What’s Happening?

It’s the final short-track race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and Cup Series roll into Richmond Raceway for a doubleheader weekend.  

• Richmond Raceway is one of the many longtime staples of NASCAR. It has hosted races from all three NASCAR National Series dating back to 1953, alongside notable races in Series like the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and several other Series.
• The Cup Series was the first Series to race at Richmond in 1953, with Lee Petty the winner. The Truck Series first raced at Richmond during its first season of action. NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte won that race, scoring his only win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
• Richard Petty holds the record for most wins at Richmond in the NASCAR Cup Series, winning at the three-quarter mile oval 13 times from 1961 to 1975. Tony Stewart, Jack Sprague, and Mike Skinner share the honor in the Truck Series, all having won at Richmond twice.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times EST)*

Friday, August 15: Truck Series Practice and Qualifying | Cup Series Practice and Qualifying | Truck Series Race

• 2:05 PM – 3:00 PM — Truck Series Practice on FS1
• 3:10 PM – 4:00 PM — Truck Series Qualifying on FS1
• 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM — Cup Series Practice on TruTV and HBO Max
• 5:40 PM – 6:30 PM — Cup Series Qualifying on TruTV and HBO Max
• 7:30 PM – Truck Series eero 250 on FS1 [TV] & NRN [Radio]

Saturday, August 16: Cup Series Race

• 7:30 PM – Cup Series Cook Out 400 on USA [TV] & MRN [Radio]

Race Facts: Richmond Raceway

Track Facts: Richmond Raceway

• Year Opened: 1946
• Length: 0.75 Miles
• Banking: 14°
• Surface: Asphalt
• Rain Tires: Yes
• Lights: Yes

eero 250 on FS1:

• Race Length: 250 Laps (187.5 Miles)
• Stages: 70 Lap Stage One, 70 Lap Stage Two, 110 Lap Final Stage
• Most Recent Race Winner: Ty Majeski

Cook Out 400 on USA:

• Race Length: 400 Laps (300 Miles)
• Stages: 70 Lap Stage One, 160 Lap Stage Two, 170 Lap Final Stage

2024 Cook Out 400 Results:

• First: Austin Dillon — No. 3
• Second: Denny Hamlin — No. 11
• Third: Tyler Reddick — No. 45
• Fourth: Bubba Wallace — No. 23
• Fifth: Ross Chastain — No. 1

Top Storylines of the Weekend

• Last season’s fall race at Richmond saw Austin Dillon dominate, though a late race caution, followed by an overtime restart, looked to be the end of his pursuit of a race win. That was until Dillon wrecked leader Joey Logano in turn four and Denny Hamlin en route to locking himself into the 2025 playoffs. But just a few short days later, NASCAR revoked the playoff implications of his win due to his actions.
• Richmond was once a shining example of NASCAR’s short track roots, including a long run of sell-outs, Chase cutoff races, and double dates. That all came to a screeching halt this past off-season. After years of declining attendance and a drop in short track competition in the Next Gen era, NASCAR gave Richmond’s spring date to Mexico City, ending a tradition dating back to 1959.
• This weekend marks two races until the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and the cutoff race for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoffs. Entering this weekend, notable short track aces like Ryan Preece, in the Cup Series, and Kaden Honeycutt in the Truck Series, remain hopeful for a spot in the playoffs.

Entry Lists

Cup Series

Notable and Open Entries:

• #4 – Noah Gragson
• #23 – Bubba Wallace
• #34 – Todd Gilliland
• #33 – Jesse Love (i)
• #35 – Riley Herbst
• #38 – Zane Smith
• #44 – TBA – Withdrawn
• #45 – Tyler Reddick
• #67 – Corey Heim (i)

Truck Series

Notable Entries:

• #1 – Brent Crews
• #2 – Clayton Green
• #6 – Norm Benning – Withdrawn
• #7 – Sammy Smith (i)
• #16 – Christian Eckes (i)
• #22 – Stephen Mallozzi
• #41 – Matthew Gould
• #44 – Andres Perez de Lara
• #45 – Bayley Currey
• #52 – Kaden Honeycutt
• #67 – Ryan Roulette
• #77 – Corey LaJoie (listed as #177, using owners’ points from former #07)
• #84 – Patrick Staropoli (i)
• #97 – Carson Kvapil (i)

Note: This article will be updated as more information about the weekend comes out.