2024 Richmond NASCAR odds, picks, predictions

After a two-week break for the Summer Olympics, NASCAR is back on the track this weekend under the lights in Richmond.

That’s right, the Cup Series will be short-track racing Sunday night at the ¾-mile, D-shaped oval that is Richmond Raceway in the Cook Out 400.

And this one’s a little different.

For the first time in Cup Series history, this weekend’s race at Richmond will feature a two-tire option. Teams will be able to choose between a baseline “Prime” tire that has less grip but lasts longer or a “Option” tire that has more grip and speed but less longevity.

“As we continue the cooperative effort of the industry on short track package adjustments, we felt like Richmond was an excellent opportunity to build upon the results of the Option tire used at the All-Star race,” Goodyear Director of Racing Greg Stucker said. “We expect the Option tire to provide a significant lap time gain over the Prime, but fall-off will be greater, and tire management will be important in taking advantage of it at the right time.”

According to NASCAR, each race team will have six sets of Prime tires, including one set that can carry over from qualifying, and two sets of Option tires. Teams can use either set of tires anytime they want during the race, as long as all four tires match at all times.

The hope of the two-tire compound options is “to place an emphasis on strategy,” according to NASCAR.

And that will be needed Sunday for drivers and teams who have yet to secure a playoff spot with just four regular-season races left.

We’ll find out as FrontPageBets takes a look at drivers to watch in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway (6 p.m.; USA Network).

Denny Hamlin won the season’s first race at Richmond back on Easter Sunday, which was also a night race. And this week, the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota is tied with JGR teammate Christopher Bell at the top of the odds boards.

Can Hamlin go back-to-back at the Action Track? Here are the NASCAR Cook Out 400 odds for Richmond:

Hamlin has five career wins at Richmond, which is his home track as he’s from nearby Chesterfield, Va.

Hamlin is currently fourth in driver points this season and has three victories – all of them coming on tracks one mile or shorter.

In 35 career starts at Richmond, Hamlin also has 23 top-10s and 19 top-5 finishes. His average finish is 8.3.

A win Sunday would make him the 12th driver in Cup history to complete the season sweep at Richmond. It would also tie Hamlin with Kyle Busch for the most victories at the ¾-mile track among active drivers.

The driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy has three wins this season on three different track types – superspeedway (Daytona), road course (Circuit of the Americas) and short track (Martinsville).

And while he’s never won at Richmond, his short-track success in the state bodes well for the young driver.

In 12 career starts at Richmond Raceway, Byron has three top-10s, including one top 5. He finished seventh in the spring race.

The driver of the No. 23 23/XI Racing Toyota is still looking for his first Cup victory this season and sits just outside the top-16 that make the playoffs with four regular-season races to go.

Wallace, however, does have a lot of momentum the last four races, turning in a fifth-place finish at the Brickyard 400 two weeks ago and a top-10 in Nashville.

In three of his last four Richmond starts, Wallace has finished in the top 13.

Since 2009, Toyotas have won 17 of the 30 Richmond Cup races.

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