The NASCAR Cup Series will continue its 2025 season with the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, this Saturday, August 16, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, airing live on USA Network. Fans can tune in early for pre-race coverage, including Countdown to Green, which begins at 7 p.m. ET on the same channel. This race is the penultimate event before the <a href="https://www.big14news.com/nascar/”>NASCAR Playoffs commence on August 31, when the top 16 drivers from the regular season will advance.
Broadcast Team and Coverage Details for Richmond Race
NBC Sports will deliver expert commentary for the Cook Out 400 through a seasoned broadcast team. Leigh Diffey will handle play-by-play duties, joined by analysts Jeff Burton, a 21-time Cup Series winner known as “The Mayor” of NASCAR, and Steve Letarte, a Daytona 500-winning crew chief. Pit reporters Marty Snider, Dave Burns, and Kim Coon will provide live updates from the track. Marty Snider will also host the pre- and post-race discussions alongside Burton and Letarte, offering insights based on their extensive NASCAR experience.
Richmond Raceway has a history familiar to NBC Sports NASCAR analysts, with Burton and Jarrett securing three consecutive wins here between 1997 and 1999. Austin Dillon enters the race as the defending Richmond champion, adding to the stakes of this late regular-season contest.
Recent Race Results and Championship Implications
Last weekend’s race at Watkins Glen saw Shane van Gisbergen claim his fourth road course victory of the season, despite finishing 25th in the current points standings, a deficit of 371 points. Christopher Bell secured second place, while Chris Buescher finished third. Bell currently sits 85 points behind the Playoff cutoff, with Buescher 194 points back. As the field narrows toward the season’s final stretch, every performance at Richmond will be critical for drivers aiming to secure one of the remaining Playoff spots.
Practice and qualifying sessions for Richmond begin this Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on truTV, offering fans an early look at team preparations before the main event.
How to Watch the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400
Viewers can watch the Cook Out 400 live on USA Network starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, with pre-race content beginning at 7 p.m. Streaming options include NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, giving fans multiple ways to follow the action from Richmond Raceway.
Pro Motocross Season Continues with Unadilla Race on Peacock
In addition to NASCAR, NBC Sports will broadcast the 2025 Pro Motocross season‘s continuation this Saturday, August 16, from Unadilla MX in New Berlin, New York. The event starts with live qualifying coverage at 10 a.m. ET, followed by the main races at 1 p.m. ET, exclusively on Peacock. This weekend’s races will be pivotal as Jett Lawrence leads the 450 Class with 412 points, closely followed by his brother and recent first-time winner Hunter Lawrence. Haiden Deegan leads the 250 Class with a 51-point advantage over Jo Shimoda.
Expert Commentary and Coverage for Pro Motocross Unadilla Event
NBC Sports’ Pro Motocross coverage features play-by-play announcer Jason Weigandt alongside seven-time AMA champion and SuperMotocross analyst James Stewart. Reporters Jason Thomas and Katie Osborne will provide trackside updates. All live races and qualifying rounds, along with on-demand replays, will be available on Peacock throughout the season. Fans can also listen via SiriusXM NBC Sports Audio on Channel 85.
Additional Insights From the Motocross Community
Following Hunter Lawrence’s recent 450 Class victory, AMA legends Ricky Carmichael, a 15-time champion, and nine-time champion Ryan Villopoto engaged with Lawrence in the latest Title 24 podcast episode. They discussed his milestone win, upcoming competitions, and his passion for repairing cars, offering fans a deeper view of his journey and outlook for the remainder of the season.
Upcoming NASCAR and Motocross Broadcasts and Season Progression
NBC Sports remains the official broadcast partner for the NASCAR Championship and Playoffs, covering the final 14 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2025 on NBC, USA Network, and Peacock. This culminates in the Championship event at Phoenix Raceway on November 2. The Richmond event is a critical checkpoint for drivers on the edge of qualifying for the playoffs, setting the tone for the season’s final phase. Meanwhile, the Pro Motocross championship battles at Unadilla are intensifying as the season approaches its decisive moments.
