With the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season moving towards Richmond Raceway, Kevin Harvick has offered his predictions for the 2026 Cook Out 400, scheduled for next weekend. Harvick anticipates a victory for a driver from Joe Gibbs Racing at the Richmond event.
During the “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour” podcast, Harvick, alongside co-hosts Kaitlyn Vincie and Mamba Smith, discussed their forecasts for the Richmond race on Saturday, August 15, identifying the drivers they believe have the best chance of winning.
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Harvick identified Christopher Bell from Joe Gibbs Racing as the frontrunner for the Richmond race, noting Bell’s recent performances with consecutive second-place finishes.
On choosing the 2026 Cook Out 400 winner, Harvick stated [54:23]:
“I’m gonna take Bell [Christopher]”
Kaitlyn Vincie, Harvick’s co-host, selected Denny Hamlin, aiming for his fifth victory of the season on the 0.75-mile track, emphasizing his five prior wins at the event.
“I’m going with the guy who’s won there five times. The Virginia native Denny Hamlin. Don’t be mad at me” Vincie said.
Meanwhile, co-host Mamba Smith chose Austin Dillon, the defending event champion, to secure another win at Richmond.
“I’m gonna go with it. Let’s go three times in a row. Let’s just do it. Or three. Let me go. Let me go Austin Dillon. He’s been He’s been fast at Richmond. For whatever reason, they’ve had it figured out here” Smith said.
How has Kevin Harvick’s top pick performed at the Richmond Raceway?
Kevin Harvick’s preferred choice, Christopher Bell, boasts impressive results at Richmond Raceway, with four top-five finishes and six top-10 finishes, averaging a finish of 8.70 over 10 starts.
Throughout 23 races in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver has achieved seven second-place finishes, 10 top-5s, and 11 top-10 finishes, leading 422 laps with an average finish of 15.6. He is currently sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with 659 points.
The Richmond Raceway will provide a platform to see how Harvick’s and his co-hosts’ predictions unfold. Tune in to the 24th race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season on USA Network at 7 pm ET. Radio coverage will be provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Edited by Yash Soni
