
Hamlin Heads into Cook Out 400 with Playoff Lead
Denny Hamlin tops the 2026 Cup Series standings as the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway looms, a critical contest that could lock in the No. 1 seed and its 100‑point bonus.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Chase Elliott across Nascar.

Denny Hamlin tops the 2026 Cup Series standings as the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway looms, a critical contest that could lock in the No. 1 seed and its 100‑point bonus.

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series opened its season with a bold move: a Saturday night race under the lights at Richmond Raceway, the first of three such events scheduled across the year. The novelty of a weekend night race drew a packed crowd eager to see how the new format would play out.

The upcoming Cook Out 400, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, will see Ryan Blaney start from the front at Richmond Raceway, while fans can watch the action on USA Network and a suite of streaming platforms.

The motorsports world mourns the loss of Kyle Busch, a driver whose name has become synonymous with relentless competition and record‑breaking achievements. At 41, his untimely death sent shockwaves through the racing community, prompting tributes that celebrate a career defined by over 230 victories and a string of historic moments at some of NASCAR’s most iconic venues.
The Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 15 will feature a 400‑lap, three‑stage event, with pole position, broadcast details and a deep roster of drivers and teams battling for playoff positioning.

Ryan Blaney secures the pole for the August 2026 Cook Out 400 at Richmond, sharing the front row with Chase Briscoe as the full starting grid is revealed.

Ryan Blaney leads a competitive 36‑car grid for the Cook Out 400, set for a 7:00 PM ET start and broadcast on USA Network with streaming on HBO Max.

The 2026 Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway will feature a $11.23 million prize pool, a tightly contested starting lineup and broadcast coverage across USA, HBO Max and MRN.
As the 2025 NASCAR season nears its climax, the Richmond qualifying race sets the stage for the final regular‑season showdown, featuring defending champion Austin Dillon and a tight points battle.

The last regular‑season race before the playoff cut‑off brings intense betting action, strategic tire management and historic performances together at Richmond Raceway.

A forecast of showers threatens the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, prompting NASCAR to rely on a blended qualifying metric that could place Ty Gibbs at the front of the grid.

Today's NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Richmond Raceway features a 3:30 PM ET practice followed by a 4:40 PM ET qualifying broadcast on truTV, determining the starting order for the upcoming Cook Out 400 under the lights.

The 2026 Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway will feature veteran Josh Bilicki in a solitary open car, underscoring a broader shift in the series’ calendar and qualifying format.

The upcoming NASCAR Cup Series event at Richmond Raceway will determine critical playoff positioning, featuring intense battles among the sport’s leading drivers and teams.

Denny Hamlin extends his lead, Ty Gibbs climbs to second, and historic storylines emerge as the series heads to Richmond.

Two‑time NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Busch died at 41, leaving a void in the sport. His last scheduled Truck race at Charlotte earned a pole position after qualifying was canceled, and his team is now owned by Spire Motorsports as new drivers prepare to honor his memory.
Qualifying for the Iowa Corn 350 delivered a dramatic pole position for Ryan Blaney, a strong lineup from Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports, and a broadcast plan that includes USA Network and streaming on HBO Max.

Veteran Kyle Petty explains why Hendrick Motorsports has yet to visit Victory Lane this year and what it will take for drivers like Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott to finally break through.

Hendrick Motorsports is enduring a difficult campaign, with reigning champion Kyle Larson still searching for his first win of the year. Veteran driver Kyle Petty, who once wore the same number for the organization, says the team’s inconsistency stems from a lack of stability and an overreliance on quick fixes. Petty argues there is no single solution, but rather a series of small gains in pit road and restart performance that could gradually shift momentum. Among the lineup, Chase Elliott stands as the highest‑ranked Hendrick driver, sitting seventh in the Cup Series standings with three races remaining, keeping alive the hope of a late‑season breakthrough. Petty points to past iterations of the organization that have weathered similar slumps, noting that discipline and a return to basic practices have historically paved the way out of decline.

NASCAR announced a sweeping revision to its 2026 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series rulebook that will reshape how full‑time Cup drivers compete in the lower‑tier division.
NASCAR's latest driver rankings reveal a stark contrast between Tyler Reddick's early-season success and his recent struggles, while competitors such as Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs look to capitalize on the shifting dynamics.

Ryan Blaney secured pole position for the Iowa Corn 350 with a top lap of 134.191 mph, edging Kyle Larson and Joey Logano. Brad Keselowski’s qualifying crash may trigger a penalty, and the race will be broadcast live on USA Network at 3:30 p.m. ET on August 9.

Chevrolet’s recent winless streak and Chase Elliott’s slide to seventh leave the brand with little chance of a championship, making the Richmond race a critical test.

An analysis of the latest NASCAR power rankings, highlighting Christopher Bell’s consistency, Ty Gibbs’ surge, and the shifting landscape of the Cup Series.