NASCAR’s long‑awaited return to the ‘Chase’ postseason format began this weekend at Darlington Raceway, where the Cook Out Southern 500 served as the season’s opening playoff event after a 13‑year hiatus.
Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing earned the pole position, while Daniel Suarez of Spire Motorsports secured a front‑row start; the field was set after Saturday’s qualifying session was washed out by rain, leaving the 38‑car lineup determined by qualifying metrics.
When the green flag finally dropped, Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing captured the victory, followed by Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick, completing a podium sweep that underscored the fresh start to the playoff picture.
The next installment of the Chase, the Enjoy Illinois 300, is slated for September 13 at Gateway Raceway, with live coverage on USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET, and the series will not see another points reset until the season concludes.