Seven months of NASCAR Cup Series action have led to this: the Cook Out Southern 500. The second event at Darlington Raceway of the year marks the regular season finale. Sunday is the final opportunity to solidify the standings ahead of the 10-race Cup Series playoffs.
A wild race at Daytona last weekend saw a first-time Cup Series winner in Harrison Burton after half of the field crashed out. Burton's win means 13 of 16 playoff spots have been secured by winners in 2024. A new winner this weekend could shake up the playoff picture ahead of the opening round at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Cup race at Daytona:Harrison Burton earns maiden win in wild Coke Zero Sugar 400
Darlington's unique, egg-like oval shape makes it one of the more challenging tracks on the calendar. It doesn't boast the high speeds of Daytona like last weekend but tests drivers with some of the highest tire wear on the calendar.
Will a new winner emerge Sunday night to punch their ticket to the playoffs? Here's what you need to know ahead of the Cook Out Southern 500:
The Cook Out Southern 500 starts at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.
USA Network is broadcasting the Cook Out Southern 500 with a pre-race show starting at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The Cook Out Southern 500 can be live streamed on the NBCSports website and the NBC Sports app. The race is also available to stream on Fubo.
The Cook Out Southern 500 is 367 laps around the 1.366-mile track for a total of 501.322 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) – Stage 1: 115 laps; Stage 2: 115 laps; Stage 3: 137 laps.
Brad Keselowski broke a 110-race win drought in May at the Goodyear 400 at Darlington. The 2012 Cup Series champion took the lead with 10 laps to go after contact with Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher forced both to pit road.
Last year, the Cook Out Southern 500 marked the opening round of the Cup Series playoffs. Kyle Larson led the final 55 laps to take the win over Reddick and Buescher.
Drivers can clinch a playoff spot with a regular season victory. Thirteen drivers have done so through last week in Daytona:
NOTE: Austin Dillon won the Aug. 11 race at Richmond Raceway but NASCAR stripped him of an automatic playoff berth after reviewing the final lap of the race, and communication from the Richard Childress Racing No. 3 team. Dillon wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap before taking the checkered flag. An appeals panel upheld the penalty.
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