The Cook Out 400 race is an annual race held at the Martinsville Speedway. It is sponsored by the Cook Out restaurants and therefore, shares its name with one of the other races in the NASCAR Cup Series. The Martinsville Speedway is the shortest track that NASCAR races on. Martinsville Speedway is often dubbed as the "Half Mile of Mayhem", owing to its short length of 0.526 miles and the crashes witnessed during the races.
The Cook Out 400 race was first introduced to the NASCAR Cup Series in 1950. It was known as the Virginia 500 during its inital days in the Cup Series. The race was shortened from its original race distance of 500 laps to 400 laps in 2022. In 2024, Cook Out restaurants took up the sponsorship of the Cook Out 400 race. The 2020 Cook Out 400 race was the first ever night race hosted by Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
List of Cook Out 400’s (Martinsville) winners
The Cook Out 400 race at Martinsville was first won by Curtis Turner in 1950. The race had to be hosted twice during the 1961 season of the Cup Series. The Cook Out 400 at Martinsville will be hosted on March 30, 2025 during the 2025 Cup Series. According to Racing Reference, William Byron is the defending champion of the Cook Out 400 race in the NASCAR Cup Series, as of February 2025.
| Year | Date | No. | Driver |
| 1950 | May 21 | 41 | Curtis Turner |
| 1951 | May 6 | 41 | Curtis Turner |
| 1952 | April 6 | 120 | Dick Rathmann |
| 1953 | May 17 | 42 | Lee Petty |
| 1954 | May 16 | 87 | Jim Paschal |
| 1955 | May 15 | 300 | Tim Flock |
| 1956 | May 20 | 502 | Buck Baker |
| 1957 | May 19 | 87 | Buck Baker |
| 1958 | April 20 | 4 | Bob Welborn |
| 1959 | May 3 | 42 | Lee Petty |
| 1960 | April 10 | 43 | Richard Petty |
| 1961 | April 9 | 28 | Fred Lorenzen |
| April 30 | 27 | Junior Johnson | |
| 1962 | April 22 | 43 | Richard Petty |
| 1963 | April 21 | 43 | Richard Petty |
| 1964 | April 26 | 28 | Fred Lorenzen |
| 1965 | April 25 | 28 | Fred Lorenzen |
| 1966 | April 24 | 14 | Jim Paschal |
| 1967 | April 23 | 43 | Richard Petty |
| 1968 | April 28 | 21 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1969 | April 27 | 43 | Richard Petty |
| 1970 | May 31 | 71 | Bobby Isaac |
| 1971 | April 25 | 43 | Richard Petty |
| 1972 | April 30 | 43 | Richard Petty |
| 1973 | April 29 | 21 | David Pearson |
| 1974 | April 28 | 11 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1975 | April 27 | 43 | Richard Petty |
| 1976 | April 25 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1977 | April 24 | 11 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1978 | April 23 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1979 | April 22 | 43 | Richard Petty |
| 1980 | April 27 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1981 | April 26 | 5 | Morgan Shepherd |
| 1982 | April 25 | 33 | Harry Gant |
| 1983 | April 24 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1984 | April 29 | 5 | Geoffrey Bodine |
| 1985 | April 28 | 33 | Harry Gant |
| 1986 | April 27 | 15 | Ricky Rudd |
| 1987 | April 26 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1988 | April 24 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1989 | April 23 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1990 | April 29 | 11 | Geoffrey Bodine |
| 1991 | April 28 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1992 | April 26 | 6 | Mark Martin |
| 1993 | April 25 | 2 | Rusty Wallace |
| 1994 | April 24 | 2 | Rusty Wallace |
| 1995 | April 23 | 2 | Rusty Wallace |
| 1996 | April 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace |
| 1997 | April 20 | 24 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1998 | April 20 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton |
| 1999 | April 18 | 43 | John Andretti |
| 2000 | April 9 | 6 | Mark Martin |
| 2001 | April 8 | 88 | Dale Jarrett |
| 2002 | April 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte |
| 2003 | April 13 | 24 | Jeff Gordon |
| 2004 | April 18 | 2 | Rusty Wallace |
| 2005 | April 10 | 24 | Jeff Gordon |
| 2006 | April 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart |
| 2007 | April 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2008 | March 30 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 2009 | March 29 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2010 | March 29 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 2011 | April 3 | 29 | Kevin Harvick |
| 2012 | April 1 | 39 | Ryan Newman |
| 2013 | April 7 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2014 | March 30 | 41 | Kurt Busch |
| 2015 | March 29 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 2016 | April 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch |
| 2017 | April 2 | 2 | Brad Keselowski |
| 2018 | March 26 | 14 | Clint Bowyer |
| 2019 | March 24 | 2 | Brad Keselowski |
| 2020 | June 10 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. |
| 2021 | April 10–11 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. |
| 2022 | April 9 | 24 | William Byron |
| 2023 | April 16 | 5 | Kyle Larson |
| 2024 | April 7 | 24 | William Byron |
Cook Out 400’s (Martinsville) team winners year-by-year
The Cook Out 400 at Martinsville has seen many teams on the top step of the stadium. John Eanes was the first team to win the race in 1950 winning it again in 1951. The NASCAR veterans, Hendrick Motorsports, have been winning the Cook Out 400 race for three years consecutively and are the defending champions of the race in 2025.
| Year | Date | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1950 | May 21 | John Eanes | Oldsmobile |
| 1951 | May 6 | John Eanes | Oldsmobile |
| 1952 | April 6 | Walt Chapman | Hudson |
| 1953 | May 17 | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 1954 | May 16 | Bob Griffin | Oldsmobile |
| 1955 | May 15 | Carl Kiekhaefer | Chrysler |
| 1956 | May 20 | Carl Kiekhaefer | Dodge |
| 1957 | May 19 | Hugh Babb | Chevrolet |
| 1958 | April 20 | Julian Petty | Chevrolet |
| 1959 | May 3 | Petty Enterprises | Oldsmobile |
| 1960 | April 10 | Petty Enterprises | Plymouth |
| 1961 | April 9 | Holman-Moody | Ford |
| April 30 | Rex Lovette | Pontiac | |
| 1962 | April 22 | Petty Enterprises | Plymouth |
| 1963 | April 21 | Petty Enterprises | Plymouth |
| 1964 | April 26 | Holman-Moody | Ford |
| 1965 | April 25 | Holman-Moody | Ford |
| 1966 | April 24 | Frieden Enterprises | Plymouth |
| 1967 | April 23 | Petty Enterprises | Plymouth |
| 1968 | April 28 | Wood Brothers Racing | Mercury |
| 1969 | April 27 | Petty Enterprises | Ford |
| 1970 | May 31 | Nord Krauskopf | Dodge |
| 1971 | April 25 | Petty Enterprises | Plymouth |
| 1972 | April 30 | Petty Enterprises | Plymouth |
| 1973 | April 29 | Wood Brothers Racing | Mercury |
| 1974 | April 28 | Richard Howard | Chevrolet |
| 1975 | April 27 | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 1976 | April 25 | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1977 | April 24 | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet |
| 1978 | April 23 | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1979 | April 22 | Petty Enterprises | Chevrolet |
| 1980 | April 27 | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1981 | April 26 | Cliff Stewart | Pontiac |
| 1982 | April 25 | Mach 1 Racing | Buick |
| 1983 | April 24 | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet |
| 1984 | April 29 | All-Star Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1985 | April 28 | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1986 | April 27 | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford |
| 1987 | April 26 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1988 | April 24 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1989 | April 23 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1990 | April 29 | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford |
| 1991 | April 28 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1992 | April 26 | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 1993 | April 25 | Penske Racing | Pontiac |
| 1994 | April 24 | Penske Racing | Ford |
| 1995 | April 23 | Penske Racing | Ford |
| 1996 | April 21 | Penske Racing | Ford |
| 1997 | April 20 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1998 | April 20 | Morgan-McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1999 | April 18 | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac |
| 2000 | April 9 | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 2001 | April 8 | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 2002 | April 14 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac |
| 2003 | April 13 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2004 | April 18 | Penske Racing | Dodge |
| 2005 | April 10 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2006 | April 2 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2007 | April 1 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2008 | March 30 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2009 | March 29 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2010 | March 29 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2011 | April 3 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2012 | April 1 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2013 | April 7 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2014 | March 30 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2015 | March 29 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2016 | April 3 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2017 | April 2 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 2018 | March 26 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 2019 | March 24 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 2020 | June 10 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2021 | April 10–11 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2022 | April 9 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2023 | April 16 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2024 | April 7 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
Cook Out 400’s (Martinsville) multiple time winners
Richard Petty has set many records in NASCAR Cup Series. The driver also holds the record for the most number of wins at the Cook Out 400 race win nine wins to his name. Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace follow his lead with five wins each to their name. Denny Hamlin is the most successful driver on the 2025 grid in the Cook Out 400 race held at Martinsville.
| Wins | Driver | Years won |
| 9 | Richard Petty | 1960, 1962–1963, 1967, 1969, 1971–1972, 1975, 1979 |
| 5 | Darrell Waltrip | 1976, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1989 |
| Rusty Wallace | 1993–1996, 2004 | |
| 3 | Cale Yarborough | 1968, 1974, 1977 |
| Dale Earnhardt | 1987–1988, 1991 | |
| Jeff Gordon | 1997, 2003, 2005 | |
| Jimmie Johnson | 2007, 2009, 2013 | |
| Denny Hamlin | 2008, 2010, 2015 | |
| 2 | Curtis Turner | 1950–1951 |
| Buck Baker | 1956–1957 | |
| Lee Petty | 1953, 1959 | |
| Fred Lorenzen | 1964–1965 | |
| Jim Paschal | 1954, 1966 | |
| Harry Gant | 1982, 1985 | |
| Geoffrey Bodine | 1984, 1990 | |
| Mark Martin | 1992, 2000 | |
| Brad Keselowski | 2017, 2019 | |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 2020–2021 | |
| William Byron | 2022, 2024 |
Cook Out 400’s (Martinsville) team multiple time winners
Petty Enterprises have the most victories in the Cook Out 400 with 12 wins to their name. However, Hendrick Motorsports has been catching up with 11 wins. Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have eight and seven wins to their name and are closely following the leader teams, as of February 2025.
| Wins | Team | Years won |
| 12 | Petty Enterprises | 1953, 1959–1960, 1962–1963, 1967, 1969, 1971–1972, 1975, 1979, 1999 |
| 11 | Hendrick Motorsports | 1984, 1989, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2022–2024 |
| 8 | Joe Gibbs Racing | 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015–2016, 2020–2021 |
| 7 | Team Penske | 1993–1996, 2004, 2017, 2019 |
| 4 | Richard Childress Racing | 1987–1988, 1991, 2011 |
| 3 | Holman-Moody | 19611, 1964–1965 |
| DiGard Motorsports | 1976, 1978, 1980 | |
| Junior Johnson & Associates | 1977, 1983, 1990 | |
| Stewart-Haas Racing | 2012, 2014, 2018 | |
| 2 | John Eanes | 1950–1951 |
| Carl Kiekhaefer | 1955–1956 | |
| Wood Brothers Racing | 1968, 1973 | |
| Mach 1 Racing | 1982, 1985 | |
| Roush Racing | 1992, 2000 |
Cook Out 400’s (Martinsville) manufacturer multiple time winners
Chevrolet, one of the oldest and best manufacturers of NASCAR Cup Series, is the best team at the Cook Out 400 race. They have won the race 29 times in the history, which is more than twice the number of races won by their next competitor, Ford.
| Wins | Manufacturer | Years won |
| 29 | Chevrolet | 1957–1958, 1974, 1976–1980, 1983–1985, 1987–1989, 1991, 1997–1998, 2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2011–2014, 2022–2024 |
| 14 | Ford | 1964–1965, 1969, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994–1996, 2000–2001, 2017–2019 |
| 7 | Plymouth | 1960, 1962–1963, 1966–1967, 1971–1972 |
| 6 | Toyota | 2008, 2010, 2015–2016, 2020–2021 |
| 5 | Pontiac | 1961, 1981, 1993, 1999, 2002 |
| Dodge | 1953, 1956, 1970, 1975, 2004 | |
| 4 | Oldsmobile | 1950–1951, 1954, 1959 |
| 2 | Mercury | 1968, 1973 |
| 1 | Hudson | 1952 |
| Chrysler | 1955 | |
| Buick | 1982 |
FAQs on Cook Out 400 Winners
A. Yes, the Martinsville Speedway is a part of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
A. The Cook Out 400 race held at the Martinsville Speedway is a 400 lap long race.
A. The Martinsville race was shortened in 2022 to 400 laps as it was a night race.
A. Martinsville Speedway is the shortest and one of the first tracks NASCAR raced on.
