This week, the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) heads to Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, for the Cook Out 400 on Saturday, August 15 at 7 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
Last season, Ryan Preece captured the pole with a lap of 121.381 mph (22.244 secs.), and Austin Dillon drove his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet into victory lane at Richmond when it mattered most, guaranteeing him a spot in the 2025 playoffs on August 16, 2025.
The Chase For The NASCAR Cup Series Standings Outlook after Iowa Speedway
| Pos | No | Driver | Points | Behind | Next | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | DNFs | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | 923 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | 820 | -103 | 103 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | 813 | -110 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 803 | -120 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | 19 | Chase Briscoe | 663 | -260 | 140 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| 6 | 20 | Christopher Bell | 659 | -264 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott | 657 | -266 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | 644 | -279 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | 17 | Chris Buescher | 637 | -286 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | 5 | Kyle Larson | 629 | -294 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | 24 | William Byron | 600 | -323 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | 7 | Daniel Suarez | 597 | -326 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | 22 | Joey Logano | 586 | -337 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| 14 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 565 | -358 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| 15 | 97 | Shane Van Gisbergen | 544 | -379 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| 16 | 2 | Austin Cindric | 526 | -397 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
Track & Race Information for the Cook Out 400
Season Race #: 24 of 36 (August 15, 2026)
Race Purse: $11,233,037
Track Size: 0.75-mile Asphalt Oval (3/4-mile)
Banking/Turns: 14 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,290 feet
Backstretch Length: 860 feet
Race Schedule, Length and Stages for the Cook Out 400
Race Length: 400 laps / 300 miles
Stage 1 Length: 70 laps
Stage 2 Length: 160 laps (Ends on Lap 230)
Final Stage Length: 170 laps (Ends on Lap 400)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM: NCTS PRACTICE TRACK HOT ON FS2
2:05 PM – 3:00 PM: NCTS QUALIFYING (IMPOUND) ON FS2
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: NCS PRACTICE ON TRU TV
4:40 PM – 5:30 PM: NCS QUALIFYING (IMPOUND) ON TRU TV
7:10 PM: NCTS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS (TURN 1) ON FS1
7:30 PM: NCTS RACE (STAGES 70/140/250 LAPS = 187.5 MILES) ON FS1
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
6:25 PM: NCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS (TURN 1) ON USA
7:00 PM: NCS RACE (STAGES 70/230/400 LAPS = 300 MILES) ON USA
*All times are Eastern. NASCAR Cup Series (NCS), NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS)
Who and what should you look out for at Richmond Raceway?
Denny Hamlin leads all active Cup drivers in wins with five victories (2009, 2010, 2016, 2022, 2024), and Austin Dillon is the most recent driver to win consecutive races in 2024 and 2025. Hamlin also leads all active drivers in runner-up finishes at Richmond with six second-place finishes.
The first starting position is the most proficient starting position and has produced more winners than any other starting position at Richmond with 24 victories (17.52%). Only two active drivers have been able to win from the pole or first starting position in the Cup Series: Brad Keselowski (2014) and Denny Hamlin (2016).
| Stats | Winning % | Wins | ||||||
| Winning from the First Starting Position: | 17.52% | 24 | ||||||
| Winning from the Front Row: | 27.74% | 38 | ||||||
| Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position: | 54.01% | 74 | ||||||
| Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position: | 75.18% | 103 | ||||||
| Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20: | 9.49% | 13 | ||||||
The Driver Picks for the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway!
- Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has four poles, five wins, 20 top fives, 25 top 10s, and an average Finish of 8.189.
- Ryan Blaney: Blaney has one pole, one top five, four top 10s, and an average finish of 18.600.
- Christopher Bell: Bell has four top fives, seven top 10s, and an average finish of 8.700.
- Joey Logano: Logano has two poles, two wins, 15 top fives, 20 top 10s, and an average finish of 9.875.
- Kyle Larson: Larson has two poles, two wins, five top fives, 11 top 10s, and an average finish of 10.476.
