After Denny Hamlin took home first place last weekend at Pocono, we're now one step closer to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Next up is the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, which is always an exciting race for fans. It's really no surprise who is the favorite here in Martin Truex Jr at +450 odds considering his current form and past success on this track, which we'll dive into more below. Others within the top five for this event include Kyle Larson (+500), Hamlin (+650), Christopher Bell (+750), and Kevin Harvick (+750). Keep reading for the Cook Out 400 picks.
Before we get into the preview, odds, and predictions for Pocono, check out our how-to bet on NASCAR page.
Cook Out 400 Odds
| Driver |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Truex Jr | +450 | +450 | +400 |
| Kyle Larson | +500 | +650 | +575 |
| Denny Hamlin | +650 | +550 | +600 |
| Christopher Bell | +750 | +700 | +700 |
| Kevin Harvick | +750 | +1000 | +900 |
| William Byron | +850 | +1000 | +800 |
| Kyle Busch | +850 | +850 | +1100 |
| Joey Logano | +1200 | +1400 | +1200 |
| Ross Chastain | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Chase Elliott | +1600 | +1400 | +1400 |
This is the 22nd race of the Cup Series season. It's a .75-mile oval track for a total of 400 laps (300 miles). Kevin Harvick is the reigning champion of this event. Harvick has a total of three wins at the Cook Out 400. Denny Hamlin also has three victories while Truex Jr has won twice in the last four races.
Race Preview
Martin Truex Jr (+450)
Truex Jr is on fire over the last couple of months. He won New Hampshire and then placed third at Pocono last weekend. In fact, Truex Jr has finished within the top five in six of the last eight races. There is probably no better driver on the Cup Series circuit at the moment. Oh, and he dominates in Richmond, winning three times in total since 2019 on this track. That's aside from numerous other respectable finishes here. Truex Jr seemingly deserves to be the favorite on Sunday. He is producing the goods.
Kyle Larson (+500)
Larson hasn't actually had a ton of success at Richmond with a mere two top-five finishes in his last nine outings here. However, the reason he's considered a frontrunner is due to his record on short tracks, including solid results at Phoenix, Martinsville, Loudon, and Dover. Larson is also in good shape as of late, locking down top-five finishes in four of his last seven outings. That includes third place at New Hampshire a couple of weeks ago. Larson is fifth in the Cup Series standings.
Denny Hamlin (+650)
Hamlin is fourth in the table at the moment and certainly comes into this race with momentum. Despite only leading for nine laps at Pocono, he came out victorious for his second win of the campaign. As previously mentioned, Hamlin has also lifted the grand prize three times at the Cook Out 400 but the last time was way back in 2016. He was 20th in the spring race here and fourth in this race last year. Hamlin is certainly worth a look in the Cook Out 400 picks.
Christopher Bell (+750)
After sitting towards the top of the standings for a while, Bell has fallen back down to the earth and now trails first place by 75 points. Although he was sixth at Pocono, he hasn't had a top-five finish since Daytona 500 in February. On a more positive note, Bell does have 11 top-10 finishes on the year. He was also fourth in the spring at Richmond. Could be worth a specific bet.
Kevin Harvick (+750)
What can we say about Harvick in the Cook Out 400? He is one of the most successful drivers on the track and can never be overlooked when the Cup Series heads to Virginia. And while it's been a down season for the veteran, there's reason to take a look at Harvick. He's secured back-to-back fourth-place finishes at New Hampshire and Pocono. He really seems to be hitting his stride. Could that trend continue? He was also fifth in the spring at Richmond. A very intriguing one to keep an eye on.
William Byron (+850)
Byron is having a great season, sitting in second place in the standings with a Cup Series-best four wins at Atlanta, Darlington, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. He was also in contention in the spring here for a title before some unfortunate luck late in the race, even leading for 117 laps. However, Byron has only one top-five finish at Richmond in 12 outings and has been a mixed bag in recent weeks. That's probably why his odds aren't great for Sunday.
Cook Out 400 Picks
As always, a few different bets are best. First, I'm riding Harvick for a top-five finish. All signs point to that happening. Next, lock in Bell for a top-10 finish after he was fourth in the spring. Lastly, I'm liking Truex Jr for the win. It's obviously easy to ride the favorite, but everything he's doing lately points to a win on a track where Truex Jr truly does thrive.
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