5 things to know about Richmond losing its spring NASCAR race (2024)

As NASCAR on Tuesday announced that in 2025 it would hold its first international Cup Series points race since 1958, Richmond racing fans simultaneously found out this also affected the Richmond Raceway.

Officials confirmed the 2025 Cup Series schedule will still include a summer stop in Richmond. In 2024, that was in August. The spring race, however, is no more.

Here are five more things we know in light of the Raceway losing its Cup Series event.

There are still racing fans here ...

... Just not as many actually make it to the Raceway.Dwindling ticket sales and weakened attendance have been cited as reasons that Richmond could one day lose one of its two races.

NASCAR does not release crowd-size figures, but track president Lori Waran has indicated that some recent events have shown some rebound in attendance. It's still a far cry from the track’s sellout crowds of 100,000-plus two decades ago.

In the intervening years, the track has removed its backstretch grandstands and sacrificed capacity for seating space and amenities such as tray tables on some other sections. Capacity is now estimated at under 50,000.

The two Richmond races have continued to outdraw some of the NASCAR circuit’s other stops.

Waran was not available for comment Tuesday.

Manchester High School grad and NASCAR Cup driver Denny Hamlin weighed inbefore theCook Out 400 at Richmond Racewayearlier this month

“What’s just crazy is that it’s always one of our top five markets that watch us on TV, but they don’t (necessarily) come to the racetrack itself,” Hamlin said of the Richmond Raceway crowds.

“So it’s just it’s interesting. There’s plenty of racing fans around here. But just getting to the racetrack has been a challenge in the past.

The sport's worst kept secret?

There has been continued speculation as to how much longer Richmond, atwice-annual staple on the Cup Series schedule since 1959 (minus the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic season),would continue to host both NASCAR events.

Rumors picked up steam in April whenThe Athleticreported that one of the Cup dates at Richmond could be in jeopardy on the 2025 schedule. A Monday afternoon report from the publication seemed to all but confirm the speculation.

Hamlin also alluded to what we know now.

“I know that they’ve spent significant money at this racetrack with the fan experience, I think has all been a really positive thing," he said. "But sometimes it’s usually the cycles you have to go through. And so hopefully it’s a learning moment for the track and everyone involved. ...

“It certainly is a shame if it goes to one week (each year), but the audience here has made it warranted.”

One-event venues are common

Richmond Raceway, now a one-event venue, is not alone. Such venues are commonplace on the Cup tour.

NASCAR’s 2024 Cup Series schedule of 36 points races includes 14 tracks with a single event.

In addition, the two Cup races at one site in Charlotte, North Carolina, are held on two different configurations — the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway oval and that facility’s 2.28-mile “Roval” road course.

Make way for Mexico

Nixing Richmond's spring race creates room on the 2025 Cup Series schedule for a race in Mexico City.

"This is really a dream come true," said Cup Series drive Daniel Suarez during a press conference following Tuesday's announcement.

It'll mark the first time since 1958 NASCAR's premier race series was held outside the US. The last time it did so was 1958 in Toronto; it was Richard Petty's first-ever Cup Series race. The winner? Richard's father, Lee Petty.

Still a soft spot for Richmond

Ben Kennedy, NASCAR's Executive Vice President and Chief Venue & Racing Innovation Officer, fielded questions following Tuesday's announcement of the Mexico City events. He said the racing circuit is still committed to Richmond.

"It's an important track and an important market," Kennedy said. "As we think about where our fans are today, we've seen some exciting storylines come out of that track over the past few years. We're excited to be there next year and put on a great event for the fans, and put a lot of energy and resources into that event."

NASCAR spokesperson Matt Humphrey added that Richmond racing fans can expect some more positive news later in the week.