Richmond Raceway will have a packed house for Saturday night’s NASCAR Cup Series race.
Just hours before the green flag for the Cook Out 400, Richmond Raceway announced that the event has officially sold out for the second consecutive year, continuing what has become a remarkable run of packed grandstands across the NASCAR schedule in 2026.
Richmond Raceway President Lori Collier Waran announced the sellout during Saturday’s pre-race drivers meeting.
“This is an incredible moment for Richmond Raceway and a tremendous statement to the passion of NASCAR fans,” Waran said. “To sell out the Cook Out 400 for the second year in a row shows just how special Saturday night NASCAR racing is for our fans at Richmond Raceway. They have once again shown up and shown out, and we couldn’t be more grateful to welcome them for another unforgettable night under the lights.”
Richmond isn’t an isolated success story, either.
Saturday night’s race marks the 11th sold-out NASCAR Cup Series event of the 2026 season.
Richmond Joins NASCAR’s Growing List of 2026 Sellouts
NASCAR has put together an impressive run at the ticket window this season, with sellouts spanning superspeedways, intermediate tracks, short tracks and its new street-racing event.
The 2026 Daytona 500 kicked things off with the event’s 11th consecutive sellout. Texas Motor Speedway sold out for a second straight year, while the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway reached capacity for the fifth consecutive year.
Nashville Superspeedway recorded its fourth consecutive sellout, while Michigan International Speedway delivered perhaps one of the most noteworthy milestones by selling out its Cup race for the first time since 2005.
Pocono Raceway extended its own streak to four consecutive years. NASCAR’s inaugural San Diego weekend also produced a two-day sellout.
Chicago, North Wilkesboro and Iowa have all hosted sold-out Cup events in 2026 as well.
Now Richmond has joined the list for a second consecutive season.
The full list of Cup Series sellouts NASCAR highlighted Saturday includes:
- Daytona International Speedway: 11th consecutive Daytona 500 sellout
- Texas Motor Speedway: second consecutive year
- Charlotte Motor Speedway: fifth consecutive Coca-Cola 600 sellout
- Nashville Superspeedway: fourth consecutive year
- Michigan International Speedway: first sellout since 2005
- Pocono Raceway: fourth consecutive year
- San Diego: inaugural weekend two-day sellout
- Chicagoland Speedway
- North Wilkesboro Speedway: fourth consecutive year
- Iowa Speedway: third consecutive year
- Richmond Raceway: second consecutive year
NASCAR Fans Pack Richmond for Saturday Night Race
The timing gives NASCAR another positive attendance story as the Cup Series season moves toward the Chase.
Richmond’s Saturday-night event has traditionally been one of the sport’s distinctive short-track dates, and fans have once again filled the available seats for a race that could have significant championship implications.
Ryan Blaney will lead the field to green after capturing the pole in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford. Chase Briscoe starts alongside him in second, followed by Josh Berry, Ty Gibbs and William Byron.
The Cook Out 400 is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET Saturday on USA Network.
For anyone hoping to buy a ticket at the last minute, however, Richmond has officially hung out the sold-out sign.