2024 Cook Out 400 (Richmond)

2024 Cook Out 400

Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Race 23 of 36 in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series
Date	August 11, 2024 (2024-08-11)
Location	Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia
Course	Permanent racing facility 0.75 mi (1.207 km)
Distance	408 laps, 306 mi (489.6 km)
Scheduled Distance	400 laps, 300 mi (480 km)
Average speed	100.155 miles per hour (161.184 km/h)
Pole position
Driver	Denny Hamlin	Joe Gibbs Racing
Time	22.850
Most laps led
Driver	Denny Hamlin	Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps	125
Winner
No. 3	Austin Dillon	Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network	USA
Announcers	Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte
Nielsen Ratings	1.2 (2.22 million)
Radio in the United States
Radio	MRN
Booth Announcers	Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle, and Todd Gordon
Turn Announcers	Mike Bagley (Backstretch)

The 2024 Cook Out 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on August 11, 2024, at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Contested over 408 laps -- extended from 400 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 0.75-mile (1.21 km) asphalt short track, it was the 23rd race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. Austin Dillon won the race, breaking a 68-race winless drought, dating back to the 2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400. Denny Hamlin finished 2nd, and Tyler Reddick finished 3rd. Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain rounded out the top five, and Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Carson Hocevar, Chase Elliott, and Daniel Suárez rounded out the top ten.

Richmond Raceway (RR) is a 0.75 miles (1.21 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in unincorporated Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.^[9] Known as "America's premier short track", it has formerly hosted events such as the International Race of Champions, Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, and the USAC sprint car series. Due to Richmond Raceway's unique "D" shape which allows drivers to reach high speeds, Richmond has long been known as a short track that races like a superspeedway. With its multiple racing grooves, and proclivity for contact Richmond is a favorite among NASCAR drivers and fans.^[10]

The race was the first after a two-week break due to NBC Sports' coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

On July 16, NASCAR announced the rules used in the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway will be in effect. Teams will have six sets of yellow-lettered primary tires (it will generally require six sets of tires during the race, excluding safety car sessions, where teams often change tires on pit stops), and two sets of red-lettered option tires during the race, and teams will use one set of each in practice sessions. The eight sets of tires is the same as was the case in the March race, although two sets each will be of the softer option tires for this race. Teams will qualify on the primary tire, and must use both the primary and option tire during the race. Teams may not mix red and yellow letter tires on the car at the same time during the race.^[11]

• (R) denotes rookie driver.
• (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

Austin Dillon was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 22.698 seconds and a speed of 118.953 mph (191.436 km/h).^[12]

Denny Hamlin scored the pole for the race with a time of 22.850 and a speed of 118.162 mph (190.163 km/h).^[13]

Stage One Laps: 70

Stage Two Laps: 160

Stage Three Laps: 170

Having taken the lead from Denny Hamlin with 28 laps to go, Austin Dillon, who entered the race 32nd in points, drove out to a two and a half second lead over the next twenty five laps. However, a crash right in front of him involving Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Preece sent the race into overtime. When the race resumed, Joey Logano, using the high line to his advantage, took the lead on the restart and led coming to turn three on the final lap. Dillon, realizing what was at stake, and despite being four car lengths back of Logano entering the corner, sent it in, and got into the back of Logano, sending him into a spin. Hamlin went through on the bottom but Dillon also got into the 11 car, sending Hamlin into the outside wall as Dillon took the win under caution. Logano and Hamlin later criticized Dillon for his actions.^[14][15]

Three days later, NASCAR stripped Dillon of his playoff eligibility, whilst allowing the win to stand, whilst also fining Logano $50,000 for showing his frustrating with the RCR crew by spinning his tires in front of Dillon’s pit stall. In addition, Dillon’s spotter Brandon Benesch was suspended for three races after audio surfaced of him telling Dillon to “wreck him” (Hamlin) on the team radio.^[16] RCR later announced they would appeal the penalties.^[17] An independent appeals panel upheld all but the Benesch penalty on August 21. Benesch, who had served the first of his three race suspension at Michigan, had his penalty reduced to time served (one race).^[18]

• Lead changes: 26 among 9 different drivers
• Cautions/Laps: 5 for 23
• Red flags: 0
• Time of race: 3 hours, 3 minutes, and 19 seconds
• Average speed: 100.155 miles per hour (161.184 km/h)

USA covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. Kim Coon, Marty Snider, and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties from pit lane.

The Motor Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Todd Gordon called the race from the broadcast booth for MRN when the field races through the front straightaway. Mike Bagley called the race from a platform when the field races down the backstraightaway. Jason Toy, Chris Wilner, and Winston Kelley called the action for MRN from pit lane.