Virginia Lawmakers Form NASCAR Caucus to Support Martinsville, Richmond Tracks

The bipartisan group aims to highlight the economic and cultural impact of stock car racing in the state.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:53pm

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A group of Virginia lawmakers has announced the formation of a new NASCAR Caucus, a bipartisan effort designed to protect and promote the state's two NASCAR race tracks - Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway. The caucus aims to ensure Virginia continues supporting these long-standing venues that host major NASCAR events and generate significant tourism activity.

Why it matters

Virginia has deep roots in NASCAR history, with Martinsville Speedway opening in 1947 and Richmond Raceway hosting Cup Series races since the early years of the modern era. These two tracks anchor the state's place in the sport and regularly draw large crowds from across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region. The economic impact of NASCAR race weekends is a major reason behind the creation of the caucus, as the events fill hotels and boost activity for local businesses.

The details

The NASCAR Caucus is a bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers that aims to highlight the economic and cultural significance of stock car racing in the state. The group's goal is to bring lawmakers together around policies that help sustain the NASCAR events at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway, and the tourism activity they generate. Supporters say having a dedicated group focused on NASCAR will help ensure the sport's economic impact remains part of policy discussions in Richmond.

  • Martinsville Speedway will host a NASCAR Cup Series race on March 29.
  • Richmond Raceway will host its next NASCAR Cup Series race on August 15.

The players

Martinsville Speedway

The oldest track still hosting races on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, Martinsville Speedway opened in 1947 and has remained a constant presence in the sport since NASCAR's earliest years.

Richmond Raceway

A long-standing NASCAR venue that has hosted Cup Series races since the early years of the modern era, Richmond Raceway has frequently served as a key stop in the championship playoff format.

Virginia General Assembly

The legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, which recently announced the formation of the bipartisan NASCAR Caucus.

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What’s next

Lawmakers say maintaining the NASCAR events at Martinsville and Richmond remains a priority as other regions continue competing to host major sporting events.

The takeaway

The creation of the NASCAR Caucus signals that Virginia's state leaders want to preserve the deep connection between the Commonwealth and stock car racing, ensuring the economic and cultural impact of NASCAR events at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway continues for generations to come.