The Cup Series is back after three weeks off for the Olympics. The race Sunday night will be the second race at Richmond Raceway this year and the sixth race on a short, flat track in 2024. This race should be easy to predict, right? The teams that ran well at Richmond and the other short, flat tracks should be fast this weekend, but I expect some of the other teams will find some speed with three weeks to work on their cars. NASCAR also threw a curveball into this race by providing each team with two sets of softer tires to gain track position. It should be fun to see how it all plays out at Richmond. The Cook Out 400 can be seen Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.
So, where did we leave off with the One & Done picks? I used William Byron as my One & Done pick in the games where you can use a driver once throughout the season. Byron had a bad race and finished 38th. The other two picks were pretty good. I used Bubba Wallace in the games that reset at the end of the regular season and he finished ninth. Tyler Reddick was the pick in the games where you can use a driver more than once and he finished second. We needed some time off to reassess the picks. I am now locked and loaded for the final 14 races of the season.
Here are the picks for the Cook Out 400 ….
ONE & DONE CONTESTS
This pick is for games where you can only use a driver once throughout the season.
MARTIN TRUEX JR. will be my pick in games where you can use a driver once throughout the season. The Cup Series has completed 22 races and Truex has yet to find Victory Lane. That could change Sunday night. Truex lead 228 laps, scored 17 Stage Points and finished fourth at Richmond in March. His average finishing position at Richmond since joining Joe Gibbs Racing is 4.3. We did not learn much from practice, but I feel confident about picking Truex since his car had speed in practice and qualifying.
ONE & DONE (REGULAR SEASON/PLAYOFF GAMES)
There are some One & Done Contests that reset when the playoffs start. That means you only need to use 26 Drivers for the regular season and then 10 drivers for the playoffs. We can be more aggressive in these types of One & Done Contests.
CHRISTOPHER BELL will be my pick in games that reset at the end of the regular season. Bell has been the best driver this year on the short, flat tracks. He won the races at Phoenix and New Hampshire and he finished sixth in the race at Richmond in March. Bell posted the third-fastest speed in practice and qualified fifth for the race. I would not be surprised to see Bell add another win to his 2024 resume Sunday night.
ONE & DONE (USE A DRIVER MORE THAN ONCE)
CHRIS BUESCHER will be my pick in games where you can use a driver more than once during the 2024 season. Buescher currently sits 15th in the Playoff Standings. He really needs a win to take the pressure off in these final four races. Buescher won this race last year and he looks fast again this weekend. Buescher posted the seventh-fastest speed in practice and qualified seventh for the race. I will take my chances with the No. 17 car Sunday night.
Good luck Sunday!
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