Richmond under the lights is a chess match at 120 mph. The 0.75-mile bullring chews up tires, punishes bad pit calls, and rewards drivers who can adapt as the track changes over a long green-flag run. With two races left before the playoffs, the urgency is real, and this place has a habit of crowning the drivers who combine pace with patience. Let’s hit the board.

 

 

 

Cook Out 400: The Favorites

Denny Hamlin (+400 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

No one is more dangerous at Richmond right now. Hamlin has five career wins here, including two in the last three races, and has finished first or second in each of those three starts. Add in the best short-track driver rating over the last three seasons and one of the fastest pit crews in the series, and he’s an obvious anchor for any outright card.

Christopher Bell (+450 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

Bell has turned Richmond into one of his most consistent tracks, with five top-six finishes in his last six starts here. Already a three-time winner this season, his qualifying strength (Top 5 in three of his last five Richmond races) puts him in position to control stage points and track position. If he avoids late cautions, the No. 20 will be in the hunt.

 

 


 

Cook Out 400: Mid-Tier Targets

Kyle Larson (+850 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Two career Richmond wins and five top-fives in his last 10 starts at the track. Larson’s 2025 form has been inconsistent, but he was a contender here last year, leading 144 laps in the spring. If Hendrick nails the balance on long runs, Larson has the closing speed to cash this number.

Ryan Blaney (+1200 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Blaney doesn’t have a Cup win at Richmond, but his short-flat form is elite. He’s won at Iowa, Martinsville, and Nashville since 2024 and owns the fifth-best average finish on short-flats over the last two seasons. One of the few in this package who can actually pass under green, making him a live value play.

 

 

 

Cook Out 400 Longshots Worth a Look

Kyle Busch (+3000 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

Busch’s 2025 season has been a grind, but Richmond has been his career wheelhouse. He’s a six-time winner here with 28 top-tens in 38 starts and a third-place finish in the fall of 2023. If there’s a track where the No. 8 can finally punch above its recent form, this is it.

Josh Berry (+4000 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Berry’s Cup sample here is small but strong — a runner-up last fall and a 9.0 average finish in three starts. Short tracks have been his bread and butter since his Xfinity days, and Richmond’s tire-wear profile plays into his methodical style. At this number, he’s a legitimate upset threat.

 

 


 

Cook Out 400: YOLO Dart of the Week

Ty Gibbs (+5000 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

Gibbs hasn’t lit up the Richmond stat sheet yet, but he’s shown speed at high-wear short tracks like Bristol and Darlington. He turned a 13th-place average running position into a ninth-place finish here in 2023, and with JGR’s dominance on this surface, he’s a dark horse who could shock the field if strategy falls his way.

 

 


 

Cook Out 400 Props That Pop

Denny Hamlin – Top 3 (+120 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

Plus money for a driver with five wins and 12 top-fives here since 2014 is rare. If he stays clean, this should hit.

Top 5 – Ryan Blaney (+160 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Three top-six finishes in his last four Richmond starts and excellent qualifying form make this a solid floor play.

Joey Logano – Top 5 (+135 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Fifteen top-tens in 28 Richmond starts, elite tire management, and playoff focus. A good price for a driver with his track record.

 

 

 

Cook Out 400 Final Thoughts

Richmond rewards the complete package: raw speed, pit road execution, and the discipline to manage tires over long runs. Hamlin and Bell are the safe plays, but Larson and Blaney both have the upside to flip the script. For those chasing value, Berry and Gibbs are exactly the kind of underdogs who can capitalize if strategy or cautions shuffle the deck late.

 

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