The 2026 Cook Out 400 will take place at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, August 15, with live coverage on USA Network beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. What makes this edition stand out is the presence of a single open entry, Josh Bilicki, who will pilot the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford for MBM Motorsports.
Richmond Raceway, a staple of the NASCAR circuit since the 1950s, has seen its schedule trimmed in recent years. In 2025 the track hosted just one Cup Series race, marking the end of a 66‑year tradition of double‑header weekends. The reduction traces back to the pandemic, when a 2020 schedule cut forced the venue to drop one of its two annual dates.
NASCAR’s qualifying order for the event is derived from a blend of recent race performance and owner standings, a metric that has kept the field largely composed of the 36 chartered cars. This year only three of the first 23 races have featured an open entry, underscoring the shift toward a more stable roster.
Josh Bilicki’s last oval appearance in the Cup Series dates back to July 2025, making his return a noteworthy storyline. The No. 66 Garage 66 Ford, which last appeared at North Wilkesboro Speedway in mid‑July, is now back on the entry list, offering the veteran a chance to compete on a track where he previously struggled.
A New Era for Richmond
The upcoming race also serves as the antepenultimate event of the regular season, a point in the schedule that often influences playoff positioning. As teams and drivers navigate a landscape shaped by chartered ownership and reduced race dates, moments like Bilicki’s entry highlight both the continuity and the change that define modern NASCAR.