There were no non-chartered (open) cars on the entry list for the most recent NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway, marking just the second time that has been the case on an oval so far in 2026.
It also happened at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in mid-March, as well as at Sonoma Raceway for the road course race in late June.
But for this Saturday night's Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, one open entry that has made 10 starts already this season is set to return, and with a driver who hasn't run an oval race in over a year.
Lineup change confirmed for NASCAR Cup race at Richmond
Garage 66, the team formerly known as MBM Motorsports, made their most recent appearance at North Wilkesboro Speedway four weekends ago, with Chad Finchum behind the wheel of the No. 66 Ford for his team-leading sixth start of the season.
This weekend at Richmond, it's Josh Bilicki who is set to make his first start since the May road course race at Watkins Glen International. That Watkins Glen race is his only Cup race of the year so far, as the team withdrew the No. 66 Ford from the entry list at Chicagoland in early July after Bilicki had been planning on competing in that event.
Bilicki, who is currently competing full-time for SS-Green Light Racing in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, has not competed in a Cup Series oval race since the July 2025 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
He is locked into this Saturday night's 400-lap race around the four-turn, 0.75-mile (1.207-kilometer) Richmond, Virginia oval, since the No. 66 Ford is the only open car on the entry list.
The team's plans for the remainder of the 2026 season include the playoff races at Darlington Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Talladega Superspeedway. Bilicki is set to return for the race at Bristol, but drivers have not been confirmed for the other three. Finchum ran the April race at Talladega.
Aside from Finchum and Bilicki, the team's other two drivers so far this year include Casey Mears (one start) and Timmy Hill (two starts). Mears competed in the Daytona 500, ending the team's long DNQ streak, before the team withdrew his entry from the following weekend's race at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta Motor Speedway). Hill competed at both Darlington and Charlotte.
Tune in to USA Network at 7:00 p.m. ET this Saturday evening for the live broadcast of the Cook Out 400 from Richmond Raceway. Start a free trial of FuboTV now and don't miss the antepenultimate race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season!
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