A Night Under the Lights
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule will feature a landmark event: the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, the series' inaugural Saturday night race. Set for August 15, 2026, the 400‑lap contest will be staged under artificial lighting, giving the historic short track a distinctive evening atmosphere.
Richmond Raceway, a venue that has hosted NASCAR events since 1959, will present the race as the sole NASCAR date on its calendar for the 2026 season. The move reflects the sport's effort to experiment with new formats and timing to attract broader audiences.
Qualifying for the Cook Out 400 follows a streamlined process. Each driver receives two laps to post their best speed, and the resulting lap time is combined with a metric that weighs 70 percent of the car's most recent race finish and 30 percent of owner standings. This method determines the starting order, diverging from the average‑speed approaches used at superspeedways.
The starting lineup will be headlined by Brad Keselowski in the No. 6 car, with Kyle Larson also among the contenders. John Hunter Nemechek, piloting the No. 42 entry, and Riley Herbst in the No. 35 car are slated to participate in the qualifying sessions, adding depth to a competitive field of 37 drivers.
Fans can watch the action live on USA Network, with coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The broadcast will capture the unique dynamics of a short‑track event under lights, offering a fresh viewing experience for both longtime followers and newcomers.