Final Push for Playoffs Begins at Richmond

August 16, 2025

August 16, 2025 | Edition #216

👋 Dear Motorheads,

The penultimate regular-season race is on the horizon, and the stakes are higher than ever at Richmond Raceway. Despite playoffs spots being on the line, the usual suspects are favorites to challenge for victory at the Cook Out 400. We’re also taking a trip down memory lane, recalling Austin Dillon’s controversial finish last year.

While the focus remains on the Cup Series, the Truck Series garage has been busy delivering major updates. From a new twist in the playoff race to an ownership shakeup at a prominent Chevy team, there’s no shortage of storylines.

 🎯 Sunday’s Cup Race Odds

Top Contenders to Win the Cook Out 400

We’re back at Richmond Raceway, and if there’s one thing the short track guarantees, it’s drama. With just two races remaining before the regular season ends, time is running out for drivers to clinch those elusive playoffs spots, which means there will be plenty of action, drama, and controversy.

But the usual suspects will be entering the race as favorites, with a home-track hero having the odds on his side. Denny Hamlin, sitting at +400, is the undisputed favorite at Richmond Raceway. In his last eight starts, going back to Spring 2021 when the track still hosted two Cup races a year, he has scored two wins and four runner-up finishes. 

Who can forget his last year’s win? Although there was an element of controversy over his late race restart, he got the No. 11 car in the victory lane. Martin Truex Jr. lost his cool and banged doors against Kyle Larson and even made contact with Hamlin on the cool-down lap. Here, take a look at the blockbuster final laps from last year’s race.

Hamlin’s teammate, Christopher Bell, comes in at +425. The No. 20 driver started the season strongly with three consecutive wins, and his runner-up finish at Watkins Glen indicates he’s finding his stride once again. Three top 5s in his last five starts at Richmond, this weekend's race could see him seal the deal.

Leading the Chevy camp is Kyle Larson at +650. ‘Yung Money’ has won twice here, including Hendrick Motorsports’ last win at the venue in 2023, but he’ll have his work cut out this weekend. Starting in 30th place, the No. 5 driver may struggle to make passes at the short track, and his recent Cup Series form has been pretty shaky. But it’s worth noting that Larson won the spring race at Bristol, and he has five top 5s in his last 10 starts at Richmond.

Next on the list is HMS driver William Byron, who’s at +800. Surprisingly, Richmond isn’t his strong track, as he’s only managed a single top 5 run in the Next-Gen era. But with consistent results this season and the regular-season title on the line, expect the No. 24 Chevy running up front.

Two wins, nine top 5s, thirteen top 10s, and a 42-point lead over second-place Chase Elliott. A solid race on Saturday could potentially help him clinch the regular-season championship and get him those bonus points heading into the postseason.

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🗝️ From the Vault

Hunt for Playoffs: Remembering Austin Dillon’s Infamous Win

Time flies. One year ago, Austin Dillon pulled off one of the most controversial wins NASCAR has seen in recent history. In what can only be described as a bold and audacious move to clinch a playoffs spot.

On the final lap, Dillon drove straight into the bumper of Joey Logano and took the lead. The RCR driver followed up with a sideswipe move on Denny Hamlin, who also ended up against the wall. This final lap at Richmond is the perfect example of the chaos the hunt for playoffs can bring to NASCAR.

Ideally, Dillon should’ve advanced to the top 16, but NASCAR set a precedent and nullified the RCR driver’s eligibility to compete for the title. Joey Logano was fuming after the race, but he landed himself in deep water with his actions. The Penske driver retaliated in front of the #3 pit box, risking the safety of Dillon's friends and family members.

It was a dramatic affair. Austin Dillon lost his playoff spot, and Logano was fined $50,000. But despite the drama and chaos, Dillon is hopeful of recreating last year’s run and completing the job this time around.

“We got the trophy, just not the NASCAR playoffs spot. That part was a struggle, and I hate it for RCR, but this year, going back, I definitely want to go out there and try to win again, but this time lock ourselves into the playoffs,” Dillon said.

It’s a bit of déjà vu moment for the racer, who finds himself in must-win territory once again. And if history is anything to go by, he thrives in such high-pressure situations. Dillon’s win at Daytona in 2022 came under similar circumstances, and it was the last time he made it to the playoffs.

Last year, he led laps at Richmond, passed Hamlin and Logano cleanly, and built a two-second lead before a late caution turned everything around. “We will go there and give it our best shot. We feel like it could be a good opportunity to put us into the NASCAR Playoffs with just two races remaining until the cutoff,” Dillon added.

The expectation is clear. Dillon has to win at Richmond or Daytona. He has a total of five career wins, three of which have come on the next two tracks. Nothing but a win can help him overcome a 200-point deficit, so expect some fireworks heading into this weekend.

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📈 Trending News

Stewart Friesen Opens Up a Playoffs Spot

From competing for the title to opting out of the playoffs, Stewart Friesen’s season has taken a dramatic turn. It was a casual DIRTcar Series race in Quebec, but a horrifying crash resulted in neck and spine injuries. Now, in such circumstances, Friesen could’ve applied for a waiver, like Alex Bowman did back in 2023, but he didn’t.

This means that despite locking his spot in the postseason after the win at Michigan, he won’t be challenging for the title. As things stand, Friesen is still recovering from fractures to his pelvis and leg, which will keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Friesen later explained that the decision became clear once he learned the timeline for his recovery.

That’s some sportsmanship right there. The racer opted not to occupy a playoffs spot he couldn’t realistically race for, clearing the way for another driver to compete for the championship. As Corey Heim grabbed the checkered flag in Richmond, we had our final 10 drivers who are headed for the playoffs. Here, check out the drivers who will now compete for the 2025 Truck Series title.

As for Halmar Friesen Racing, the team will focus on its objectives. Owner Chris Larsen called Stewart Friesen the “heart and soul of the team,” and said they’ll keep chasing an owner’s title with Kaden Honeycutt in the No. 52. Honeycutt was recently released by Niece Motorsports after signing a deal with another team for 2026 now finds himself in the hunt for the championship.

Honeycutt didn’t have a bitter fallout despite being let go. And now the entire team is relying on his efforts to have a deep playoff run and be in the hunt for championship glory.

 🔎 The In-Depth View

Niece Motorsports Welcomes New Majority Owners

It’s the start of a new era for Niece Motorsports. The Truck Series team announced at Richmond Raceway that longtime sponsors Josh Morris (CEO of DQS Solutions & Staffing) and Greg Fowler (CEO of J.F. Electric) have taken over as majority owners. The move shifts Al Niece, who founded the organization in 2016, into a more supporting role, but the team will retain its identity by keeping the same name.

The change feels more like a handover rather than a transition into something new. Both Morris and Fowler have been heavily involved with Niece Motorsports’ program for years, so stepping up from sponsor to owner is just an extension of their commitment.

Their takeover is about growth and belief in the people already in place, with Morris even saying they’re building a team that “delivers both on the track and in the boardroom,” while Fowler said, “Racing is in our DNA.” 

The leadership inside the organization is seeing a shift as well. Cody Efaw, who has been managing the day-to-day operations as general manager, has now been promoted to president and CEO.

Cody’s wife, Amanda Efaw, will be taking over the marketing operations as CMO, and Phil Gould, the team’s longest-serving and winningest crew chief, will be stepping over as Director of Competition and overseeing performance across all four trucks. For Al Niece, this is a chance to take a step back and reflect on why he started racing in the first place.

When it comes to on-track, the lineup looks stronger than ever. As things stand, Niece Motorsports is fielding four full-time entries, the Nos. 41, 42, 44, and 45, and is in the hunt for the owner’s championship this season. 

From the outside looking in, it seems like Niece Motorsports has just tweaked its ownership model. But there might be something bigger at play behind the scenes.

  1. Kyle Larson Unbothered on Rumors About 2026 Schedule - Full Story

  2. Chase Elliott Speaks Candidly on Falling Behind Teammate in Rivalry - Full Story

  3. Byron & Chastain Shrug off Dangers of Celebrating Wins Despite Connor Zilisch Fiasco - Full Story

  4. Denny Hamlin Appreciates NASCAR for Setting Richmond Precedent - Full Story

  5. Brad Keselowski Silences Carson Hocevar Controversy in One Word - Full Story

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