The race for the postseason is hitting its boiling point as the NASCAR Cup Series stars head to Virginia’s premier short track. Identifying true Cook Out 400 contenders comes down to who can manage extreme tire degradation and execute flawless green-flag pit stops on this abrasive 0.75-mile D-shaped oval.
From hometown heroes to short-track aces looking to pull off a major upset, a few select drivers stand out above the rest. Keep a close eye on these five Cook Out 400 contenders when the green flag drops.
Cook Out 400 Contenders
1. Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)
There is no conversation about top short-track drivers that does not prominently feature Denny Hamlin. A native of Virginia, Hamlin treats Richmond Raceway like his personal playground. Driving the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, he enters the weekend at the very top of the list of Cook Out 400 contenders, carrying +400 odds to take the checkered flag.
Hamlin’s brilliance at Richmond lies in his unparalleled ability to save his equipment. Richmond’s racing surface acts like sandpaper on tires. Hamlin excels at searching for the optimal wrap around the bottom line without over-driving his car. Fresh off a strong performance at Iowa Speedway, look for Hamlin to lean on his extensive short-track notebook to out-pace the other Cook Out 400 contenders.
2. Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Christopher Bell, is enjoying a stellar stretch of short-track performances. Bell drove a masterful race at Iowa Speedway to finish as the runner-up, proving that his No. 20 team has unlocked the long-run speed necessary to conquer short-tracks.
Currently at +440 odds, Bell is a premier threat among all Cook Out 400 contenders. He possesses an incredibly smooth driving style that keeps the car stable on corner entry, the exact attribute needed to navigate Richmond’s tricky, wide transitions. Expect Bell to collect heavy stage points early and separate himself from rival Cook Out 400 contenders when the track tightens up for the final stage. It’s starting to feel like Bell is finishing runner-up every week now, so with that kind of consistent speed you have to believe a win is coming sooner rather than later.
3. Joey Logano (Team Penske)
Team Penske’s Joey Logano finds himself in a critical spot in the point standings. While he has displayed elite flashes of speed lately, including a strong showing at Iowa where he didn’t get the finish he deserved, Logano needs to execute a complete race under the lights to try to gain a couple more spots in the standings before The Chase begins.
Historically, Richmond is a stellar venue for Logano, who holds 31 career starts at the track. He is a master of restart manipulation and hyper-aggressive short-track defense, making him one of the most dangerous Cook Out 400 contenders late in the race. At +700 odds, Logano represents immense value. If Team Penske can give the No. 22 Ford enough lateral grip to roll the center of the corners, Logano will be incredibly tough to beat. The organization is bringing a ton of speed lately, especially at the short-tracks, so there’s no reason to believe Logano and teammate Ryan Blaney won’t be near the front for the majority of this race.
4. Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)
Kyle Larson enters the weekend with plenty of motivation after a frustrating, tire-inflicted setback at Iowa relegated him to a 33rd-place finish. Despite that anomaly, Larson remains the metric gold standard for raw speed in the Next-Gen era. In fact, he leads all active Cup Series drivers with a staggering 8.474 average starting position at Richmond, automatically cementing his status among the elite Cook Out 400 contenders.
Larson’s ability to run the high groove where others struggle gives him a distinct advantage if the track widens out. Hendrick Motorsports usually unloads elite short-track stuff, even if they are having a down year to this point, and Larson (+900 odds) is highly anticipated to rebound aggressively and challenge the frontline Cook Out 400 contenders from the drop of the green flag. While drivers like Logano are climbing the standings, Larson is dropping fast and desperately needs this rebound performance. If he can avoid trouble, which seems to be a big if right now, Larson should be contending for a win at the end.
5. Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing)
If you are looking for a true short-track specialist capable of pulling off a major upset, look no further than Josh Berry. Berry cut his teeth in the grueling world of late-model asphalt racing across the Southeast, making low-grip, high-wear short tracks his absolute comfort zone.
Berry showed top-tier capability earlier this season at Martinsville, qualifying third and leading laps. He maintains that short-track momentum following a stellar fourth place finish at Iowa, vaulting him into the conversation of dark-horse Cook Out 400 contenders. Sitting at +4500 longshot odds, the No. 21 Ford team represents the ultimate value play. If the race devolves into a game of tire management and late-race strategy, Berry has the exact skill set required to out-smart the veterans. Wood Brothers Racing also has a close technical alliance with Team Penske, so there is a strong chance that if Logano and Blaney are strong, then Berry will be as well.
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