The Cook Out Southern 500 roared to life at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, marking the opening night of NASCAR’s Chase for the Cup Series.
Lightning and rain forced the cancellation of the scheduled qualifying session, meaning the starting grid was constructed from the season‑long driver metric scores rather than timed runs.
With 38 drivers organized into 19 rows and lanes, Tyler Reddick earned the pole position, while the rest of the field was arranged according to their metric rankings, setting the stage for a tightly contested race.
The Chase for the Cup Series Begins
The Chase for the Cup Series, NASCAR’s ten‑race playoff format, begins here, giving each contender a chance to climb the standings and secure a championship berth.
Veterans such as Denny Hamlin, Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe, alongside rising talents like Ty Gibbs and Carson Hocevar, will all battle for precious points as the playoff momentum builds.