The NASCAR Cup Series 2026 postseason opens on Sunday, September 6, with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, marking the start of a ten‑race showdown that will determine the season champion.
A New Chase Structure
Unlike previous seasons that used elimination races to trim the field from 16 to four, the new format awards the title to the driver who accumulates the most points across the ten postseason races, eliminating the traditional knockout rounds and final championship finale.
Sixteen drivers will contest the title, each representing a full‑time team, while the broader field includes additional entrants such as Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski and Chase Briscoe, adding depth to the competition.
Denny Hamlin currently tops the Chase standings, followed closely by 2023 champion Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick, who has secured five victories already this season, giving him a strong foothold heading into the first race.
The Cook Out Southern 500 is a 367‑lap, 501.32‑mile event divided into three stages — 115 laps each for the first two stages and a 137‑lap finale — testing drivers’ skill, strategy and stamina on Darlington’s famously rough surface, nicknamed ‘Too Tough To Tame.’
The race will be televised live on USA Network, with pre‑race coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET, and streamed on platforms including Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV, giving fans multiple ways to watch.
Tyler Reddick captured the most recent Darlington victory in March 2026, winning by 5.847 seconds after leading 77 laps, while Chase Briscoe dominated the August 2025 edition, leading 309 laps and edging out the field by a razor‑thin 0.408 seconds.
With the revamped Chase format and a competitive field, the Southern 500 promises a decisive early test that could shape the trajectory of the championship battle for months to come.