NASCAR Playoffs Head to Richmond Raceway for Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders

NSACAR Cup Series racing at Richmond Raceway
NSACAR Cup Series racing at Richmond Raceway (Photo credit: YouTube)

This Saturday, September 11th the NASCAR Cup Series will pay tribute to the Heroes of 9-11 on the 20th Anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States.

The second race of the NASCAR Playoffs will take place two decades after the attack showing the cowardly terrorists that they did not stop the American way of life. NASCAR will go short trackin’ under the lights in the Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders at Richmond Raceway. Several cars will feature special red-white-and-blue paint schemes and/or patriotic paint schemes. Check those out here.

Denny Hamlin won race one of the Playoffs and has locked his spot in the Round of 12. The remaining drivers in the Round of 16 will be trying to do the same this weekend. Of course the non-Playoff drivers will still be trying to win as well. That can lead to some serious drama on a short track like Richmond.

2021 Playoff Standings Heading to Richmond
2021 Playoff Standings Heading to Richmond (Photo credit: Buck Stevens)

Here is what all of the drivers will be facing in the race 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

Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders Data
Season Race #:
27 of 36 (09-11-21)
Playoff Race #:
2 of 10
Race Length: 400 laps / 300 miles
Stage 1 Length: 80 laps
Stage 2 Length: 155 laps
Final Stage Length: 165 laps

These are the top active drivers in overall performance at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Top 12 Driver Ratings at Richmond
Kyle Busch…………………………. 110.1
Kevin Harvick……………………… 109.8
Denny Hamlin……………………… 107.8
Brad Keselowski………………….. 100.5
Kurt Busch…………………………… 93.8
Joey Logano………………………… 93.4
Martin Truex Jr.…………………….. 93.3
Christopher Bell…………………….. 91.1
Kyle Larson………………………….. 87.6
Ryan Newman………………………. 86.2
Chase Elliott…………………………. 85.9
Aric Almirola…………………………. 78.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2021 races (32 total) among active drivers at Richmond Raceway.
Driver names in Red are current championship contenders in the 2021 Playoffs.

These are the nine active drivers that have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond.

Kyle Busch – 6 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 3 Wins
Kevin Harvick – 3 Wins
Brad Keselowski – 2 Wins
Martin Truex Jr. – 2 Wins
Joey Logano – 2 Wins
Kurt Busch – 2 Wins
Ryan Newman – 1 Win
Alex Bowman – 1 Win (2021 April Race)
Driver names in Red are current championship contenders in the 2021 Playoffs.

You can see that Kyle Busch sits on top of both the driver rating and wins list for Richmond. After the disaster of a start to the Playoffs last week for Kyle, he might need a win to advance. This weekend could be his best chance for that.

Alex Bowman also had a terrible start to the Playoffs. However, he might be able to advance with just a couple of good races. However, winning back-to-back races at Richmond for the season would ensure he advances.

Kyle Larson was so close to winning last week and just missed Victory Lane. Perhaps he can keep his dominant season alive by scoring his first win at Richmond this weekend.

You can see there are many factors and many stories to be told this weekend on the track. Which story will have the best ending? We will find out when the green flag waives in the Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders this Saturday, September 11th starting at 6:30 p.m. central time (7:30 p.m. eastern time) at Richmond Raceway.

By: Buck Stevens
Buck Stevens