Who’s ready for racing under the lights in Virginia? The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the 0.75-mile bullring at Richmond Raceway for the 2025 Cook Out 400, and the green flag drops Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA.
As always, if you’re on the hunt for sharp NASCAR race props or free betting picks, you’re parked in the right pit stall!
Richmond is a fan-favorite for good reason: it blends the tempo of a short track with the strategy complexity of a mile-long oval. Tire wear is a factor, pit road mistakes can crush your night, and with the playoff picture shaping up, every lap matters. Expect elbows out on restarts, slick exits off Turn 4, and a strategy game that could flip the leaderboard in the last 50 laps.
With veterans who know every inch of the track and hungry young drivers chasing playoff points, we’re staring down a prop market with some serious value — even if we’re making what the enlightened ones would call “no-brainer” plays.
NASCAR prop picks for Cook Out 400
- Top 3: Denny Hamlin (+130)
- Top 5: Christopher Bell (-120)
- Top 5: Joey Logano (+180)
NASCAR Cook Out 400 props and best bets
Top 3: Denny Hamlin (+130 at bet365)
Richmond’s unofficial mayor returns home with a win-or-bust mentality. Denny Hamlin’s track record here? Rock solid. Getting plus money on this prop feels like a crime (or a good ol’ honey trap designed for suckers like me). Either way, here’s why I’ll back Hamlin:
- 🏁 Dominance at Home — Four career wins at Richmond, 12 Top 5 finishes since 2014. Hamlin has averaged a 6.8 finish in his last 10 races at the track.
- 📈 Short Track King — Leads the series in average driver rating at short tracks over the last three seasons.
- 🛠️ Pit Crew Edge — One of the fastest four-tire pit stop units in the Cup garage, which matters big when fresh rubber rules the night.
If track position late is the name of the game, Hamlin’s experience and familiarity with this place give him a real shot at finishing in the Top 3 — and maybe cashing in the win, too.
I thought the bookies might have priced our boy Denny closer to -120 or shorter, so getting 50 cents in value is kind of insane. Hence, why I say this could be a honey trap.
Top 5: Christopher Bell (-120 at bet365)
Bell has quietly become one of NASCAR’s sharpest short-run assassins, and Richmond lines up with his skill set perfectly.
- 🔥 Hot Form — Already bagged three wins this season and has been a constant fixture near the front on shorter ovals.
- 📊 Consistent at RIR — Three Top 6 finishes in his last four starts here, despite two races derailed by late cautions.
- 🎯 Qualifying Weapon — Has qualified Top 5 in three of his last five Richmond starts, often translating to stage points and track position.
As long as the No. 20 team avoids untimely yellow flags, Bell’s steady pace and aggression on restarts should land him solidly inside the Top 5.
I had this priced closer to -175, so I'll take -120 while the books are giving it to me.
Top 5: Joey Logano (+180 at bet365)
Logano isn’t lighting up the 2025 win column yet, but counting him out at Richmond is a rookie mistake.
📜 The Resume — 15 Top 10 in 28 career Richmond starts.
⚙️ Race Management — Handles long green-flag sequences like a pro; doesn’t burn off tires early.
🏆 Momentum Builder — With playoff seeding on the horizon, expect championship-caliber focus from the Penske camp.
Even if he starts mid-pack, Logano has the pit crew and race craft to work his way forward — especially if the race sees only moderate caution counts. +180 doesn't seem all that bad.
💡 Why these picks stick
Richmond may not deliver the chaos of a superspeedway, but it’s a chess match where every pit call, every tire change, and every restart counts. The drivers above tick all the boxes: strong history at the track, top-tier pit crews, and the ability to adjust to the track’s changing grip levels.
Late cautions? Pit strategy wild cards? That’s just part of the Richmond experience. No matter how it shakes out, expect these plays to stay live until the final green-white-checkered — and maybe, just maybe, into the cashier’s window.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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