Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, going into the Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
NASCAR Cup Series Driver Playoff Outlook Following Race No. 27RankDriverPointsRace WinsStage WinsPlayoff PtsPts From Cutoff1Denny Hamlin2,0721621In On Wins2Kyle Larson2,10651353803Martin Truex Jr.2,0623524364Kurt Busch2,052138265Ryan Blaney2,0483424226Joey Logano2,0471513217Kevin Harvick2,046002208Brad Keselowski2,038128129Christopher Bell2,031105510Chase Elliott2,0302321411Aric Almirola2,029105312Tyler Reddick2,026033013Alex Bowman2,0263015014Kyle Busch2,0242522-215William Byron2,0171314-916Michael McDowell2,006105-20
Richmond Raceway Data
Season Race #: 27 of 36 (09-11-21)
Track Size: 0.75-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 14 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 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: 80 laps
Stage 2 Length: 155 laps
Final Stage Length: 165 laps
Top 12 Driver Ratings at Richmond
Kyle Busch…………………………. 110.1
Kevin Harvick……………………… 109.8
Denny Hamlin……………………… 107.8
Brad Keselowski………………….. 100.5
Kurt Busch…………………………… 93.8
Joey Logano………………………… 93.4
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 93.3
Christopher Bell…………………….. 91.1
Kyle Larson………………………….. 87.6
Ryan Newman………………………. 86.2
Chase Elliott…………………………. 85.9
Aric Almirola…………………………. 78.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2021 races (32 total) among active drivers at Richmond Raceway.
Richmond Raceway Qualifying / Race Data
Track Qualifying Record:
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
130.599 mph, 20.674 secs.
September 4, 2013
Track Race Record:
Dale Jarrett, Ford
109.047 mph, (02:45:04),
September 6, 1997
2020 Playoff Race Pole Winner:
The Sept. 12, 2020 Playoff race at Richmond decided the starting lineups by Metric Qualifying. Kevin Harvick started on the pole.
2020 Playoff Race Winner:
Brad Keselowski, Ford
101.868 mph, (02:56:42)
September 12, 2020
NASCAR Cup Series 2021 Top 16 in the Driver Standings at Richmond Raceway
RankDriverRacesPolesWinsTop FivesTop 10sDNFsAverage FinishDriver Rating1Kyle Larson130125112.287.62Denny Hamlin2933141809.0107.83Martin Truex Jr3012713416.993.34Kurt Busch4002715115.293.85Ryan Blaney100000123.463.36Joey Logano24221114110.593.47Kevin Harvick40331526010.1109.88Brad Keselowski2322612112.3100.59Christopher Bell2001109.591.110Chase Elliott110034012.085.911Aric Almirola180027015.078.212Tyler Reddick20000015.573.813Alex Bowman100112021.565.514Kyle Busch3116182406.8110.115William Byron60001016.277.516Michael McDowell2000001031.944.5
* — Based on last 32 races at Richmond Raceway (2005 — 2021).
At Richmond Raceway:
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. Track was then known as 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 races in 1968.The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969.The track was re-measured to .542-mile in 1970.The track was rebuilt as a three-quarters-mile D-shaped oval following the Feb. 21, 1988 race.The first race under permanent lights was Sept. 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 129 NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway, one event from 1953 – 1958 and two races per year since 1959 to 2019. Due to the pandemic in 2020, the series only raced at Richmond once that season.
STARTS
A total of 521 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway; 341 drivers have competed in more than one Cup race at Richmond.NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Richmond Raceway with 63; followed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin with 56, Ricky Rudd and Terry Labonte have 55.Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch lead all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Richmond with 40 each.A total of 50 different drivers have made their first start in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway; most recent was Daniel Hemric on April 21, 2018.Dick Rathmann (two series starts) leads the series in average starting position at Richmond Raceway with a 2.0.Kyle Larson (13 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Richmond Raceway with an 8.769; followed by Denny Hamlin (29 starts) with a 9.690.
Top Five in Average Starting Position at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg StartRacesRankActive DriversAvg StartRaces1Dick Rathmann2.00021Kyle Larson8.769132Herb Thomas3.00022Denny Hamlin9.690293Billy Wade3.66733Joey Logano10.125254Bobby Isaac3.700104Brad Keselowski10.435235Ned Jarrett4.077135Kyle Busch11.806316Glen Wood4.33336William Byron12.50067Speedy Thompson4.60057Kevin Harvick12.650408Marvin Panch5.00038Martin Truex Jr12.900309Cotton Owens5.11199Ryan Newman14.0793810Bill Morgan6.000210Ryan Blaney14.10010
POLES
A total of 55 different drivers have won at least one pole at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series.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 with eight each.Denny Hamlin (2006, 2008 and 2016) leads all active pole winners at Richmond Raceway with three poles; followed by Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick with two each.Buck Baker won the inaugural Pole Award at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1953 with a speed of 48.465 mph in an Oldsmobile owned by Bob Griffin.10 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) and Matt Kenseth (2017 sweep) — Logano is the only active driver to accomplish the feat.Bobby Allison holds the record for most consecutive poles at Richmond with five straight from 1972-1974; Darrell Waltrip has the second-most with four-straight from 1983-1985.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).Nine different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted their first career pole at Richmond Raceway — none are currently active.First-Time Pole WinnersDateRuss HeplerSunday, May 5, 1957Ned JarrettSunday, June 5, 1960Dave MarcisSunday, March 7, 1971Bill DennisSunday, November 14, 1971Morgan ShepherdSunday, February 22, 1981Alan KulwickiSunday, March 8, 1987Bobby LabonteSaturday, September 11, 1993Ted MusgraveSunday, March 6, 1994Brian VickersSaturday, May 15, 2004A total of nine different manufacturers have posted at least one pole at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet (46); followed by Ford (34), Dodge (11), Toyota (10), Pontiac (six), Plymouth (five), Mercury (three), Buick (two) and Oldsmobile (two).
WINS
A total of 53 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway; 10 are active this weekend.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.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.Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in wins at Richmond with six victories (spring 2009, spring 2010, spring 2011, spring 2012, 2018 sweep).
Active NASCAR Cup Series Richmond Raceway Winners
Active Winners (10)WinsSeasonsKyle Busch62018 sweep, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009Denny Hamlin32016, 2010, 2009Kevin Harvick32013, 2011, 2006Brad Keselowski22020, 2014Joey Logano22017, 2014Kurt Busch22015, 2005Martin Truex Jr22019 sweepAlex Bowman12021Kyle Larson12017Ryan Newman12003A total of 11 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Richmond Raceway: 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)Richard Petty leads the series in consecutive Cup wins at Richmond 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).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 at Richmond, producing more winners than any other starting position at Richmond Raceway with 24 victories.The first driver to win from the pole or first starting position at Richmond in the NASCAR Cup Series was Buck Baker on April 29, 1956.
NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Richmond Raceway
Starting Pos.WinsWinning %Starting Pos.WinsWinning %Starting Pos.WinsWinning %12418.60%1032.33%2110.78%21410.85%1121.55%2221.55%31713.18%1221.55%2310.78%4118.53%1321.55%2421.55%575.43%1432.33%2521.55%675.43%1632.33%2610.78%7118.53%1721.55%2810.78%832.33%1910.78%3110.78%932.33%2021.55%3210.78%StatsWinning %WinsWinning from the First Starting Position:18.60%24Winning from the Front Row:29.46%38Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:56.59%73Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position:77.52%100Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:9.30%12Only three active drivers have been able to win from the pole or first starting position: 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.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 with the most series starts at Richmond Raceway without visiting Victory Lane at 20; followed by Aric Almirola with 18 starts.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 16 wins — Tony Stewart (1999, 2001, 2002), Denny Hamlin (2009, 2010, 2016), Kyle Busch (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018 sweep), Matt Kenseth (2015), Carl Edwards (2016), Martin Truex Jr. (2019 sweep).Petty Enterprises has the second-most NASCAR Cup Series wins at Richmond Raceway with 15 victories.
Top Five in Cup Organization Wins at Richmond Raceway
OrganizationsWinsJoe Gibbs Racing16Petty Enterprises15Hendrick Motorsports11Richard Childress Racing9Team Penske9A total of nine different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway.Chevrolet leads the series in wins at Richmond with 39 victories; followed by Ford (33), Dodge (17), Toyota (14), Pontiac (11) Plymouth (10), Buick (two), Oldsmobile (two) and Chrysler (one).Chevrolet holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive wins in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway with six consecutive victories from 2006-2008.
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Runner-Up Finishes:
A total of 58 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 with nine each; followed by Jeff Gordon with eight.Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in series runner-up finishes at Richmond with seven second-place finishes.
Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankDriversRunner-UpsRankDriversRunner-Ups1Bobby Allison91Kyle Busch7 Richard Petty92Kevin Harvick33Jeff Gordon8Denny Hamlin34Dale Earnhardt74Joey Logano2Kyle Busch7Kurt Busch2 Ryan Newman2
Top-Five Finishes:
A total of 138 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.Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in top-five finishes at Richmond with 18.
Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankDriversTop FivesRankDriversTop Fives1Richard Petty341Kyle Busch182Dale Earnhardt252Kevin Harvick153Bobby Allison233Denny Hamlin144Darrell Waltrip224Joey Logano11Rusty Wallace225Ryan Newman8
Top-10 Finishes:
A total of 238 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.Kevin Harvick leads all active series drivers in top 10s at Richmond with 26 top-10 finishes.
Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankDriversTop 10sRankDriversTop 10s1Richard Petty411Kevin Harvick262Dale Earnhardt332Kyle Busch243Darrell Waltrip333Ryan Newman204Mark Martin314Denny Hamlin185Jeff Gordon305Kurt Busch15 Rusty Wallace30
Average Finishes:
Lee Petty (seven series starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond Raceway with a 4.857.Kyle Busch (31 series starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond Raceway with a 6.806.
Top 15 in Average Finishing Position at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg FinishRacesRankActive DriversAvg FinishRaces1Lee Petty4.85771Kyle Busch6.806312Tommy Irwin5.33332Denny Hamlin9.000293Paul Goldsmith5.50043Christopher Bell9.50024Herb Thomas6.00024Kevin Harvick10.100405Rex White6.300105Joey Logano10.458256Glen Wood6.33336Chase Elliott12.000117Speedy Thompson6.40057Kyle Larson12.154138Ned Jarrett6.769138Brad Keselowski12.261239Kyle Busch6.806319Ryan Newman13.0793810Billy Wade7.000310Daniel Suarez14.750811Bobby Allison7.6053811Kurt Busch15.2504012David Pearson7.6151312Tyler Reddick15.500213Brownie King8.000213William Byron16.167614Maurice Petty8.000214Martin Truex Jr16.9003015Dale Earnhardt8.2504415Austin Dillon17.00014
LAP LEADERS
A total of 137 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have led at least one lap at Richmond Raceway.Richard Petty 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 1,911 laps led in 29 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 Sept. 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 17th.
Top 10 Laps Leaders in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversRacesLedCompleted% Led1Richard Petty635,13621,13524.30%2Rusty Wallace443,02416,73018.08%3Bobby Allison382,96114,31320.69%4Darrell Waltrip532,17218,74111.59%5Dale Earnhardt441,97616,80811.76%6Denny Hamlin291,91111,61116.46%7Jeff Gordon471,63717,6699.26%8Kyle Busch311,48912,42811.98%9David Pearson131,2213,53534.54%10Cale Yarborough221,2086,86117.61%RankActive DriversRacesLedCompleted% Led1Denny Hamlin291,91111,61116.46%2Kyle Busch311,48912,42811.98%3Kevin Harvick401,18015,9017.42%4Brad Keselowski231,1779,17412.83%5Martin Truex Jr301,12511,6889.63%6Kurt Busch4091915,7935.82%7Ryan Newman3848315,0503.21%8Joey Logano254289,5074.50%9Kyle Larson13734,9361.48%10Austin Dillon14565,5991.00%
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:DriverStarting PositionFinishing PositionDateDriver RatingDanica Patrick1923Saturday, September 9, 201763.5Danica Patrick2118Sunday, April 30, 201756.9Danica Patrick2915Saturday, September 10, 201666.4Danica Patrick2124Sunday, April 24, 201656.8Danica Patrick1419Saturday, September 12, 201561.1Danica Patrick2125Sunday, April 26, 201556.5Danica Patrick1316Saturday, September 6, 201475.5Danica Patrick3534Saturday, April 26, 201436.5Danica Patrick3630Saturday, September 7, 201339.1Danica Patrick3029Saturday, April 27, 201342.6Averages23.923.3 55.5 DriverStarting PositionFinishing PositionDateJanet Guthrie1412Sunday, September 11, 1977Janet Guthrie1312Sunday, February 27, 1977Averages13.512
TRACK / EVENT SPECIFIC STATS
Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, Richmond Raceway has produced 33 NASCAR Cup Series races with a Margin of Victory of less than a second; most recent was earlier this season — 0.381 second.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
RankMargin of VictoryDateWinnerRunner-Up10.051Saturday, September 12, 1998Jeff BurtonJeff Gordon20.100Saturday, September 7, 1996Ernie IrvanJeff Gordon30.139Saturday, September 10, 2011Kevin HarvickCarl Edwards40.153Saturday, September 9, 2006Kevin HarvickKyle Busch50.159Saturday, May 6, 2000Dale Earnhardt JrTerry Labonte60.159Saturday, September 6, 2003Ryan NewmanJeremy Mayfield70.178Saturday, April 13, 2019Martin Truex JrJoey Logano80.343Saturday, April 27, 2013Kevin HarvickClint Bowyer90.365Sunday, September 7, 2008Jimmie JohnsonTony Stewart100.372Saturday, May 5, 2001Tony StewartJeff GordonFive NASCAR Cup Series races have resulted in NASCAR Overtime at Richmond Raceway:DateScheduled Actual Overtime LapsRace WinnerSaturday, April 21, 20184004022Kyle BuschSaturday, September 9, 20174004044Kyle LarsonSaturday, September 10, 20164004077Denny HamlinSaturday, April 27, 20134004066Kevin HarvickSaturday, May 3, 200840041010Clint BowyerFour of the 129 NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions:DateScheduled LapsActual LapsFewer LapsRace WinnerSaturday, May 3, 2003400393-7Joe NemechekSunday, February 21, 1982400250-150Dave MarcisSunday, February 27, 1977400245-155Cale YarboroughSunday, April 1, 1962250180-70Rex WhiteQualifying has been cancelled in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway 11 times:SeasonReason For Cancellation1955Weather1962 (spring)Weather1967 (fall)Weather1986 (spring)Weather1997 (spring)Weather2008 (fall)Weather2014 (spring)Weather2016 (spring)Weather2020 (fall)Pandemic2021 (spring)Pandemic2021 (fall)Pandemic
NASCAR IN VIRGINIA
There have been 533 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).Track NameCityCupXfinityTruckCombinedFirst YearMartinsville SpeedwayMartinsville14536432241949Richmond RacewayRichmond12974132161953Langley Field SpeedwayHampton9140231964New River Valley SpeedwayDublin04041989Norfolk SpeedwayNorfolk20021956Old Dominion SpeedwayManassas70071958Princess Anne SpeedwayNorfolk10011953South Boston SpeedwaySouth Boston10353481960Southside SpeedwayRichmond40041961Starkey SpeedwayRoanoke40041958Totals31116359533
VIRGINIA IN NASCAR
A total of 185 different drivers with their home state recorded as Virginia have made at least one start in a NASCAR national series race.19 drivers from Virginia have won at least one race in NASCAR‘s three national series. 11 of the 19 Virginia native NASCAR winners have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.In total the drivers from Virginia have won 264 NASCAR national series races combined.
NASCAR National Series Winners From Virginia
DriverCupXfinityTruckCombinedDenny Hamlin4517264Joe Weatherly250025Ricky Rudd231024Jeff Burton2127048Curtis Turner170017Ward Burton5409Glen Wood4004Elliott Sadler313117Emanuel Zervakis2002Lennie Pond1001Wendell Scott1001Tommy Ellis022022Jimmy Hensley09211Rick Mast0909Hermie Sadler0202Elton Sawyer0202Jeb Burton0112Stacy Compton0022Jon Wood0022Totals14710710264
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