NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will open the weekend on Friday, Sept. 10, followed by the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series on Saturday, Sept. 11
RICHMOND, Va. (Aug. 13, 2026) – Richmond Raceway will have an even more prominent role on NASCAR’s 2027 schedule. NASCAR announced today that next year’s Richmond Raceway races will open The Chase for both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will kick off The Chase under the lights on Friday, Sept. 10, 2027, followed by the Cup Series Chase opener on Saturday night, Sept. 11, 2027. It places Richmond Raceway at the forefront of the NASCAR championship battle, combining high-octane action and the intensity of The Chase with one of NASCAR’s most historic short tracks.
“Richmond Raceway has always been a place where the stakes are high and the racing is unforgettable,” said Richmond Raceway President Lori Waran. “This just makes it even better, elevating the stakes for competitors and the experience for our fans. It’s an incredible opportunity, and we will do everything in our power to make next September a weekend to remember.”
The full 2027 NASCAR schedule, broadcast information and start times will be announced at a later date.
Great things await this Friday and Saturday night, when the 2026 NASCAR Weekend presented by Who’s Your Driver takes center stage at Richmond Raceway. The weekend begins Friday night with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competing in the Black’s Tire 250 presented by BTS Rewards, setting the stage for Saturday night’s Cook Out 400 Cup Series race.
Limited tickets remain available, so visit www.richmondraceway.com now while supplies last.
About Richmond Raceway
Richmond Raceway will host its NASCAR weekend on the iconic ¾-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.
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.
