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2w ago

Richmond Readies for Cup and Truck Playoff Deciders as 2026 Schedule Talks Intensify

Published practice, qualifying and TV windows will guide teams through a weekend that decides the final NASCAR Cup and Truck playoff berths

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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com
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Credit: Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell, driver race during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Whitton/Getty Images

Overview

  • NASCAR has released full practice, qualifying, and broadcast details for Richmond weekend, with Truck sessions on Friday followed by the eero 250 at 7:30 p.m. ET and the Cook Out 400 set for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.
  • The Cook Out 400 serves as the penultimate Cup Series regular-season race with critical seeding on the line, and the Friday night eero 250 will decide the final Craftsman Truck Series playoff qualifiers.
  • Denny Hamlin enters Richmond as the pre-race betting favorite at +350 odds after a strong track record and recent form.
  • Industry reports suggest NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports are evaluating a move of the 2026 All-Star Race to Dover, opening the door for a Cup points event at North Wilkesboro, leaving Iowa’s status uncertain, and raising questions about Mexico City’s return because of the FIFA World Cup.
  • Fans and stakeholders have voiced widespread opposition online to the proposed Dover All-Star shift and broader schedule rumors, arguing that swapping traditional dates risks alienating core audiences.