NASCAR Cup Series

Podium Preview: Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway

by
Rob Tiongson
July 30, 2023

Kyle Larson seeks the perfect line to win Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond. (Photo: Mitchell Richtmyre | The Podium Finish)

RICHMOND, Va. – While the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway has seen more date changes than Star Trek: Enterprise, it is a race that tends to separate the contenders from the pretenders.

Namely, in the Toyota Owners 400 in early April, Hendrick Motorsports established themselves as the early season favorites. Kyle Larson took the checkered flag while Josh Berry, substituting for Chase Elliott, placed runner-up while William Byron and Alex Bowman flexed their muscles.

In recent weeks, Joe Gibbs Racing has asserted their efforts in dominant fashion. Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin have responded to the call placed earlier by the Hendrick duo of Larson and Byron with their wins in the past two months.

Save for Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain, Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, it has become the Joe Gibbs Racing Show in the Cup scene. Now, with Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond, the powerhouse duel may come to a blow amidst the intense heat and humid conditions facing drivers and teams.

While the track surface has aged considerably, Richmond is still the action short track of the NASCAR Cup Series. At times, Richmond behaves a lot like an intermediate track particularly with the importance of aerodynamics.

Then again, it is a classic short track where tempers flare and fenders become astray. Like Gul Dukat would say from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, /”There is no dilemma that cannot be solved by a disciplined Cardassian mind.”

Larson looks to earn a sweep of Richmond while Hamlin hopes to close the gap on Byron and Truex. Elliott hopes to tally his first win of the year to stop the talks about when he would make the Playoffs. Race No. 22 is bound to be a barnburner in The Dominion State.

Once the NASCAR official unfurls the green flag on race day, it is anyone’s guess as to who will prevail in this year’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. For the time being, come along for the ride this and each race weekend with Podium Preview.

This weekend, Cody Shoppe, Jasmine Sharpe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler, Teresa Bennink and yours truly wonder about what will become of Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin and combating the cruel heat and humidity expected for Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond.

Question 1

Was Kyle Larson justifiably upset after last Sunday’s Lap 154 incident with Denny Hamlin at Pocono? (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)

Was Kyle Larson correct to be upset with his late race tangle with Denny Hamlin last Sunday at Pocono? And should he race Hamlin differently despite his friendship with him away from the track?

Torres : Considering the season he’s been having, Larson has every right to be upset with Hamlin.

How many times has Larson been involved in incidents that ruined his race? One too many.

Larson felt he was done wrong with Hamlin (in his eyes) being slammed into at Pocono. Fortunately, the wins have kept him from folks being worried about him possibly missing the playoffs like his Hendrick teammates not named William Byron. But mind you, Larson has had miserable luck and results all season and he just isn’t having it anymore.

On the other hand, Hamlin argues there was no contact and like HAIM’s “Man From the Magazine,” Hamlin doesn’t want to hear “it is what it is” from Larson.

I’d imagine Hamlin is fully aware that he’ll get payback from Larson at some point, but I don’t see it happening at Richmond. Probably during crunch time in the playoffs and especially if either one is in a vulnerable position where they’re trying to avoid being below the cutoff line.

Tiongson : Kyle Larson has every reason to be upset with Denny Hamlin. However, he has also allowed him to have the advantage over him throughout his NASCAR Cup Series career.

While it is admirable to have friends in any walk of life, it is also a detriment when your friend is your competitor. The tough part is that Larson is genuine about his friendship with Hamlin but he should have put his foot down a long time ago.

Hamlin is the kind of racer and person who will never admit their mistakes or shortcomings. With someone like that, it is important to stand your ground always and not take a lot of flack from that individual.

As Dale Jarrett said during the NASCAR XFINITY Series telecast for Saturday’s Henry 180 at Road America, Larson does not necessarily have to wreck Hamlin. Rather, he needs him differently and perhaps not be afraid to trade paint with someone who has roughed him up.

Sisoler : Honestly, I don’t really see what Hamlin did wrong there. I completely understand the impetus to go for a checkered flag and run into someone in the process, but given that Larson has had his struggles this season, Larson has every right to be upset because he felt Hamlin’s driving was unwarranted.

As for if he should separate how he races him from his off track stuff, I’m surprised he doesn’t already given that we see close friends race each other every weekend and get into incidents with each other, but not really have any problems. Larson might have to have it out with Hamlin though, and race him a bit harder, to get his message across that he really didn’t appreciate being used up at Pocono.

Sharpe : It surprises me to see Larson not separating the two. Plenty of racers drive and act off the track differently. Denny has proven with Larson on a couple occasions he will drive in an aggressive manner in order to achieve the desired results.

Perhaps he’ll learn to separate racing and personal life from this and use these lessons to rally and improve overall as a person.

Question 2

It may be like Bananarama sang in the 1980s – a cruel summer (race). (Photo: Mitchell Richtmyre | The Podium Finish)

Weekend temperatures are forecasted to be as hot and humid at Richmond Raceway this weekend. How important will it be for the drivers and teams to prepare for the grueling elements with the cars and, generally speaking, just being at the track?

Lambeth : The entire country is experiencing a brutal heat wave and the weather forecast for Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway will be quite a challenge for all drivers, teams and spectators alike. One of the most important things entering this weekend is hydration.

Everyone needs to drink plenty of water to make sure their body can handle the demands of this excessive heat. All the drivers know fitness is an important part of race preparation, but it’s more important than ever on steamy weekends like this.

At the end of 400 laps, I guarantee you the infield care center will be well prepared to attend to anyone who immediately needs an IV post-race.

Shoppe : I’m sure everyone will be as prepared as possible. This is just the name of the game this time of the year and these professional athletes are conditioned well for this heat. Let’s just hope there’s no cool suit failures today!

Bennink : The weather has been brutal everywhere. The drivers have prepared for this by hydrating all week, and as long as the cooling vests do not fail, they should be OK.

That concludes our sweltering two laps around Richmond Raceway! It sure makes us wish it was April. Next, let us consider last Sunday’s HighPoint.com 400, Race No. 21 of 36 of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, with our race and points reports!

A couple of TPFers got the win thanks to Denny Hamlin.

In the meantime, the points race has become a deadlock between Kobe Lambeth and Matt Sisoler.