Following a crash during practice, Team Penske‘s Joey Logano did not record a qualifying lap on Friday at Richmond Raceway, resulting in his start at the back of the 38-car field for Saturday’s Cook Out 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. Additionally, Todd Gilliland of Front Row Motorsports has also been assigned a rear-of-the-field penalty due to throttle body repairs on his No. 34 Ford, placing him alongside Logano at the race’s start.
Starting Position Changes Impact Race Lineup at Richmond
Joey Logano was unable to qualify after crashing his No. 22 Ford in practice, which meant he was set to begin the 400-lap event at Richmond Raceway from the last position. Todd Gilliland initially qualified 31st but had to move back to the tail end of the inside lane, affecting the starting grid. The penalty for Gilliland’s throttle body repair causes drivers behind him to shift accordingly, maintaining the position of the 32nd-place qualifier Corey Heim but moving Jesse Love up to start 31st.
Revised Starting Grid for the Cook Out 400 NASCAR Competition
The updated lineup for the Richmond Raceway event places Ryan Preece in pole position for RFK Racing, followed closely by Tyler Reddick representing 23XI Racing and A.J. Allmendinger of Kaulig Racing taking third. Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott round out the top five starters, with several notable drivers such as Brad Keselowski, Bubba Wallace, and Christopher Bell positioned near the front as well.
Todd Gilliland’s penalty repositions him to 31st place, with Corey Heim and Jesse Love adjusted behind him in 32nd and 35th positions respectively. Defending champions and seasoned competitors like Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, and Kyle Larson are set in mid-pack starting spots, while Team Penske’s Joey Logano will start 38th after repairs.
Here is the updated order for the 38 entrants in the Cook Out 400:
1st – Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
2nd – Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
3rd – A.J. Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
4th – Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
5th – Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6th – Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford
7th – Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
8th – Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
9th – Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10th – Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
11th – Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
12th – Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford
13th – Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
14th – William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
15th – Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
16th – Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
17th – Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
18th – Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
19th – Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20th – Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
21st – Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
22nd – Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
23rd – Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
24th – Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
25th – Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
26th – Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
27th – <a href="https://www.big14news.com/tag/shane-van-gisbergen/”>Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
28th – Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
29th – Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
30th – Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
31st – Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
32nd – Corey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota
33rd – Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
34th – John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
35th – Jesse Love, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
36th – Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
37th – Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
38th – Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Impact of Penalties on Race Prospects and Broadcast Information
Starting at the rear poses a significant challenge for both Logano and Gilliland as they aim to advance through a competitive field on a short track known for close racing and frequent lead changes. Their ability to navigate traffic and avoid early incidents will be crucial over the 400 laps at Richmond. The penalties underline the importance of vehicle readiness and clean practice runs ahead of this vital race in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season.
Fans can watch the live broadcast of the Cook Out 400 on USA Network, with streaming options such as FuboTV available for those seeking to follow the race digitally and not miss any action from the Richmond Raceway.
