Qualifying Sets the Stage for Saturday’s Cook Out 400
The NASCAR Cup Series is back on the track at Richmond Raceway, where the weekend’s schedule kicks off with a 3:30 PM Eastern Time practice session that will be streamed on truTV. The same channel will carry the 4:40 PM ET qualifying that decides the starting order for Saturday night’s Cook Out 400.
Saturday’s race is slated for a prime‑time slot under the lights, while the Truck Series will run on Friday night after the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series was canceled, giving teams extra time to prepare.
Qualifying is split into two groups. Group 1 features the first nineteen drivers, with Josh Bilicki posting the fastest lap at 40.100, while Group 2 includes drivers from twentieth through thirty‑seven, highlighted by performances from Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace.
The starting lineup will be locked in as soon as qualifying wraps, setting the stage for a competitive Cook Out 400 that will showcase a deep field of talent.
A Star‑Studded Field
Among the notable entries are Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano, all of whom are expected to contend for the checkered flag.