Richmond will open 2027 Chase on NASCAR Cup schedule
For the first time since the 2021 season, Richmond Raceway will have a race inside the NASCAR Cup Chase. The Virginia short track will play host to the opening race of the 2027 Cup Chase, moving into September from its current August date. It will again be a night race. The Richmond race weekend will be held from September 10-11. Richmond spent many years as the regular season finale and while…
Richmond Raceway will host the opening race of the 2027 NASCAR Cup Chase, marking a notable shift in the schedule. After a hiatus since the 2021 season, the Virginia short track will now welcome the Chase competition in September, moving up from its previous August date. The race weekend will span September 10-11, with night racing returning to the event.
This will be the first time Richmond has served as the Chase opener, a role it last held as the regular-season finale. The Southern 500 at Darlington will take the Chase's opening spot this year, making it the inaugural Chase race for the newly-formed NASCAR O Reilly Auto Parts Series. Speaking on the significance of the move, Richmond Raceway President Lori Waran expressed excitement about the heightened stakes for participants and an enhanced fan experience.
Richmond has been a fixture on the NASCAR calendar since 1953, cementing its status as one of the sport's most storied tracks.
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