NASCAR’s summer short‑track swing rolls into Richmond this August as drivers prepare for a weekend of close‑quarters stock‑car racing at Richmond Raceway. The Cup Series headliner is slated for Saturday night at 7 p.m. Eastern and will be broadcast on USA Network and streamed on HBO Max, with live radio coverage on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Where and when to watch
The Cup race in Richmond is listed as the 24th points‑paying event of the 2026 season. Fans who follow the Truck Series will also see action at the same venue: the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns for the Black’s Tire 250, which serves as the 17th points‑paying event on that tour.
- Cup Series: Richmond Raceway, Saturday night, 7 p.m. ET — USA Network, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
- Truck Series: Black’s Tire 250 at Richmond, listed as the 17th points event for the Truck Series.
Competitors and storylines
Austin Dillon arrives at Richmond Raceway as the defending winner of the Cup race, a fact that will shape attention on his bid to repeat on short pavement. The weekend also features continuing tributes in NASCAR to the late Kyle Busch, with at least one team honouring him via a special paint scheme for the Cup event.
Coverage ahead of the race notes a competitive build‑up through the short‑track portion of the schedule, coming off a recent event at Iowa Speedway. While entry lists and final lineups typically evolve in the days before race weekend, the schedule and broadcast partners are already confirmed for fans planning to tune in.
| Series | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cup Series | Richmond Raceway (Saturday night) | 24th points‑paying race of 2026; defending winner: Austin Dillon |
| Craftsman Truck Series | Black’s Tire 250 (Richmond) | 17th points‑paying event for the Truck Series |
What it means for local fans
For motorsport followers in Vancouver, Richmond and the broader Lower Mainland, the Richmond weekend provides a late‑summer packed programme of short‑track racing without the need to travel beyond the television or streaming lineup. With the Cup race airing prime‑time in the Eastern time zone, it will be seen in many local living rooms earlier in the evening Pacific Time, continuing the kind of tight, physical racing short ovals are known for.
The presence of a tribute paint scheme for Busch underscores how the series continues to mark the loss of prominent figures even as competition resumes. For fans who collect merchandise or follow team liveries, such schemes often become a talking point throughout race weekend.
Entry lists, practice times and qualifying will be confirmed closer to the events, and teams frequently make last‑minute changes. Broadcast partners — USA Network and HBO Max for the Cup event, and radio partners MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio — will carry live coverage and commentary for those who rely on audio feeds.
As the schedule tightens through the stretch of the season, Richmond’s short track will offer the familiar mix of strategy, tyre wear and intensity that defines short‑track NASCAR races. For local motorsport enthusiasts, the race is an opportunity to watch how the form from recent events, such as Iowa Speedway, plays out on a different but equally demanding surface.
Fans planning to follow the weekend should watch official NASCAR channels for confirmed entry lists and session times as the race date approaches.
