NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Federated Auto Parts 400
The Place: Richmond Raceway
The Date: Saturday, September 12
The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 300 miles (400 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 80),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 235), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 400)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Go Bowling 250
The Place: Richmond Raceway
The Date: Friday, September 11
The Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 6:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 187.5 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 75),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 150), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Virginia is for Racing Lovers 250
The Place: Richmond Raceway
The Date: Saturday, September 12
The Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 1:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 187.5 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 75),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 150), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series
Next Race: ToyotaCare 250
The Place: Richmond Raceway
The Date: Thursday, September 10
The Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 187.5 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 70),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 140), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)
NASCAR Cup Series
Wild Playoff opener raises the stakes at Richmond Raceway
In the NASCAR Cup Series 2020 Playoff opener, the fans enjoyed some wild racing that saw Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott wreck while battling for the lead, and as a result the race win fell to Kevin Harvick, giving him his series leading eighth victory of the season. All that action has paved the way for Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The 2020 season marks the third time the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff’s second race has been held at Richmond Raceway (2018-2020). The 0.75-mile track located in Richmond, Virginia is the third track in series history to host the second race of the Playoffs; joining Dover International Speedway (2004-2010) and New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2011–2017). Prior to 2018, Richmond Raceway was the regular season finale for the NASCAR Cup Series from 2004-2017.
A total of 12 different drivers have won the second race of the Playoffs (2004-2019), led by Hendrick Motorsport’s driver Jimmie Johnson with three wins (2005, 2009, 2010); followed by Kyle Busch (2017, 2018) and Matt Kenseth (2013, 2015) with two victories each. No non-Playoff driver has ever won the second Playoff race in the NASCAR Cup Series.
| Second Race of The Playoffs – Race Winners | ||
| Track | Playoff Race Winners | Date |
| Richmond | Martin Truex Jr | Saturday, September 21, 2019 |
| Richmond | Kyle Busch | Saturday, September 22, 2018 |
| Loudon | Kyle Busch | Sunday, September 24, 2017 |
| Loudon | Kevin Harvick | Sunday, September 25, 2016 |
| Loudon | Matt Kenseth | Sunday, September 27, 2015 |
| Loudon | Joey Logano | Sunday, September 21, 2014 |
| Loudon | Matt Kenseth | Sunday, September 22, 2013 |
| Loudon | Denny Hamlin | Sunday, September 23, 2012 |
| Loudon | Tony Stewart | Sunday, September 25, 2011 |
| Dover | Jimmie Johnson | Sunday, September 26, 2010 |
| Dover | Jimmie Johnson | Sunday, September 27, 2009 |
| Dover | Greg Biffle | Sunday, September 21, 2008 |
| Dover | Carl Edwards | Sunday, September 23, 2007 |
| Dover | Jeff Burton | Sunday, September 24, 2006 |
| Dover | Jimmie Johnson | Sunday, September 25, 2005 |
| Dover | Ryan Newman | Sunday, September 26, 2004 |
When Dover International Speedway hosted the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, twice the winning driver went on to win the series title – Jimmie Johnson (2009 and 2010).
When New Hampshire Motor Speedway moved to the second race in the Playoffs (2011 – 2017), only one driver won the event and went on to win the title – Tony Stewart in 2011. Stewart won five races in the 2011 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (a series-record) including the first two (Chicago and New Hampshire).
The worst finish by a driver in the second Playoff race that went on to win the title was:
- At Dover – The 2005 series champion, Tony Stewart, finished 18th.
- At New Hampshire – The 2015 series champion, Kyle Busch, finished 37th.
- At Richmond – The 2018 series champion, Joey Logano, finished 14th.
Last season’s champion, Kyle Busch, finished second in the Richmond Playoff race and went on to win the title – the second championship of his career (2015, 2019). Joe Gibbs Racing has held serve since the second race in the Playoffs has moved to Richmond with Kyle Busch winning in 2018 event and Martin Truex Jr. winning last season’s race.
Since the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway on April 19, 1953 the 0.75-mile track has hosted 127 series races producing 55 different pole winners and 52 different race winners. NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Richard Petty lead the series in poles at Richmond with eight each. Petty also leads the series in wins at Richmond with 13 victories (spring 1961, 1967 sweep, fall 1968, fall 1970, 1971 sweep, 1972 sweep, 1973 sweep, fall 1974 and spring 1975). Petty’s 13 wins are the third-most wins by a single driver at a single track in series history behind his 15 wins at Martinsville and North Wilkesboro. Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick lead all active drivers in poles at Richmond with three each. Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in wins at Richmond with six victories (spring 2009, spring 2010, spring 2011, spring 2012 and spring 2018, Playoff race 2018).
A total of 11 former Richmond Raceway winners are entered this weekend, eight of which are 2020 Playoff contenders – Kyle Busch (six wins), Denny Hamlin (three), Kevin Harvick (three), Martin Truex Jr. (two), Clint Bowyer (two), Joey Logano (two), Kurt Busch (two) and Brad Keselowski (one).
Clinched: Who needs what to move on in the postseason
The Round of 16 is underway and Kevin Harvick has clinched his spot in the Round of 12 with his victory last weekend at Darlington Raceway to kickoff the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. That leaves 11 spots still up for grabs heading into this weekend’s action at Richmond Raceway (August 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Already Clinched:
The following driver has clinched a spot in the 12-driver postseason field: Kevin Harvick.
Can Clinch Via Points:
If there is a new winner, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 10th winless driver in the standings.
- Denny Hamlin: Would clinch with 45 points.
- Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, William Byron and Kyle Busch: Could only clinch with help.
If there is a repeat winner, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 11th winless driver in the standings. They could also clinch if there was a new winner among Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, William Byron, Kyle Busch or Kurt Busch and being 56 points above the 10th winless in the standings.
Denny Hamlin: Would clinch with 40 points
- Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, William Byron, Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch: Could only clinch with help.
Can Clinch Via Win:
All 15 remaining Playoff drivers without a win in the Round of 16 can clinch on their win alone this weekend: Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, William Byron, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Cole Custer, Matt DiBenedetto and Ryan Blaney.
Top 16 Playoff drivers’ updates and performances at Richmond
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoff field did some shuffling following Darlington Raceway, some for the positive and some for the negative.
The three biggest movers in the right direction in Playoff point positions following Darlington were the Busch brothers and Alex Bowman. Kyle and Kurt Busch both moved up four spots in the Playoff standings from the previous week to 10th and 11th, respectively, and Bowman jumped three spots from eighth to fifth.
But the Playoff driver who took the biggest hit in the points at Darlington was Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, who’s No. 12 Ford failed pre-race inspection for an unapproved ballast that incurred a points penalty. Then he finished the 24th (last amongst the Playoff contenders) in the race and as a result fell nine spots in the Playoff point standings from seventh to 16th.
Moving to Next Round:
Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings with 2,106 points. Harvick clinched his spot in the Round of 12 with his victory last weekend at Darlington. Harvick turns his attention to Richmond this week, a track he has made 39 starts posting three wins, 15 top fives and 25 top 10s (series-most).
Above the Round of 12 Cutoff:
Denny Hamlin sits second in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings with 2,087 points. Following Darlington, Hamlin is a comfortable 54 points on the Round of 12 cutoff. Hamlin heads to his home track, Richmond Raceway, this weekend looking to get his first Playoff win of 2020. Hamlin has made 28 starts at Richmond putting up three wins, 13 top fives and 17 top 10s.
Joey Logano leap frogged his Team Penske teammate Brad Keselowski in the standings at Darlington and now sits third in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,060 points. Logano is 27 points ahead of the Round of 12 cutoff. Looking to Richmond, Logano has made 23 starts collecting two wins, nine top fives and 12 top 10s.
Brad Keselowski dropped one spot from last week in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings to fourth with 2,055 points. Keselowski is 22 points above the Round of 12 cutoff. Heading to Richmond, Keselowski has made 22 starts at the 0.75-mile track posting one win, five top fives and 11 top 10s.
Alex Bowman flew into the top five of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings (up three spots, now fifth) with 2,052 points. The driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet is just 19 points up on the Round of 12 cutoff. Bowman will have his work cut out for him this weekend at Richmond, a track he has made nine starts posting a best finish of 12th in the Playoff race of 2018.
Martin Truex Jr. collided with Chase Elliott while battling for the lead late in the Playoff opener at Darlington Raceway, as a result he finished 22nd in the race but maintained his sixth position in the Playoff standings with 2,049 points. Truex is a mere 16 points ahead of the Round of 12 cutoff. But if Truex was looking for a track to rebound, Richmond Raceway just might be it. The New Jersey native swept both Richmond races last season and is the defending winner of the Playoff event this weekend. In total, Truex has made 29 starts posting two wins, five top fives and 11 top 10s.
Chase Elliott dropped two spots in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings after tangling with Martin Truex Jr. as the two raced for the lead at Darlington. Elliott ultimately finished 20th in the postseason opener and is now seventh in the Playoff standings with 2,045 points. Turning to Richmond, Elliott has made 10 starts amassing two top fives and three top 10s.
Austin Dillon put on an impressive performance at Darlington Raceway finishing runner-up to Kevin Harvick in the Playoff’s opener. The strong run jumped Dillon up two spots in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings from 10th to eighth with 2,043 points. With two races left in the Round of 16, Dillon is 10 points up on the Round of 12 cutoff. The North Carolina native heads to Richmond this weekend having made 13 series starts posting two top 10s.
William Byron pulled out a top five finish last weekend at Darlington and because of it maintained his ninth position in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,042 points. Byron is nine points ahead of the Round of 12 cutoff heading to Richmond this weekend. Byron has made five series starts at Richmond posting a best finish of 12th in the 2018 spring race.
Kyle Busch, the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion, is ranked 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings after moving up four spots following a top-10 finish at Darlington. Now the two-time series champ is seven points to the good on the Round of 12 cutline and roles into Richmond Raceway the series-leader in wins at the 0.75-mile track (six victories). Busch has yet to win this season, the longest into a season he has gone without tasting the spoils of Victory Lane. In total, Busch has made 30 series starts at Richmond putting up six wins, 18 top fives and 22 top 10s.
Kurt Busch also grabbed a top-10 finish at Darlington andas a result jumped four spots in the NASCAR Playoff standings to 11th with 2,037 points. Busch needs to continue to gather points as he is only four points up on the Round of 12 cutoff. Richmond is one of Busch’s better tracks, in 39 starts he has posted two wins, seven top fives and 15 top 10s.
Aric Almirola is on the Round of 16 hotseat, currently in the 12th and final position to transfer to the Round of 12. Almirola is also tied in points with Clint Bowyer in 13th (the first spot outside the cutoff) with 2,033 points – he also holds the tie breaker of best finishes in the current Playoff round with a ninth-place finish to Bowyer’s 10th at Darlington. The driver from Tampa, Florida has made 17 starts at Richmond Raceway posting two top fives and five top 10s.
Below the Round of 12 Cutoff
Clint Bowyer is literally tied with Aric Almirola in points, but the tie breaker of best finishes goes to Almirola. So, Bowyer sits outside the Round of 12 cutoff in 13th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings with 2,033 points. Bowyer looks to Richmond to rebound having made 29 starts at the 0.75-mile track posting two wins, five top fives and 16 top10s.
Cole Custer finished 12th last weekend at Darlington and now finds himself 14th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with2,030 points. Custer the lone Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate to make the Playoffs this season is three points back from the Round of 12 cutoff. Custer has made two series starts at Richmond posting a best finish of 26th in this race last season. But the Californian does have a victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the 0.75-mile track (2019).
Matt DiBenedetto finished 21st at Darlington but managed to move up a spot in the points due to having the tiebreaker of better finish in this round with Ryan Blaney, who is 16th. DiBenedetto lands in Richmond with 2,016 points and 17 markers behind the Round of 12 cutoff. DiBenedetto has made 11 starts at posting a best finish of 14th in this race last season.
Ryan Blaney unfortunately failed pre-race inspection and incurred a points penalty as well as finishing 24th at Darlington and now finds himself 16th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings with 2,016 points. Blaney has made nine series starts at Richmond posting a best finish of 17th in this Playoff race last season.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Time is ticking away for Xfinity Series Playoffs
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will embark on another doubleheader weekend at Richmond Raceway beginning Friday evening for the Go Bowling 250 at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Following Friday evening, the Xfinity Series will kick off Saturday’s action with the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 250 at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
This will mark the fourth doubleheader weekend for the Xfinity Series since the COVID-19 pandemic return to racing. This is also the last stretch for Xfinity Series drivers to make their way into the Playoffs with a doubleheader this weekend and the regular season finale at Bristol Motor Speedway next week. The Playoffs kick off for the series the following week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Ross Chastain in the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet will lead the field to green on Friday evening with last week’s race winner, Brandon Jones, in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota joining him on the front row.
The race will be 187.5 miles and 250 laps with Stage 1 ending on Lap 75 and Stage 2 ending on Lap 150.
In 2019, Cole Custer won the first Xfinity Series race run at Richmond and Christopher Bell won the second. Austin Cindric finished both of those races in second.
Denny Hamlin currently holds the race record at Richmond for the series at 108.415 mph in 2011. Kyle Busch holds the qualifying record at 129.348 mph in 2004.
Fifteen of 72 Xfinity races run at the track were won from the pole and Kevin Harvick holds the track records for the most wins (seven), most top fives (18) and most top 10s (21).
Joe Gibbs has the most wins of any car owner with 10 at Richmond.
Richmond Raceway Clinch Scenarios: Three Races Remain
With three races left in the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season, two of them being this weekend at Richmond Raceway, time is running short for the drivers not locked into the Playoffs to secure their spot going into the postseason.
Eight drivers have already clinched a spot in the 12-driver postseason field: Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, Harrison Burton, Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, and Ross Chastain.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a new winner, the following driver could clinch by being 111 points above the 3rd winless driver in the standings.
- Michael Annett: Could only clinch with help
If there is a repeat winner, the following driver could clinch by being 111 points about the 4th winless driver in the standings. They would also clinch if there was a new winner among Ross Chastain or Riley Herbst and being 111 points about the 3rd winless driver in the standings.
- Michael Annett: Would clinch with 35 points
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Michael Annett
- Riley Herbst
- Ryan Sieg
- Brandon Brown
- Jeremy Clements
The following drivers could clinch with a win and clinching a Top 20 position:
- Myatt Snider: Would clinch with 41 points
- Josh Williams: Could only clinch with help
- Jesse Little: Could only clinch with help
- Alex Labbe: Could only clinch with help
NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff Outlook following Darlington-2:
| Rank | Driver | Points | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | Pts from Cutoff |
| 1 | Chase Briscoe | 951 | 6 | 5 | 35 | In On Wins |
| 2 | Austin Cindric | 1,005 | 5 | 9 | 34 | |
| 3 | Brandon Jones | 706 | 3 | 2 | 17 | |
| 4 | Noah Gragson | 878 | 2 | 8 | 18 | |
| 5 | Harrison Burton # | 789 | 2 | 0 | 10 | |
| 6 | Justin Haley | 781 | 2 | 3 | 13 | |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | 757 | 1 | 8 | 13 | |
| 8 | Ross Chastain | 911 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 464 |
| 9 | Michael Annett | 698 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 251 |
