The NASCAR Cup Series will stage its Cook Out Southern 500 qualifying on September 5 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, setting the stage for a high‑stakes showdown in the Chase for the championship.
Sixteen drivers will compete in a format that pits the top half of the field against the bottom half, giving those outside the current top 16 a chance to mount a title run as the ten‑race Chase unfolds.
Denny Hamlin entered the session in the lead, with Ryan Blaney sitting just behind him, a 25‑point margin separating the two as they vie for precious playoff positioning.
Darlington’s iconic egg‑shaped oval is renowned for its punishing conditions, often inflicting significant tire wear on cars that brave its tight turns and steep banking.
The qualifying window opens at 5:10 p.m. Eastern Time, and the entry list features heavyweights such as Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott and Hamlin, each representing prominent organizations like Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske.
Fans can follow the action live on truTV, tune in to SiriusXM and the Motor Racing Network on radio, or stream the event on HBO MAX and NASCAR.com, while the race itself covers a distance of 1.366 miles as part of the Southern 500 series.
Qualifying Set for the Southern 500
As the countdown to the Southern 500 continues, the combination of track difficulty, playoff pressure and diverse media options promises an exhilarating weekend for drivers and spectators alike.