
NASCAR Chase Begins at Darlington as Hamlin Defends 25‑Point Lead
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Chase starts on September 6 with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington, a 367‑lap event that will set the tone for a season‑long playoff.
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The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Chase starts on September 6 with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington, a 367‑lap event that will set the tone for a season‑long playoff.

The Cook Out Southern 500 will unfold on September 6 at Darlington Raceway, with Tyler Reddick on pole and Denny Hamlin leading the Chase by 25 points.

With practice and qualifying canceled, the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway presents a unique set of challenges for DFS players, as leading laps, tire degradation and starting position become decisive factors.

Tyler Reddick takes pole position for the season‑opening Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington, with the Chase beginning on September 6.

NASCAR’s first points‑based playoff overhaul since 2013 has already produced dramatic shifts, with Chase Briscoe gaining 83 % of his points in a single reset and Denny Hamlin shedding more than three thousand points.

The NASCAR Cup Series’ Cook Out Southern 500 opens the Chase at Darlington Raceway, with Tyler Reddick on pole after qualifying was canceled.

The Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway opens the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase, a 501‑mile, 367‑lap event that challenges drivers with its unique oval design, relentless tire wear, and ever‑changing conditions.

The Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway was postponed after qualifying and practice were canceled, with Tyler Reddick on pole and a deep Chase field set to battle for position on Sunday.

Tyler Reddick will start from the pole in the Southern 500 after qualifying was halted by lightning, with his five-season wins and No. 3 seed positioning him for a key playoff moment.

A new fan‑engagement twist turns every expletive into cash for a prize pot, with the Cook Out Southern 500 kicking off the 2026 NASCAR Chase.

Veteran driver Ryan Blaney enters the 2026 Chase as the second seed, leveraging ten consecutive postseason appearances, four poles and 828 laps led, with Team Penske and Ford backing his pursuit of a second championship.

The 2026 Southern 500 at Darlington will showcase 38 drivers across 36 guaranteed charters, including a full‑time replacement for Kyle Busch and two open entries, marking the start of the Chase.

The NASCAR Cup Series will hold its 27th race of the 2026 season at Darlington Raceway, with Denny Hamlin securing the pole position and a revised qualifying order revealed for the event.

NASCAR’s qualifying for the Cook Out Southern 500 was canceled due to weather, and the starting lineup was set by performance metrics, with Tyler Reddick on pole and Daniel Suárez second, ahead of a field that includes several championship contenders.

The Cook Out Southern 500 began at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, with the field set by driver metric scores after lightning and rain halted qualifying, and Tyler Reddick claimed the pole as the Chase for the Cup Series gets underway.

The Cook Out Southern 500 kicks off the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase with a full 38‑driver field, live Sunday at 5:00 p.m. ET on USA Network.

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase begins Sunday at Darlington Raceway, where Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney and other top drivers battle for the championship amid a historic track known for big storylines.

The 2027 NASCAR Cup Series roster is taking shape, with confirmed driver movements, retirements and new signings across the sport's top teams.

The 2026 NASCAR Chase begins on September 6 at Darlington, with Denny Hamlin holding a 25‑point lead over Ford’s Ryan Blaney, who is predicted to claim the championship amid strong team adjustments and a points system that rewards wins.

The Cook Out Southern 500 kicks off the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Darlington Raceway, with USA Network broadcasting live on September 6.

The 2026 NASCAR Chase features a compact ten‑race mini‑season in which sixteen drivers battle for the championship, with only a hundred points separating the top contenders.

Denny Hamlin leads the Cup Series postseason with a 25‑point advantage as the Cook Out Southern 500 kicks off the chase, with Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick close behind.

An overview of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series playoff format, key drivers, teams and storylines heading into the opening race at Darlington.

The provisional 2027 NASCAR Cup Series roster reveals several high‑profile promotions, team expansions, and lingering uncertainties as teams finalize driver agreements.