Dates announced for 2022 NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway

Richmond Raceway will continue to host two NASCAR Cup Series races in 2022, the track and NASCAR officials announced Wednesday, but the traditional fall race at the track – which has been part of the series' playoffs in recent years – will become a late-summer, regular-season  race instead.

The raceway will host the Toyota Owners 400 April 3 and the Federated Auto Parts 400 Aug. 14. It will be the first time that the track has hosted a summer race, according to RR officials.

The Cup Series is NASCAR’s premier racing series. Schedules for its Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series will be announced soon, according to organization officials.

Next year will be the second consecutive year in which two NASCAR Cup Series races take place in Virginia in April but the first time since 1997 Richmond will be the first Virginia host on the circuit. Richmond’s race – its 67th annual spring Cup Series race – will be followed six days later by the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway in southwest Virginia.

The spring race at Richmond has been held in April since 2011. The summer race now will be the third-to-last regular season race of the Cup Series, before the playoffs begin Sept. 4 at Darlington.

“Richmond Raceway has become known for our iconic fan experience at the track from the grandstands to the FanGrounds, so we look forward to the opportunity to welcome fans for our traditional spring and new summer race dates,” said Richmond Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier.

The last time Richmond and Martinsville hosted back-to-back race weekends was 1955. It happened four times prior to that, as well.

Start times and television networks for Cup Series races will be announced at a later date. Tickets for both of next year’s Richmond races are available for purchase by calling 866-455-7223 or visiting http://www.richmondraceway.com.