2026 Cook Out 400 NASCAR Betting Lines, Predictions & Preview (03/29/2026)

The 2026 Cook Out 400 is scheduled for Sunday, March 29, as the seventh race of the NASCAR Cup Series season. This NASCAR Betting event takes place at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Specifically, it marks the first short-track challenge of the year on the famous half-mile “Paperclip” oval. The race will cover 400 laps totaling 210.4 miles, with stage breaks scheduled for laps 80 and 180. Fans can watch the broadcast at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1, with MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio providing radio coverage.

2026 Cook Out 400 Odds at SBG

In sum, the entry list features 37 cars, ensuring every driver a spot in the field. A notable substitution continues this weekend as Justin Allgaier remains in the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports while Alex Bowman recovers from a medical issue. Additionally, Austin Hill will join the field in the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing as the only non-chartered entry. The weekend also includes the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200 for the Whelen Modified Tour and the NFPA 250 for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

The Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway stands out as a unique fixture on the NASCAR calendar due to its deep historical roots and its physical layout, which earns it the nickname the Paperclip.

Specifically, it is the shortest track in the Cup Series at just 0.526 miles. And it remains the only original circuit from the inaugural 1948 season still in use today. This longevity provides a sense of continuity that few other sporting venues can match, making a victory here a direct link to the sport’s legends, such as Richard Petty, who holds the record for most wins at the facility.

2026 Cook Out 400 NASCAR Betting Information

2026 Cook Out 400 Odds

At the beginning, Ryan Blaney enters the weekend as the primary online wagering favorite with +500 odds, a position earned through a series-best average finish of 4.5 at this venue during the Next Gen era. Next on the board are Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson, who both sit at +600. William Byron and Chase Elliott remain strong contenders at +700 and +800, respectively. Tyler Reddick is currently listed at +1200.

And then, in the mid-range of the board, Christopher Bell offers compelling value at +1000, with Joey Logano following at +900. Further down the list, Chase Briscoe at +1200 and Ryan Preece at +1800 serve as the primary dark horses.

2026 Cook Out 400 Top Contenders

Initially, Denny Hamlin stands as the premier active force at this track, holding six career NASCAR Betting Odds victories at Martinsville. As a Virginia native, Hamlin has perfected the art of “rolling the center” of the concrete turns. Hence, he enters this weekend with significant momentum following his win at Las Vegas earlier this month.

Hamlin’s teammate, Christopher Bell, is another driver perfectly suited for this environment. Despite a slow start to the season in terms of wins, Bell leads the series in points per race and is widely regarded as one of the best “pure” short-track racers in the sport.

In the Next Gen era, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson have separated themselves from the field in terms of sheer consistency at Ridgeway. Blaney currently holds the highest average finish among active drivers over the last six Martinsville races at 4.5. Including two victories during that span. Larson is not far behind with a 3.7 average finish and five top-five results in his last six starts.

2026 Cook Out 400 SBG Free Picks

Overall, Ryan Blaney remains the most consistent force at the Paperclip in the Next Gen era. He enters this weekend as the co-favorite due to a series-best average finish of 4.3 at this track and a second-place standing in the overall points.

2026 Cookout 400 Best Bets: Ryan Blaney.