The stage is set for a pivotal weekend at Richmond Raceway, where the NASCAR Cup Series will wrap up its regular season with the 24th of 26 events, while the Craftsman Truck Series prepares for its penultimate race before the championship chase moves to Bristol.
Ford’s Resurgence and the Chase Landscape
Ford Motor Company’s racing arm has turned the tide this year, amassing a string of victories that echo its historic dominance at the 1.5‑mile Virginia track. In 2014, Team Penske drivers Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski swept both Richmond dates, with Keselowski leading every lap but a handful in a Chase‑clinching performance. The recent surge builds on a legacy that includes 12 wins in a single season back in 1999 and 2000, a record that still stands.
This season, four Ford‑affiliated drivers — Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Joey Logano and Austin Cindric — are positioned within the playoff picture, each eyeing the final three races to lock in a spot. Buescher’s July 30 triumph marked his third win of the year, as he led 53 laps and edged out Denny Hamlin in a dramatic finish. Meanwhile, Josh Berry’s back‑to‑back Top‑10 finishes at Iowa suggest he could repeat the feat in Richmond, where he has already posted four respectable Cup results.
In the Truck Series, Layne Riggs has emerged as the points leader, having secured five victories and claimed pole position in the last three events. His performance helps Ford maintain a manufacturer‑wide advantage, with Chandler Smith adding two more wins to keep the blue‑oval at the top of the standings. The regular season will close at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on August 22, leaving only two dates before the championship field is set.
Beyond the track, the narrative is enriched by a roll call of drivers whose careers have shaped the sport: from Kyle Petty’s 1986 breakthrough win at Richmond to the legendary feats of Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace and Jeff Burton. As the season draws to a close, the blend of historic milestones and contemporary competition promises to keep fans engaged right up to the final checkered flag.