What to Expect from the Richmond Raceway Entry List: NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR has finally dropped the entry list for Richmond Raceway, and honestly, it’s about as predictable as watching your favorite driver blow a tire with five laps to go. But hey, at least we know who’s going to disappoint us this Saturday night under the lights.

The NASCAR Cup Series is heading back to Richmond for what promises to be another exercise in frustration for about 34 of the 38 drivers entered. Because let’s face it, Richmond isn’t just any track. It’s the place where playoff dreams get crushed faster than a beer can at a tailgate party.

Richmond: The Make-or-Break Track for Playoff Hopefuls

With only two races left before the playoffs, Richmond has become the automotive equivalent of a final exam you forgot to study for. Chris Buescher sits pretty with a 34-point cushion above the elimination line, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned in NASCAR, it’s that leads disappear faster than free food at a race track.

The man himself, Buescher, has actually won at Richmond before, which gives him about as much confidence as you’d expect from someone who’s been racing in NASCAR long enough to know that past performance means absolutely nothing when it comes to short track racing. But hey, at least he’s got that going for him, unlike some other drivers we could mention.

Meanwhile, Kyle Busch, who won at Richmond six times because apparently the racing gods have a sense of humor, finds himself 102 points behind Buescher. Six wins at this track, and he’s still scrambling for a playoff spot. If that doesn’t sum up the 2025 season perfectly, I don’t know what does.

The Defending Champion’s Desperation

Speaking of desperation, let’s talk about Austin Dillon. The defending Richmond winner is in what NASCAR politely calls a “must-win scenario,” which is corporate speak for “he’s basically screwed unless he pulls off a miracle.” Dillon’s driving the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with Bass Pro/Winchester sponsorship, and honestly, he’s going to need all the luck those fishing and hunting gods can provide.

There’s something beautifully tragic about being the defending winner at a track and still needing a miracle to make the playoffs. It’s like being the valedictorian of summer school—technically an achievement, but not exactly what you were aiming for when the year started.

Richmond’s Fresh Faces and Familiar Disappointments

The entry list brings us a few interesting storylines beyond the usual cast of characters desperately trying to avoid elimination. Jesse Love, who’s been tearing it up in the Xfinity Series, gets a shot in the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. At 20 years old, Love probably doesn’t know enough to be properly terrified of Richmond yet. Give him time.

Corey Heim is also making the jump up, piloting the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota. Because nothing says “let’s see what happens” quite like throwing Truck Series drivers into Cup cars at one of the trickiest short tracks on the schedule. It’s like asking someone who’s really good at riding a bicycle to try their hand at a motorcycle while blindfolded.

NASCAR Cup Series:

Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway (Entry List)

• 1. Ross Chastain, No.1 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 2. Austin Cindric, No. 2 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 3. Austin Dillon, No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 4. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 5. Kyle Larson, No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 6. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 7. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 8. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 9. Chase Elliott, No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
• 10. Ty Dillon, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 11. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 12. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 13. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 14. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 15. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 16. Christopher Bell, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 17. Josh Berry, No. 21 (Wood Brothers Racing, Ford)
• 18. Joey Logano, No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 19. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 (23Xl Racing, Toyota)
• 20. William Byron, No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 21. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 22. Riley Herbst, No. 35 (23Xl Racing, Toyota)
• 23. Zane Smith, No. 38 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 24. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
• 25. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 26. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 27. J.J. Yeley (i), No. 44 (NY Racing Team)
• 28. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (23Xl Racing, Toyota)
• 29. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. No. 47 (HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 30. Alex Bowman, No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 31. Cody Ware, No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
• 32. Ty Gibbs, No. 45 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 33. Ryan Preece, No. 60 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 34. Josh Bilick, No. 66 (Garage 66, Ford)
• 35. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 36. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 37. Katherine Legge, No. 78 (Live Fast Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 38. Connor Zilisch (i), No. 87 (Trackhouse Racing)
• 39. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing)
• 40. Daniel Suárez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)

The Usual Suspects and Their Richmond Records

Richmond has always been Kyle Busch’s playground, and watching him struggle to make the playoffs while still being the winningest active driver at the track is like watching a master chef burn toast. It shouldn’t happen, but here we are, living in 2025, where nothing makes sense anymore.

Denny Hamlin, who calls Chesterfield, Virginia, home, will be looking to use some home-field advantage. Though let’s be honest, “home field advantage” in NASCAR usually means you know exactly which turn is going to ruin your day before it actually happens.

The Short Track Reality Check

Richmond Raceway isn’t just another race on the schedule. It’s a 0.75-mile reality check wrapped in concrete and covered in rubber. This is where patience goes to die and tempers run hotter than the track surface in July. The fact that they’re running it under the lights just adds to the drama, because nothing brings out the stupid in NASCAR quite like racing in the dark.

The track has been serving up humble pie to NASCAR drivers since 1988, and this weekend’s menu looks particularly bitter for anyone not named Kyle Busch or Chris Buescher. Though in typical NASCAR fashion, those two will probably find new and creative ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

What This All Means for the Playoff Picture

With 38 drivers entered and only 16 playoff spots available, the math is simple: 22 drivers are going home disappointed. Richmond has a way of sorting out the contenders from the pretenders, usually by putting the pretenders on the wall.

The playoff elimination line might as well be painted on the Richmond asphalt, because that’s where dreams get crushed every single year. Some drivers will rise to the occasion, others will fold like a cheap lawn chair, and a few will find new and innovative ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Final Thoughts

Saturday night’s race at Richmond promises to deliver everything we’ve come to expect from short track racing: close quarters combat, frayed nerves, and at least three drivers who will spend Sunday morning wondering what the hell just happened. Whether you’re pulling for the defending champion, desperately trying to defend his playoff chances, the six-time winner trying to remember how to win, or one of the 36 other drivers hoping lightning strikes twice, Richmond will deliver drama in spades.