Clean Harbors 250 (Craftsman Truck Series)
When: Friday, August 10, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Where: Richmond Raceway; Richmond, VA
Last Year’s Winner: Carson Hocevar

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is set for a pivotal showdown this Saturday night at Richmond Raceway with the Clean Harbors 250. This final race of the regular season will determine the 10-driver Playoff field and crown the Regular Season Champion, adding extra drama to an already intense competition.

Five drivers have already secured their Playoff spots through victories: Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, Nicholas Sanchez, Ty Majeski, and Rajah Caruth. The remaining five Playoff positions are currently held by drivers based on points: Tyler Ankrum, Grant Enfinger, Taylor Gray, defending champion Ben Rhodes, and Tanner Gray.

The battle for the final Playoff spots remains tight, with Daniel Dye and Stewart Friesen sitting just below the cutoff line. These drivers are within striking distance and could potentially clinch a Playoff berth with a strong performance at Richmond. Three-time series champion Matt Crafton is also in the mix, though facing a more significant point deficit.

In the race for the Regular Season Championship, Christian Eckes of McAnally-Hilgemann Racing holds a 50-point lead over Corey Heim. Eckes can clinch the title by scoring just 11 points on Saturday, which would earn him a crucial 15-point bonus for the Playoffs.

Richmond Raceway has been a challenging track for many drivers, but Grant Enfinger stands out with a previous win and the best average finish among active full-time drivers. The defending race winner, Carson Hocevar, has since moved up to the Cup Series, leaving the field wide open for a new victor.

Among the drivers fighting for Playoff positions, Ben Rhodes has shown the most consistent performance at Richmond. However, with the high stakes of this race, past performance may take a back seat to the urgency of securing a Playoff spot.

Adding to the excitement, young ARCA Menards Series standouts Connor Zilisch and William Sawalich will be joining the grid, bringing fresh talent and unpredictability to the race.

With Playoff berths, the Regular Season Championship, and bragging rights all on the line, the Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway promises to be a thrilling and consequential event for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Fans can catch all the action Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
My Pick To Win: Grant Enfinger

Cookout 400 (Cup Series)
When: Sunday, August 11, 6 p.m. ET (USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Where: Richmond Raceway; Richmond, VA
Last Year’s Winner: Chris Buescher

After a two-week summer break, the NASCAR Cup Series roars back into action this Sunday night with the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. The 0.75-mile short track in Virginia will host the last short track race of the regular season, with significant playoff implications on the line.

With only four races left to set the 16-driver playoff field, the pressure is mounting for those still seeking a spot in the championship hunt. Seven drivers have already secured their positions through multiple wins, including Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Christopher Bell.

Five more drivers – Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, and Austin Cindric – have each won a race but need to accumulate more points to officially clinch their playoff berths. This leaves five coveted spots up for grabs in the final four races of the regular season.

Former series champion Martin Truex Jr. and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs currently hold solid positions in the standings. Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain occupy the final two spots in the current top 16, with Bubba Wallace and Chase Briscoe close behind and looking to make a late push.

Adding intrigue to the race is NASCAR’s introduction of a new tire strategy. Teams will have access to two different tire compounds – six sets of “prime” tires with harder rubber for durability, and two sets of “option” tires with softer rubber for increased grip and speed but shorter lifespan. This element is expected to bring an additional layer of strategy and excitement to the 400-lap event.

Defending Richmond summer race winner Chris Buescher hopes to repeat his success from last year, which sparked a strong run to close out the regular season. Buescher, currently holding onto a playoff spot, sees Richmond as a potential springboard for his No. 17 RFK Ford team.

“Last year, we had been inching towards that kind of success and finally just fired on all eight when we got to Richmond,” Buescher said. “We executed that day extremely well from race strategy to on-track decisions to restarts, pit road. We finally put it all together, and I think that was a big confidence booster for our team.”

Denny Hamlin, who won at Richmond in March, could tie Kyle Busch for the most wins (six) among active drivers at the track if he takes the checkered flag on Sunday. Joe Gibbs Racing has dominated short track races this season, winning five of the seven contested so far.

The battle for the regular season championship adds another layer of drama, with Hendrick Motorsports teammates Larson and Elliott, along with 23XI Racing’s Reddick, locked in a tight race. The winner will receive a crucial 15-point playoff bonus.

With so much at stake, from playoff berths to championship implications, the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway promises to be a pivotal and exciting race in the NASCAR Cup Series season. Practice and qualifying will take place on Saturday, setting the stage for Sunday night’s main event under the lights.
My Pick To Win: Denny Hamlin

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images