races with a temporary lighting system to test the feasibility of a permanent system, with the first night races being run on August 3 of that year." More seats were added in 1992, with a 13,916-seat grandstand being built to replace an old grandstand in the first and second turns in time for the 1992 Miller Genuine Draft 400. By this point, renovation costs had increased to $15 million according to Sawyer, with Sawyer drafting further plans to expand to 90,000 seats by 1995.

In 1993, numerous renovations were made, including the reconfiguration of the pit road entrance in response driver complaints, a phase of the proposed permanent lighting system, and the expansion of the Dogwood and Henrico grandstands in the first two turns and the backstretch, respectively, to bring capacity to approximately 70,000. The following year, the Commonwealth and Azelea grandstands on the frontstretch were demolished and replaced by larger grandstands alongside the construction of additional luxury suites, increasing seating capacity further. Permanent lights were installed in 1995 alongside the construction of more seats in the Henrico grandstand to expand capacity to "about 83,000". That same year, the Henrico County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to let the track expand to 125,000 seats. In 1997, approximately 12,000 seats were added on the track's backstretch to bring capacity to almost 96,000.

To accommodate plans for further expansion, in 1998, RIR began negotiations with the ARE to purchase the state fairgrounds for the track to turn into parking spaces, forcing the State Fair of Virginia to move. According to the Times-Dispatch, the increase in capacity would need 8,000 to 10,000 additional parking spaces, requiring the removal of some state fair buildings. In December of that year, the Sawyer family offered the ARE $40,000,000 for the land and threatened to build a new racetrack if they could not buy the land. By February 1999, track and state fair officials stated that both parties were closer to finalizing the purchase. Four months later, The Charlotte Observer reported that the France family-owned International Speedway Corporation (ISC) was "close" to buying RIR; this was denied by ISC soon after the Observer report. A vote for the ARE shareholders to approve the purchase of the state fairgrounds was later scheduled on July 27; after the ARE board of directors approved and recommended the sale, shareholders approved the sale by a vote of 5,381 to 21. With the approval, Sawyer announced long-term plans to expand capacity to 150,000. The sale was finalized in August of that year.

Capacity downsizing, NASCAR ownership

In July 2011, Fritz resigned as RIR's president and replaced by Dennis Bickmeier, who had previously served as the vice president of consumer sales and marketing at ISC-owned track Michigan International Speedway. During the year, RIR decreased its grandstand seating capacity to 94,063 in response to declining attendance at the track dating back to the 2008 Chevy Rock & Roll 400, the race that ended a 33-race sell-out streak. Two years later, parts of the backstretch Henrico grandstand, including the entirety of the Henrico Tower, alongside all the turn three grandstands were taken down to reduce capacity to approximately 75,000. Two years later, after a seat widening project, capacity was further reduced to 69,000. In 2016, the backstretch grandstands were completely demolished, reducing capacity to 60,000.

A $30 million renovation and rebranding project was announced for the facility on July 11, 2017. Changes included a complete renovation of the track's garage area infield amenities, a "party deck" on the track's fourth turn, a specialized RV parking area, and the renaming of the track to "Richmond Raceway". Work began on the project in September 2017 and was completed the following year in September. As part of the renovations, seats in the third and fourth turn grandstands were demolished, reducing capacity to 51,000. In 2019, ownership of the track was acquired by the sanctioning body of NASCAR after the company bought out ISC. After an 11-year stint, Bickmeier departed as president to become the executive director of the Henrico County Sports Authority, with Virginia Business Magazine chief revenue officer Lori Collier Waran replacing Bickmeier. In 2023, the track underwent another rebranding, changing the logo of the track to feature the Richmond skyline and the James River. In a 2024 Times-Dispatch report, capacity was listed as "under 50,000" after some seats were removed for tray tables.

Events

Auto racing

Richmond Raceway hosts one NASCAR weekend annually highlighted by a NASCAR Cup Series race currently known as the Cook Out 400. Throughout most of the track's history, the track held two annual Cup Series races, hosting a second event in the spring (last known as the Toyota Owners 400) from 1959 to 2024. In addition, the track also hosts the NASCAR Truck Series' race as a support event for the Cup Series. The track also formerly held the NASCAR Xfinity Series' ToyotaCare 250 as a support event until 2024, as well as the Go Bowling 250 until 2021.

In 2001, the Indy Racing League (now known as the IndyCar Series) ran their first race at the track, having announced their inaugural race a year earlier. The series held events at the venue annually until 2009, when it was dropped from the schedule the following year due to the 2009 race receiving negative reception and disagreements over sanctioning fees. Ten years later, the IndyCar Series announced that the series would return to the track in 2020 for a race on June 27; however, the race was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and was never rescheduled.

Richmond Raceway has hosted various other racing series throughout its history, including the USAC Silver Crown Series, the USAC National Midget Championship, and the International Race of Champions (IROC).

Filming production

Richmond Raceway was used as a filming location for 1960 film Thunder in Carolina for some of the early parts of the movie. The track was also used for filming in 1977 documentary Stockcars!, a documentary about stock car racing.

Lap records

As of September 2020, the fastest official race lap records at Richmond Raceway are listed as: