RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Richmond Raceway this weekend for the Cook Out 400, the third-to-last race before the 2026 regular season concludes.
Thirty-seven drivers are entered for Saturday night’s race, meaning every car on the entry list will qualify for the main event. While there are no open spots up for grabs, the weekend still carries enormous significance as the battle for the final Chase positions tightens with just two races remaining after Richmond.
Austin Dillon returns as the defending Richmond winner, while Denny Hamlin will look to capitalize on racing in his home state after extending his championship points lead following Iowa.
Here’s the complete entry list for Saturday night’s Cook Out 400.
Full NASCAR Cup Series Entry List for Richmond Raceway
No. Driver Team
1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing 7 Daniel Suárez Spire Motorsports 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske 16 AJ Allmendinger Kaulig Racing 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing 22 Joey Logano Team Penske 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports 33 Austin Hill (i) Richard Childress Racing 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports 35 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. HYAK Motorsports 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing 66 Josh Bilicki (i) Garage 66 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports 88 Connor Zilisch Trackhouse Racing 97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing
Austin Hill and Josh Bilicki Join the Field
The only non-Cup regulars on this weekend’s entry list are Austin Hill and Josh Bilicki.
Hill returns in Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Chevrolet after taking over the car following Kyle Busch’s passing earlier this season. This weekend’s entry also carries added significance, as Richard Childress Racing will honor Busch with a special tribute paint scheme featuring his signature bow celebration on the hood.
Bilicki, meanwhile, will drive the No. 66 Ford for Garage 66 in his second Cup Series start of the 2026 season.
With 37 cars entered, every driver is assured a starting spot in Saturday night’s race, shifting the focus entirely to qualifying and race-day strategy.
Richmond Could Shape the Chase Picture
While the entry list itself contains few surprises, the stakes could hardly be higher.
Richmond is the 24th points-paying race of the season, leaving only Watkins Glen and Daytona before the 16-driver Chase field is finalized.
Drivers near the postseason cutline , including Ryan Preece, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski and Erik Jones, will all be looking to capitalize on one of the final opportunities to either secure points or punch their ticket with a victory.
For the championship contenders, Saturday night offers another chance to build momentum before NASCAR’s postseason begins.
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