The race is currently held as a Saturday night event in early May. For several years, it was held as a daytime event the weekend after the Daytona 500 in February. Lights were installed at the facility in 1991, but the spring race remained during the day. Consistent cold weather, and even a snow delay in 1989, prompted track officials to move the race later in the spring. The race was moved around to May or June, and permanently moved from Sunday afternoons to Saturday nights. After a few years, the race eventually fixed as a May race date by 1999.

Since that first race in Richmond in 1953, the track has undergone three name changes, four configuration changes and one surface change, from dirt to asphalt.

Lights were also added to the facility in 1991. RIR is the only track to hold all of its major events "under the lights."

Today Richmond Raceway raceway is a sprawling, 800- acre, multi-purpose facility that is home to Richmond International Raceway and one of the most versatile special events sites in the country. It has six permanent buildings with more than 300,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space.

Richmond's unique layout produces tremendous side-by-side racing, yet drivers obtain high enough speeds to give it a super speedway feel. That rare combination still allows for the beating and banging that fans love, with the drivers' skill playing a major role.

Richmond International Raceway is one of the most exciting venues on the NASCAR schedule. Richmond International Raceway is one of just three short tracks still on the NASCAR schedule, including Martinsville Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway. Richmond may be a short track, but the NASCAR racing is fast and exciting. Richmond NASCAR odds are also available for the NASCAR Busch Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the Indy Racing League's Indy Car Series at any of the Racebooks we offer.