The Capital City 400 was held on September 11, 1977, at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in Virginia. The race was the 23rd race of the 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and produced a memorable result. Neil Bonnett earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory, edging Richard Petty to the line in a Dodge Charger fielded by J.D. Stacy. Benny Parsons won the pole position for the event, but it was Bonnett who prevailed over the 400‑lap distance on the tight, .542‑mile short track, with Petty finishing second and Cale Yarborough third among a competitive top five that also included Lennie Pond and Bobby Allison. The 1977 race marked a breakthrough win for Bonnett and his team and came at a time when Yarborough held a commanding lead in the championship standings with just a handful of races remaining in the season.
