Why is Richmond loved by drivers and fans alike? Well, this three-quarter-mile, D-shaped oval is 60 feet wide with a 10-foot apron and 14 degree banks in the turns. That means there’s plenty of room to pass and plenty of room for drivers to showcase their talent and take some chances. And with 100,000 fans in the stands, under the lights, the atmosphere is always electric.

Handling is usually the key to winning at Richmond because in essence the drivers are turning almost all the time—remember the only straightaway on the track is the back stretch. You need downforce to get around the track fast, and most find that the best way to pass is to drive your car down deeper into the corners and then pass down low. Of course if the guy on the outside comes down before you get by, the caution comes out, and that tends to happen a fair amount.

Now Richmond is known for being tough on your front brakes. Richmond is also a track where you can fall a few laps down and actually make a come back.

Plentiful side-by-side racing makes this a great racetrack.

Richmond is a short track with a nice wide racing groove, making this one of the best races to run and to watch. You’ll see cars run side by side lap after lap trying to get a position. RIR has been pretty tough on brakes lately, and seems to be even more so with the COT.