Oval
★★★★☆
Richmond Raceway KY is an oval racing venue in Richmond, Kentucky. Oval racing here is close-quarters, door-to-door action — cars circling a banked loop where track position and consistency matter as much as raw speed. With around 10 tracks inside a 75-mile radius, Richmond sits in a genuine pocket of racing — easy to build a road trip around. Reach the track at (859) 200-1215 to confirm what's running before you drive out — directions are on the map above. New to this kind of racing? Our guides walk through what to expect, what to bring, and how a typical event runs.
Know Before You Go
- Race nights
- Most short tracks run Friday or Saturday night events from April through October. Always check the season calendar — many venues take rain dates or holiday breaks.
- Ticket pricing
- General admission is typically $15-40 for adults, pit passes $50-100. Children are often free or half-price. Bigger sanctioned events (touring series) cost more.
- What's racing
- Local oval classes commonly include late models, modifieds, sprint cars, hobby stock, and street stock. Bigger ovals also host NASCAR Weekly Series feature races.
- Bring earplugs
- Open-exhaust race cars push 130-145 dB at the fence — well above the threshold for hearing damage. Bring foam plugs or over-ear protection for kids.
- Schedule rhythm
- Race nights follow a consistent flow: hot laps and qualifying, heat races, then feature events. Plan for a 4-5 hour evening from gates open to checkered flag.