The lights at Richmond Raceway shone bright on a night that flipped the script for several NASCAR Cup Series contenders. Chris Buescher, who had been building momentum with four top-5 finishes and 12 top-10s through the 2025 season, including a strong third at Watkins Glen just a week prior, saw his momentum halted in the Cook Out 400. Finishing 30th after struggling with an ill-handling car all race long, Buescher’s points cushion evaporated, leaving him in a precarious spot heading into the regular-season finale.

What made the evening even more chaotic was Austin Dillon’s commanding victory, a win that no one anticipated, given his up-and-down season. Dillon led a career-high 107 laps and crossed the line 2.471 seconds ahead of Alex Bowman, marking back-to-back triumphs at the short tra

See Full Page