THE NASCAR playoffs are here, and 16 drivers are ready to chase their championship dreams.
For 10 weeksthe pilots will face the rest of the Series of cuts field until a champion is crowned Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway. But before the series reaches Phoenix, the contenders will have to survive three eliminations as four drivers will be eliminated after the third, sixth and ninth races, leaving the final four to fight for the title.
The first battle will take place at one of the most famous races in NASCAR history: the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, a track known as both “Too Tough to Tame” and “The Lady in Black.”
Seven of the 16 drivers have won at the South Carolina track, including Denny Hamlin, who has four wins at Darlington, including two at the Southern 500. Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who enters the playoffs as the No. °3 behind his teammate. Martin Truex Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron have finished in the top five at Darlington in 55 percent of the races he has entered and in the top 10 73 percent of the time.
Will Hamlin reach the top again at Darlington? Here’s all the information you need to prepare for Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500:
What time does the Cup race start at Darlington?
The Cook Out Southern 500 begins at 6 p.m. ET at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.
What TV channel is the Cup race at Darlington on?
USA Network is broadcasting the Cook Out Southern 500 and has a pre-race show starting at 5:30 p.m. ET, while USA and Peacock will have a post-race show at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live broadcast of the Cup race at Darlington?
The Cook Out Southern 500 can be streamed live on the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app.
NASCAR playoffs: Meet the 16 drivers who will race for the 2023 championship
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What is the playoff standings at Darlington?
(*-former champion)
- William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports — 2,036 points
- *Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing — 2,036 points
- Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing – 2,025 points
- Chris Buescher, RFK Racing – 2,021 points
- *Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing — 2,019 points
- *Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports — 2,017 points
- Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing — 2,014 points
- Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing – 2,011 points
- *Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing – 2,010 points
- Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing – 2,009 points
- *Joey Logano, Team Penske – 2,008 points
- Ryan Blaney, Team Penske — 2,008 points
- Michael McDowell, Front Row Motorsports – 2,007 points
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., JTG Daugherty Racing — 2,005 points
- *Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing — 2,004 points
- Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing – 2,000 points
How many laps is the Cup race at Darlington?
The Cook Out Southern 500 makes 367 laps around the 1.366-mile oval for a total of 501.32 miles. The race will consist of three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 115 laps; Step 2: 115 rounds; Step 3: 137 rounds.
Who won the most recent races at Darlington?
William Byron led seven laps, including both laps in overtime, before holding off Kevin Harvick by 0.781 seconds on May 14, 2023.
And a year ago, in the playoff race, Erik Jones, a non-playoff driver, led the final 23 laps before edging Denny Hamlin by 0.252 seconds on September 4, 2022.
What is the lineup for the Cook Out Southern 500?
(Car number in parentheses; P-playoff driver)
1. (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota
2. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota
3. (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota
4. (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford
5. (6) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford
6. (22) Joey Logano (P), Ford
7. (4) Kevin Harvick (P), Ford
8. (17) Chris Buescher (P), Ford
9. (34) Michael McDowell (P), Ford
10. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford
11. (8) Kyle Busch (P), Chevrolet
12. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford
13. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
14. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford
15. (42) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
16. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
17. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
18. (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet
19. (23) Bubba Wallace (P), Toyota
20. (43) Erik Jones, Chevrolet
21. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
22. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet
23. (24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet
24. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
25. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P), Chevrolet
26. (77) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
27. (1) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet
28. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
29. (31) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
30. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford
31. (19) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota
32. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford
33. (15) J. J. Yeley, Ford
34. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford
35. (51) Ryan Newman, Ford
36. (78) B.J. McLeod, Chevrolet
