Race week features free community events, local partnerships, live entertainment and unique fan experiences leading into and during NASCAR Weekend presented by Who’s Your Driver at Richmond Raceway Aug. 14-15.
RICHMOND, Va. (Aug. 7, 2026) – Richmond Raceway is taking NASCAR beyond the track by bringing race week directly into the Richmond community with a full lineup of activities, entertainment and fan experiences for the entire race week.
From movie screenings and marketing discussions to family-friendly activities, live music, youth racing and local business showcases, race week offers opportunities for longtime fans and newcomers alike to experience NASCAR before the green flag waves.
“Richmond Raceway has always been more than a place to watch great racing,” said Richmond Raceway President Lori Waran. “Race week is an opportunity to celebrate our community, highlight local businesses and culture and create experiences that bring people together both at the track and throughout the Richmond region. Whether you’re attending one of our community events or joining us for race weekend, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”
Events include:
- Race week begins on Saturday, Aug. 8, with REEL FAST… NASCAR at The Byrd Theatre, featuring two iconic racing films: Disney Pixar’s Cars at 10 a.m. and a special 20th-anniversary showing of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby at 7 p.m. Fans can enjoy Richmond Raceway giveaways, pace car photo opportunities, and a checkered carpet experience before each showing. Fans can purchase movie tickets here.
- On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Richmond Raceway hosts Crowd + Culture, an exclusive panel discussion presented in partnership with the American Marketing Association Richmond. Held in the Torque Club overlooking the historic three-quarter-mile oval, the event will feature industry leaders discussing how NASCAR, race teams and brand partners engage fans through experiential marketing, content creation and strategic partnerships. Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
- Fans will have the opportunity to step onto the racing surface during a Fan Track Walk on Wednesday, Aug. 12, taking a lap around the iconic Richmond Raceway oval just days before NASCAR’s biggest stars compete under the lights.
Throughout race weekend, Richmond Raceway will continue celebrating the local community with a variety of fan-focused experiences, including:
- The NASC’Art Art Exhibit & Car Show will showcase racing-inspired artwork from local artists, curated by Crossroads Art Gallery, vintage stock cars and Richmond Raceway’s 80 Years of Racing exhibit inside the air-conditioned Old Dominion Building. Nearby, Richmond Row will spotlight local businesses, attractions, artists and organizations through interactive displays and giveaways, giving visitors a taste of everything the Richmond region has to offer.
- Fans can also participate in daily cornhole tournaments, join the Toast 250 celebrating Virginia 250 and America 250 each afternoon, and enjoy the new Hell Yeah Tailgate party before Saturday’s Cook Out 400, featuring live entertainment, food trucks, games, giveaways and one of the liveliest pre-race atmospheres on the property. For more information, please click here.
- Music will also take center stage on Saturday as the legendary Backyard Band from the DMV returns to Richmond Raceway with the Go-Go Bus Museum for a live Fan Zone performance as part of the Richmond Takeover celebration.
- The entertainment continues even after the checkered flag on Saturday with a Drive-Out Movie experience giving fans another reason to stay at Richmond Raceway after the Cook Out 400. Following the race, fans can enjoy in-car entertainment during egress with a special showing of Days of Thunder on the big screen, with movie audio broadcast directly through their car radios.
- Future stars of the sport will be on display throughout Friday and Saturday as the NASCAR Youth Series, sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC), competes at Richmond Raceway. The quarter midget series, featuring drivers ages 5-16, is free for spectators and offers fans a glimpse at NASCAR’s next generation of talent.
The community celebration culminates with two nights of NASCAR racing under the lights presented by Who’s Your Driver. The Black’s Tire 250 presented by BTS Rewards NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race opens the action-packed weekend on Friday, Aug. 14, followed by the Cook Out 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Saturday, Aug. 15. Tickets are going fast, so fans are encouraged to purchase them now while supplies last at www.richmondraceway.com.
About Richmond Raceway
Richmond Raceway will host its NASCAR weekend on the iconic 3/4-mile D-shaped oval Aug.14-15, 2026. Richmond Raceway was named the 2025 Event of the Year by Richmond Region Tourism and was also named a top 5 NASCAR track by USA Today. Richmond Raceway is a regional leader for events, including sports, live music, and consumer trade shows. The Richmond Raceway Complex hosts more than 200 live events over 280 event days annually, including concerts with top national recording artists at Virginia Credit Union LIVE!, the region’s only covered amphitheater.
For more information, visit richmondraceway.com, richmondracewaycomplex.com, or vaculive.com. Follow Richmond Raceway on social media: Instagram (@richmondraceway), Facebook (@Richmond Raceway), X (@RichmondRaceway), and LinkedIn (Richmond Raceway).
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information, visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, and Facebook.
