For the third race in a row the NASCAR Cup Series will be on a short track when they race in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond raceway this Sunday afternoon.
Joey Logano scored the win on the dirt at Bristol March 29th. Martin Truex Jr. became the first repeat winner of the 2021 season when he grabbed the win at Martinsville last Sunday, April 11th.
Now we will see what happens at the track that has been recently called “The Action Track.” This nickname is because there are multiple grooves for racing at Richmond even though it is a short track. This often leads to plenty of action during a race.
Here is what the drivers and teams will be facing this weekend.
Richmond Raceway Data
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
Toyota Owners 400 Data
Season Race #: 9 of 36 (04-18-21)
Race Length: 400 laps / 300 miles
Stage 1 Length: 80 laps
Stage 2 Length: 155 laps
Final Stage Length: 165 laps
These are the active drivers with the best overall performance when racing at “The Action Track.”
Top 12 Driver Ratings at Richmond
Kyle Busch…………………………. 110.6
Kevin Harvick……………………… 110.3
Denny Hamlin……………………… 106.8
Brad Keselowski………………….. 100.9
Kurt Busch…………………………… 94.2
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 92.2
Joey Logano………………………… 92.2
Kyle Larson………………………….. 89.2
Ryan Newman………………………. 87.3
Chase Elliott…………………………. 86.3
Aric Almirola…………………………. 77.5
Tyler Reddick……………………….. 76.5
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2020 races (31 total) among active drivers at Richmond Raceway.
These drivers that are set to race this weekend have won a Cup Series Race in NASCAR at Richmond Raceway.
Kyle Busch – 6 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 3 Wins
Kevin Harvick – 3 Wins
Jimmie Johnson – 3 Wins
Brad Keselowski – 2 Wins (including September 2020 race)
Martin Truex Jr. – 2 Wins (Both 2019 Races)
Clint Bowyer – 2 Wins
Joey Logano – 2 Wins
Kurt Busch – 2 Wins
Matt Kenseth – 2 Wins
Ryan Newman – 1 Win
In a NASCAR short track race anything can happen. The trick is to race hard and avoid calamity. Drivers will need to manage their bumpers and their tempers.
We could see an eight driver in nine races for the season. We could see the second repeat 2021 winner. We could see Martin Truex Jr. win a third race for the season.
All the answers will be revealed this Sunday, April 18th starting at 2 p.m. central time (3 p.m. eastern time) in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway.
Who do you think will win the race this weekend?
By: Buck Stevens
