Venue and Schedule
The race takes place at Richmond Raceway in Richmond (Henrico County), Virginia. This is the sole Cup Series date at the track in 2026 (it previously hosted two races annually for decades).
sports.yahoo.com
Coverage begins around 6:30–7:00 p.m. ET on USA Network (with HBO Max streaming, including in-car cameras); green flag is approximately 7:00–7:10 p.m. ET. Radio: MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
cbssports.com
It is a Saturday night race under the lights—the first Saturday Cup race of the 2026 season after a stretch of Sunday events. Stages are typically 70/230/400 (or similar splits totaling 400 laps).
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Track Details
Richmond is a 0.75-mile (1.207 km) D-shaped asphalt short track, often called “America’s Premier Short Track.” It features progressive banking and a unique layout that races more like a short track despite intermediate-style characteristics.
en.wikipedia.org
Length: 0.75 miles.
Race distance: 400 laps / 300 miles.
Banking: 14° in the turns; 8° on the frontstretch; 2° on the backstretch.
Frontstretch: ~1,290 feet.
Backstretch: ~860 feet (notably shorter, which influences handling and passing zones).
Track width: ~60 feet with a 10-foot apron.
Turns: 4 (D-shaped oval configuration).
Surface and characteristics promote significant tire wear and fall-off; long-run speed, tire management, and restarts are critical. The aged asphalt rewards drivers who conserve rubber.
gtraceway.com.au
Capacity is around 51,000 seats (plus suites and clubs) after prior downsizing. The infield has been redeveloped with fan access areas.
Weather Conditions
Forecast for Saturday, August 15, calls for warm, humid conditions favorable for a full race with minimal interruption risk. Daytime highs in the upper 80s to low 90s°F (around 87–91°F), with evening temperatures cooling into the mid-to-upper 70s°F by race time and finish. Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies, light winds (around 5–9 mph, variable directions such as NE/SE), and a low chance of showers or isolated thunderstorms (roughly 15–30%, decreasing into the evening). Track temperatures should support good grip with some evolution through the night.
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Starting Lineup Highlights (from Friday qualifying)
Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford) won the pole with a lap of 22.225 seconds. Chase Briscoe (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) starts second. Top 10 includes Josh Berry, Ty Gibbs, William Byron, Ryan Preece, Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano. Denny Hamlin starts 14th; defending winner Austin Dillon starts 16th; Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick start deeper in the field (around 30th–32nd range after issues). Full field of 37 cars.
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Race History and Track Notes
Richmond has hosted Cup races since 1953 (Lee Petty’s inaugural win). Richard Petty leads all-time with 13 victories. Active notables include Denny Hamlin (5 wins: 2009, 2010, 2016, 2022, 2024), Kyle Busch (multiple), and others with 2+ wins such as Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Larson.
theracingexperts.com
Austin Dillon has won the last two Cook Out 400s here (2024 controversial overtime finish involving contact with Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin—playoff eligibility later stripped; 2025 dominant performance leading 107 laps, including the final 49, for a clean victory that locked him into the playoffs). He aims for a rare three-peat (only Richard Petty has won five straight historically at the track in other contexts).
cbssports.com
Recent trends: Short-track racing with frequent cautions, late passes for the win in several recent events, and the driver leading the most laps often not winning. Tire strategy and restarts decide outcomes. It sits in a three-race short-track stretch (Iowa last week, New Hampshire next).
Driver Matchups, Recent Forms, and Playoff Context
This is race ~24 of 36, with three regular-season races remaining before the Chase (playoffs). The top 16 in points advance.
Points leaders after Iowa (Ty Gibbs won the Iowa Corn 350): Denny Hamlin leads (~923 points), followed closely by Ty Gibbs (~820), Ryan Blaney (~813), and Tyler Reddick (~803). Further back: Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson, etc. Austin Cindric holds the provisional final Chase spot (~29 points ahead of Ryan Preece); Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, and Erik Jones are among those on the bubble.
motorsport.com
Denny Hamlin (favorite): Five career Richmond wins and strong historical stats (frequent top finishes, high laps led). Recent form solid (top-5 at Iowa). Home-state driver with excellent short-track pedigree; starts mid-pack but is the betting favorite.
Christopher Bell / Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota group (Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe): Strong recent short-track and overall form. Gibbs won Iowa; Bell has multiple runner-up finishes this season and solid Richmond history (top-10s). JGR Toyotas have been potent.
Ryan Blaney / Team Penske (Joey Logano): Blaney on pole with strong recent speed and top-10 consistency. Logano historically competitive at Richmond and running well lately. Ford presence is notable.
Austin Dillon: Back-to-back winner here; strong tire management suits the track. Starts 16th and looking for the three-peat.
Others: Kyle Larson and William Byron (Hendrick) have speed but must recover from qualifying positions. Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, and Tyler Reddick (who had qualifying struggles) are threats if they find long-run pace. Cutline drivers (Cindric, Preece, Chastain, etc.) need strong finishes or a win.
Matchups to watch: JGR Toyotas vs. Penske Fords at the front; Dillon’s track mastery vs. the favorites; bubble drivers fighting for stage points and positions.
Betting Trends
cbssports.com
Trends favor drivers with strong Richmond history (Hamlin), recent short-track form (Gibbs, Bell, Blaney), and those strong on tire management/restarts. Value often appears on mid-pack qualifiers who excel in long runs or the defending winner. Stage points and prop bets (laps led, top-5s) are popular given the track’s attrition and strategy elements. Odds can shift with practice/qualifying data and weather.
