The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Richmond this weekend because the race for the playoffs heats up. Five of the 16 playoff spots can nonetheless be clinched with 5 races remaining within the common season, so actually everyone seems to be still racing for the postseason after 21 races.

Championship chief Martin Truex Jr. is the favourite within the race, with Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell not far behind. Despite the Gibbs Toyotas’ dominance at Richmond, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson and Josh Berry (driving for a then-injured Chase Elliott) finished 1-2 in the spring race and once more ought to present a formidable problem.

Here’s every part it’s essential know forward of the Cook Out 400:

Cook Out 400 TV/streaming schedule

All instances Eastern

Saturday
12:30-1:20 p.m.: Practice (USA, NBC Sports app)
1:20-2:30 p.m.: Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports app)

Sunday
2:30-3 p.m.: Pre-race present (USA)
3-6:30 p.m.: Cook Out 400 (USA, NBC Sports app)

Cook Out 400 particulars

Track: Richmond Raceway (0.75-mile tri-oval), Henrico County, Virginia
Length: 400 laps for 300 miles
Banking: Turns – 14 levels | Tri-oval – 8 levels | Backstretch – 2 levels
2022 winner: Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Cook Out 400 beginning grid

1. Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota

2. Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

3. Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

4. Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

5. Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota

6. William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

7. Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

8. Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

10. Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

11. Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

12. Noah Gragson (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

13. Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford

14. Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

15. Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

16. Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford

17. Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

18. Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford

19. Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

20. Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

21. BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford

22. Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford

23. Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford

24. Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

25. Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford

26. Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford

27. Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

28. Ryan Newman (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford

29. Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

30. Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

31. Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

32. Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

33. Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford

34. Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

35. J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford

36. A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Top drivers and finest bets for the Cook Out 400

Martin Truex Jr. has three profession wins at Richmond and enters the weekend as the favourite, according to BetMGM, with a +375 moneyline. Denny Hamlin (+500) and Kyle Larson (+600) — who have been on the heart of last week’s kerfuffle at Pocono — have the next-best odds.

Best odds to win
• Martin Truex Jr. +375
• Denny Hamlin +500
• Kyle Larson +600
• Christopher Bell +800
• William Byron +900
• Kevin Harvick +900

Yahoo Sports’ Nick Bromberg wrote earlier within the week on some of the best bets for the weekend. He suggests good mid-tier worth might be present in Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Chase Elliott (+1600), and 23XI’s Tyler Reddick (+1800). Elliott has 5 top-five finishes in 14 begins at Richmond, whereas Toyota and 23XI have been notably sturdy this season on quick tracks.

Cook Out 400 entry checklist

Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Noah Gragson (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ryan Newman (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Weather for the Cook Out 400

The forecast requires highs in the upper-90s and a 51 percent chance of rain for each days of Cup Series operating. Three of the final 4 Cup Series races and 5 general have been considerably impacted by rain this season, with Truex already having received two of them.