Richmond Raceway prepares for race weekend Aug. 10-11, cancels all pre-event activities because of storm
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Due to the threat of bad weather from Tropical Storm Debby, Richmond Raceway officials have cancelled all pre-event activities at the raceway through 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9. The decision was made in order to prepare for the weekend and ensure the safety of fans, officials said.
The NASCAR Weekend at Richmond Raceway presented by Who’s Your Driver will begin with the the Clean Harbors 250 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 – the final regular season race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular season.
On the following day, the track will host the Cook Out 400 at 6 p.m., which will feature – for the first time in a points event – two different Goodyear tire options for teams: a baseline "Prime" option that has a harder rubber compound with potentially less grip but more longevity, and a new "Option" tire that has a softer rubber compound with more short-term grip and speed but less longevity.
Teams will be allotted six sets of Prime tires and two sets of Option tires., including one Prime set carried over from qualifying. The Prime tires will be marked with traditional yellow lettering on the sidewalls, while the Option tires will be designated with red lettering.
Following the Cookout 400, only three regular season races will remain in the chase for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
“As we continue the cooperative effort of the industry on short track package adjustments, we felt like Richmond was an excellent opportunity to build upon the results of the Option tire used at the All-Star race,” said Goodyear Director of Racing Greg Stucker. “We expect the Option tire to provide a significant lap time gain over the Prime, but fall-off will be greater, and tire management will be important in taking advantage of it at the right time.”
Chris Buescher, a three-time winner last year who also won the 2023 Cook Out 400 at Richmond, will be one of the drivers looking to solidify a playoff spot this year. He sits only 17 points above the playoff cutline.
The track's most recent winner – Chesterfield native Denny Hamlin, who won the Toyota Owners 400 earlier this year– will attempt to become the first driver to sweep both Cup Series races at the track since Martin Truex, Jr. did so in 2019.
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