The 2025 Cook Out 400 is set to take place on Saturday at Richmond Raceway. This is the penultimate race until the playoff field of 16 is set. That means time is running out for drivers to make their way into that elite group. Before the green flag is waved in Richmond, continue reading to get my Cook Out 400 prediction for this weekend.
Our Cook Out 400 Pick
- Pick: William Byron to win
- Confidence: 2/5
- Bonus Bets For Race Day: Hit the Claim Bonus button to get our FanDuel Sportsbook bonus code. Bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets if your first bet wins!
Cook Out 400 Preview
This event is the 25th race of the NASCAR Cup Series season. It will span 400 laps on the 0.75-mile D-shaped short track for a total of 300 miles. The event will be held under the lights with the green flag dropping at 7:30 PM. The track’s multiple grooves and high speeds make it one of the best short-track challenges in NASCAR.
Denny Hamlin is the best in the business when it comes to short-track racing and he enters this race as the favorite. Hamlin have five Richmond wins in his career and has hit double-digits in total short-track race wins. He will look to add to his extensive trophy case with a win in this weekend. Christopher Bell is the only other driver inside of +500 to win this race after his second-place finish at Watkins Glen last week.
Cook Out 400 Track Info
- Venue: Richmond Raceway, Richmond, VA
- Length: 0.75 miles (D-shaped oval)
- Race Distance: 400 laps, 300 miles
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 16, 2025, 7:30 PM
- Notable Traits: Asphalt surface, multiple racing grooves, short-track speed dynamics.
Betting Odds
- Denny Hamlin +380
- Christopher Bell +430
- Kyle Larson +900
- William Byron +1000
- Joey Logano +1000
- Chase Elliott +1400
- Chase Briscoe +1400
- Ryan Blaney +1600
- Brad Keselowski +1700
- Tyler Reddick +2500
Cook Out 400 Prediction
Denny Hamlin is certainly an appealing option to win this race given his history of dominance on short tracks. But there are better values out there as far as I’m concerned. Brad Keselowski is an interesting option at +1700. He has multiple Richmond wins in his career. His best days may be behind him at this point of his career, but there is a possibility that Keselowski is the one who comes out on top.
This race is a big one for Keselowski in the NASCAR playoff chase. Keselowski is just a few spots outside of the top 16 in the standings. A win on a course format where he has had success could help him to reach the playoffs. But I’m going to go in a different direction when betting the Cook Out 400.
My best bet for this race is William Byron at +1000. Byron has a short-track win in Iowa just a couple of races ago and he is another dangerous contender to Hamlin going into this race. With Byron coming at a much better price than Hamlin here, I’ll take Byron to get the job done and to take his spot in Victory Lane.
