The 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season will open its postseason with a historic return to Richmond Raceway, where the 0.75‑mile short track will serve as the kickoff venue for the Chase.
Richmond last hosted a Cup Series playoff race in 2021, and its recent surge in attendance — including sell‑out camping in 2025 and 2026 — has convinced series officials to restore the track to the postseason rotation.
The schedule places the opening Chase race on September 11, 2027, directly after the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series event, and the Craftsman Truck Series will sit out the weekend.
A Shift in the Playoff Landscape
World Wide Technology Raceway Gateway, which earned a Chase date in 2025 after drawing sell‑out crowds in its first three years, will be displaced, while its neighbor WWT Raceway will host the NOAPS‑run cars on August 21, 2027, with Cup Series action slated for the following day.
WWT Raceway’s comeback to the NASCAR ecosystem began in 2014, and since its re‑entry the track has seen marquee victories by drivers such as Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric and Denny Hamlin, underscoring its growing prestige.
Later in the month, Watkins Glen International will carry the Cup Series to New York on September 19, 2027, rounding out a calendar that blends tradition with fresh challenges.
The decision reflects a broader strategy by NASCAR to reward tracks that have demonstrated consistent fan engagement, a metric that has propelled Richmond back into the spotlight after years of relative obscurity.
Fans can expect a weekend that blends historic short‑track racing with the pageantry of the sport’s premier playoff format, while the inclusion of new venues like Watkins Glen signals a continued expansion of the series’ geographic footprint.