RICHMOND, VA — After a two-week break, NASCAR returns to action Sunday with the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. The race will be broadcast on USA Network, with the green flag scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern.
NASCAR fans have a number of options to watch the race if they don’t have cable, including Fubo and DirecTV Stream, which offer free trials. Sling TV also has promotional pricing offers if you’re a new customer.
Driver Kyle Larson enters the race with a 10-point lead in the Sprint Cup Series standings, and Larson is coming off a victory at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis on July 21. Chase Elliot trails Larson (749 points) by 10 points, followed by Tyler Reddick (734 points), Denny Hamlin (706 points) and Ryan Blaney (676 points).
Only four races remain until the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs begin on Sept. 8, and only the top 15 drivers advance to the postseason. Joey Logano (525 points) holds the final playoff spot entering this weekend. Chase Briscoe (469 points), Daniel Suarez (460 points) and Kyle Busch (440 points) remain in the hunt.
Here are more details about how to watch the race via various TV and streaming options:
- What: NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400
- When: Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024
- Time: 6 p.m. Eastern
- Where: Richmond Raceway | Richmond, VA
- Channel: USA Network
- Best live stream options: Fubo (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial), Sling TV (promotional offers)
- Cable channel finder: AT&T U-Verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios.
Here’s a further preview of the race, courtesy of the Associated Press:
NASCAR CUP SERIES
Cook Out 400.
Site: Richmond, Virginia.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 5:35 p.m.; Sunday race, 6 p.m. (USA Network).
Track: Richmond Raceway.
Race distance: 400 laps, 300 miles.
Last year: Chris Buescher pulled away on a restart with three laps to go to win and lock up his playoff spot. Buescher finished ahead of Virginia native Denny Hamlin. Kyle Busch took third, followed by Joey Logano and Ryan Preece. The victory started a strong run by Buescher, who won twice more (a week later at Michigan and at Daytona) before the playoffs.
Last race: Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson held off Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick in overtime to collect the Indianapolis victory he tried to get at the Indy 500 in May. Larson’s try at the motorsports double two months ago ended as rain delayed the IndyCar event. Larson flew to Charlotte and the Coca-Cola 600, where rain also delayed that NASCAR Cup Series race. Larson never got on the track as rain and the late hour ended any attempt at finishing the race.
Fast facts: NASCAR returns from a two-week, mid-summer break with the Olympics finishing up in Paris this weekend. … Points leader Kyle Larson wasn’t going to stop racing despite NASCAR’s break and won a pair of sprint car races at Pevely, Missouri last weekend. … There are four races left in NASCAR’s regular season with Michigan, Daytona and Darlington coming after the run at Richmond. … Larson is 15 points ahead of Denny Hamlin in the driver standings. Christopher Bell is third and Larson’s Henrick Motorsports teammate William Byron is fourth.
Next race: Aug. 18, Brooklyn, Michigan.
