The Cook Out 400, NASCAR’s 400‑lap, 300‑mile event, is set to unfold on August 15 at Richmond Raceway in Virginia, marking the penultimate regular‑season race before the playoffs begin and leaving three contests before the championship chase officially starts.
Ryan Blaney has taken the early lead, surrounded by a cluster of five Ford entries in the top ten, while William Byron stands alone as the sole Chevrolet representative within the top five positions.
Broadcast and Stakes
The action will be televised on USA Network at roughly 6:10 p.m. Central Time, with live streaming available on HBO Max and SiriusXM channel 90, giving fans multiple ways to follow the race.
Stage racing will split the event into three segments — 70 laps, 160 laps and 170 laps — but the race carries no points, emphasizing pure stage‑win competition as teams jockey for momentum heading into the final stretch.
With three races remaining before the Chase, the outcome at Richmond could shape the playoff picture, echoing past thrillers where Ryan Preece, Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick have celebrated victories on similar short tracks.
Fans can expect a high‑stakes showdown as the series heads into its final regular‑season stretch, with the Cook Out 400 poised to deliver drama before the championship chase officially begins.