The NASCAR Cup Series returns with the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway for some Sunday night racing. Thirty-seven teams have brought cars to Richmond for the race.
The big change for this race is NASCAR has included the new option tire to Richmond. The tires debuted during the All Star Race at the newly paved North Wilkesboro. Richmond is an old worn out track and the drivers are unsure about how well the tires will run on the track.
The option tire has a red Goodyear logo, the normal or prime tires have a yellow Goodyear logo, and the wet weather tires have a white Goodyear logo.
NASCAR is giving the teams an option of tires to hopefully aid in racing and passing. Passing has been an issue at short tracks this season.
The drivers are getting a full 45 minute practice session before making a qualifying run. The drivers are all on the track together with no splitting into groups.
Josh Berry was a little late getting out on the track due to a radio issue.
There are just four races remaining in the regular season; 12 drivers have secured spots in the playoffs with race wins, there are four spots remaining to fill out the 16 driver playoff field.
Christopher Bell has a new crew chief on the pit box after his usual crew chief Adam Stevens is at home after knee surgery on both knees.
Hot on the heels of becoming a United States citizen, Daniel Suarez got married during the Olympic break…and he won a race in Brazil!
The drivers had two weeks off, but many of them found other places to race.
The teams get only eight sets of tires for the whole race – six sets of primes and two sets of option tires.
The drivers must qualify on the yellow prime tires. The drivers will be divided into two groups for qualifying.
Each driver will get two laps to qualify his car. The top five from each group will move on to a second round of qualifying to set the pole.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Ty Dillon who posted a time of 23.33 seconds.
The first driver to break the 23 second mark is Zane Smith – only six cars into qualifying – with a time of 22.989 seconds.
Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, and Tyler Reddick will all be moving on to round two of qualifying from Group A.
The first driver from group B on the track is Parker Retzlaff with a time of 23.189 seconds in his Cup Series debut.
Harrison Burton breaks the 23 second mark – only the second car out -with a time of 22.960 seconds.
The third car out, Josh Berry posted a time of 22.493 seconds for the best lap of the day so far.
From Group B, Josh Berry, John Hunter Nemechek, Martin Truex Jr, Christopher Bell, and Joey Logano will move on to round two of qualifying.
First up in the top 10 is Denny Hamlin with a time of 22.850 seconds.
First out for Group B is Joey Logano with a time of 23.058 seconds.
With a time of 22.850 seconds, Denny Hamlin puts his number eleven on the pole for his 43rd career pole and the third of this season. Teammate Martin Truex Jr will start alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Cook Out 400:
Denny Hamlin
Martin Truex Jr
Josh Berry
Chase Elliott
Christopher Bell
Austin Dillon
Chris Buescher
Bubba Wallace
Joey Logano
Tyler Reddick
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Busch
William Byron
Ty Gibbs
Kyle Larson
Noah Gragson
Alex Bowman
Austin Cindric
Carson Hocevar
Zane Smith
Daniel Suarez
Ross Chastain
Todd Gilliland
Corey LaJoie
Chase Briscoe
Ryan Preece
Erik Jones
Michael McDowell
Brad Keselowski
Ty Dillon
Harrison Burton
Daniel Hemric
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Riley Herbst
John Hunter Nemechek
Justin Haley
Parker Retzlaff
Stage one of the race is 70 laps; stage two is 160 laps, and stage three is 170 laps for a total of 400 laps around the ¾ mile track. The drivers can run 125 laps on a single load of fuel but the they will need tires long before that.
Virginia native Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with teammate Martin Truex Jr alongside. On the outside lane, Truex edges out for the lead but Hamlin comes up on the inside to take the lead of the race.
Lap two, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, Josh Berry, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott. Drovers are getting three wide across the track.
Lap eight, Denny Hamlin has a near half second lead on Martin Truex Jr; Josh berry, Christopher Bell, and Bubba Wallace.
Kyle Busch is driving with a sprained wrist after an accident at the Brickyard.
Lap 12, leader Denny Hamlin is now over half a second in front of Martin Truex Jr; Josh Berry, Chrisotpher Bell, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Lap 19, Denny Hamlin has a near one second lead on Martin Truex Jr; Christopher Bell, Josh Berry, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Lap 24, Denny Hamlin has led every lap so far and has a one second lead on Martin Truex Jr; Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, and Josh Berry round out the top five.
Lap 31, Bubba Wallace and Josh Berry battle for fifth.
Lap 33, Denny Hamlin is approaching slower traffic and will soon begin lapping cars.
Lap 34, Martin Truex Jr and Christopher Bell battle for second with Bell taking the spot.
Bubba Wallace gets around Josh Berry for fifth.
Lap 41, Christopher Bell has caught leader Denny Hamlin and is challenging for the lead. Slower traffick is right in front of them.
Lap 44, Christopher Bell continues to battle with leader Denny Hamlin. Hamlin puts Parker Retzlaff one lap down.
Lap 47, Christopher Bell passes Denny Hamlin for the lead; Martin Truex Jr, Joey Logano, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Lap 48, Martin Truex Jr passes Denny Hamlin for second.
Lap 53, Christopher Bell has a lead of over a second on Denny Hamlin; Martin Truex Jr, Joey Logano, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Just 10 laps remain in stage one; Christopher Bell has a lead of over a second on Denny Hamlin; Martin Truex Jr; Joey Logano, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five. There are 30 cars on the lead lap.
Two laps remain in stage one with 28 cars on the lead lap and Christopher Bell over a second and a half out in front of Denny Hamlin.
Christopher Bell wins stage one for his 10th stage win of the season – the most of any driver.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
Martin Truex Jr
Joey Logano
Bubba Wallace
Chase Elliott
Austin Dillon
Chris Buescher
Tyler Reddick
Josh Berry
Christopher Bell leads the field down pit road for service with Christopher Bell winning the race off of pit road. Christopher Bell made contact with Erik Jones and spinning him around as Bell was coming out of his pit stall. There is damage to the front of Bell’s car.
Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell were the only driver to take the option tires.
Ty Dillon was caught speeding on pit road.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 81 with Denny Hamlin alongside. Denny Hamlin takes the lead but Bell comes up to battle for the position.
After going side by side, Denny Hamlin finally takes the lead on lap 86.
Since the drop of the green flag, Daniel Suarez has passed eleven cars and Michael McDowell has passed seven. Suarez is in third place.
Lap 90, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Daniel Suarez, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 92, Daniel Suarez passes Christopher Bell for second and aims for leader Denny Hamlin.
Lap 93, Daniel Suarez passes Denny Hamlin for the lead.
Lap 100, Christopher Bell battles with Denny Hamlin for second.
Lap 101, Daniel Suarez has pulled out to a lead of nearly three second on Chrisotpher Bell; Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five. Michael McDowell is inside the top 10; up 19 spots.
Lap 107, with a lead of over three seconds, Daniel Suarez’s crew is telling Suarez to back it down and save the tires.
Lap 116, Daniel Suarez holds a second and half lead on Christopher Bell; Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five.
Lap 122, Drivers begin making green flag pit stops including leader Daniel Suarez. Denny Hamlin is the new leader.
Chris Buescher had a slow stop when he had to stop and back up for a loose wheel.
Lap 125, leader Denny Hamlin comes down pit road with Chase Elliott the new leader.
Lap 127, leader Chase Elliott makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Kyle Larson.
Lap 135, the top three drivers have yet to make a green flag pitstop. There are 18 cars on the lead lap.
Kyle Busch had a slow stop and is now one lap down.
Lap 144, Christopher Bell passes Kyle Larson for the lead; Daniel Suarez takes second.
Lap 148, the top five are Christopher Bell, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr, and Denny Hamlin.
Lap 150, Kyle Larson makes his green flag pit stop.
Lap 152, Christopher Bell has a lead of over two seconds on Daniel Suarez; Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Lap 159, Christopher Bell has a lead of over two seconds on Daniel Suarez; Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano round out the top five. There are only 19 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 155, drivers making two stops in the stage are beginning to make their second pit stop of the stage.
Lap 168, Christopher Bell’s lead is down to under a second and a half on Daniel Suarez; Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Kyle Larson passes Christopher Bell to get back on the lead lap.
Todd Gilliland was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.
Martin Truex Jr had a slow pit stop after he started to leave his pit stall before the tire was secured.
Lap 176, more drivers are making green flag pit stops including leader Christopher Bell. Chase Elliott is the new leader.
Lap 178, leader Chase Elliott comes down pit road and gives the lead over to Tyler Reddick.
Lap 180, the top five are Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Busch.
Lap 187, In a battle of the newlyweds, Daniel Suarez passes Tyler Reddick for the lead.
Lap 192, Daniel Suarez leads the race with Christopher Bell in second; Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Lap 200, on the option tires, Kyle Busch has passed Daniel Suarez to unlap himself and is now back on the lead lap in 20th.
Lap 205, Daniel Suarez has a lead of over a second on Christopher Bell; Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Lap 206, Kyle Busch is the last car on the lead lap in 19th.
Lap 213, Daniel Suarez had a lead of over two seconds on Christopher Bell; Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Lap 219, Daniel Suarez has a near second and half lead on Christopher Bell; Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Joey Logano round out the top five with 18 cars on the lead lap.
Seven laps remain in stage two with Daniel Suarez leading by one second over Christopher Bell.
With five laps remaining in stage two, Daniel Suarez passes Kyle Busch to go one lap down.
Daniel Suarez wins stage two for his first of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Daniel Suarez
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Austin Dillon
Tyler Reddick
Michael McDowell
Bubba Wallace
Carson Hocevar
Chase Elliott
Drivers come down pit road for fuel and fresh tires with Christopher Bell winning the race off of pit road. Several of the teams have put on the red option tires to start the stage. There are only 16 cars on the lead lap.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Daniel Suarez alongside on lap 241. Bell gets out in front as the drivers spread out across the track. The only driver not on the option tires to start the stage, Daniel Suarez has dropped back in the field.
Drivers are getting four wide in a battle for position.
Lap 245, Christopher Bell leads the race with Denny Hamlin in second; Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Dillon round out the top five.
Martin Truex Jr reports that he thinks he is blowing up; saying that the car is missing and has no power. He brings his car down pit road and the crew lifts the hood. The crew pushes the car to the garage and Truex is out of the race.
Lap 254, Christopher Bell has a lead of over half a second on Joey Logano; Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Dillon round out the top five.
Lap 265; Christopher Bell has a lead of over a second on Joey Logano; Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, ad Austin Dillon round out the top five.
Leader Christopher Bell has led 702 laps this season to top the list of drivers who have led laps.
Lap 273, Christopher Bell has a lead of nearly a second and a half on Joey Logano; Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Dillon round out the top five.
Austin Cindric reports a power steering issue.
Lap 279, drivers are beginning to make green flag pit stops with drivers on the red option tires changing to the yellow prime tires.
Lap 282, leader Christopher Bell makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Chase Elliott.
Lap 283, Daniel Suarez passes Chase Elliott for the lead.
Christopher Bell and Alex Bowman were caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.
After serving his speeding penalty, Christopher Bell has unlapped himself and is back on the lead lap.
Lap 290, Daniel Suarez has yet to make a pit stop and is leading the field.
Lap 292, Daniel Suarez has a near three second lead on Denny Hamlin; Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Dillon round out the top five.
Lap 294, Daniel Suarez makes his green flag pit stop and hands the lead over to Denny Hamlin.
Two laps down, Ryan Preece is the only driver on the track with the red option tires on his car.
Lap 299, Denny Hamlin has just a half second lead on Joey Logano; Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Lap 304, there are just 15 cars on the lead lap after leader Denny Hamlin passes Kyle Busch to put Busch in 16th a lap down.
Lap 207, Denny Hamlin has a lead of just over half a second on Joey Logano; Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Lap 313, Austin Dillon battles Joey Logano for second. Drivers are three wide in a battle ofr position.
After giving up the lead to make a pit stop, Daniel Suarez is back in 16th – the last car on the lead lap.
Lap 318, Denny Hamlin has a one second lead on Joey Logano; Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick, and bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Lap 224, Austin Dillon and Joey Logano again battle for second with Denny Hamlin one second ahead in the lead.
Austin Dillon gets around Joey Logano for second and is gaining on Denny Hamlin.
Lap 331, Austin Dillon had caught leader Denny Hamlin and is challenging for the lead as the drivers begin coming down pit road for service.
Lap 334, Denny Hamlin comes down pit road and gives the lead over to Austin Dillon.
Austin Dillon comes down pit road and gives the lead over to Carson Hocevar.
Lap 337, Carson Hocevar makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Christopher Bell.
Lap 341, there are only 14 cars on the lead lap with Christopher Bell a second and a half in front of Daniel Suarez; Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Austin Dillon round out the top five.
Lap 343, Austin Dillon passes Joey Logano for third. Leader Christopher Bell makes a green flag pit stop. Daniel Suarez is the new leader.
Lap 352, Denny Hamlin leads the race with Austin Dillon in second; Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five. Christopher Bell is on Hamlin’s bumper working to unlap himself.
With 44 laps to go, Ryan Blaney comes down pit road and the crew puts on the red option tires.
Lap 361, Daniel Suarez is on pit road for the red option tires.
Lap 363, Denny Hamlin has a half second lead on Austin Dillon; Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Lap 368, Austin Dillon again battles with Denny Hamlin for the lead.
With 29 laps remaining in the race, Austin Dillon edges out Denny Hamlin for the lead.
Lap 377, Daiel Suarez has unlapped himself and is just outside the top 10 in eleventh place.
Just 21 laps remaining in the race wit Austin Dillon one second out in front of Denny Hamlin; Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five. Daniel Suarez is now in seventh place. He is gaining over half a second per lap on the leaders.
It has been 68 races since leader Austin Dillon has won a race.
Just 14 laps to go, Austin Dillon has pulled out to a lead of over two seconds on Denny Hamlin; Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five with Daniel Suarez in sixth.
Ten to go! Austin Dillon has his number three car out in front with a two and a half second lead on Denny Hamlin; Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five. Daniel Suarez is in sixth; seven seconds behind the leader.
Five to go, Austin Dillon has a three second lead on Denny Hamlin. Daniel Suarez is six seconds back.
The only caution flag for an on track incident comes out with just two laps to go. Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Ryan Preece make contact sending Preece spinning and Stenhouse into the wall.
The race goes into overtime!
Drivers come down pit road for the red option tires and a dash to the end of the race. Austin Dillon wins the race off of pit road.
Austin Dillon brings the field down for the green flag overtime shootout for the end of the race. Dillon takes the inside lane with Joey Logano on the outside. Driver spread out four wide across the track. Joey Logano gets out in front for the lead.
Joey Logano takes the white flag.
Austin Dillon makes contact with Joey Logano and spins him out. Denny Hamlin hits the wall after contact from Dillon.
Austin Dillon does a burnout that buries the car. Prior to the win, Dillon was ranked 32nd in the point standings.
A very angry Joey Logano called Austin Dillon’s move BS. When asked how he would race Dillon in future, Logano said, “wait and see”.
Denny Hamlin, who is known for many such finishes, also expressed his displeasure with Dillon.
The unofficial results of the Cook Out 400:
Austin Dillon
Denny Hamlin
Tyler Reddick
Bubba Wallace
Ross Chastain
Christopher Bell
Kyle Larson
Carson Hocevar
Chase Elliott
Daniel Suarez
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Busch
William Byron
Josh Berry
Michael McDowell
Todd Gilliland
Brad Keselowski
Chris Buescher
Joey Logano
Noah Gragson
Ty Gibbs
Chase Briscoe
Zane Smith
Austin Cindric
Ryan Preece
Ty Dillon
Justin Haley
Alex Bowman
Erik Jones
Daniel Hemric
John Hunter Nemechek
Harrison Burton
Riley Herbst
Corey LaJoie
Parker Retzlaff
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Martin Truex Jr