The NASCAR Cup Series Chase begins this weekend at one of the most demanding tracks on the schedule. The weather may add another complication.
Darlington Raceway hosts NASCAR’s first postseason weekend of 2026, culminating with the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, Sept. 6. Before the green flag falls, however, teams will be keeping a close eye on a forecast that includes the possibility of showers and thunderstorms on both days of on-track activity.
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Saturday carries a 60% chance of rain as Cup Series teams prepare for practice and qualifying, followed by the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race that evening. Sunday’s forecast improves slightly, but a 50% chance of rain remains during the day ahead of the scheduled 5 p.m. ET start of the Southern 500.
With the Chase beginning and Denny Hamlin leading the 16-driver championship field into Darlington, there will be plenty at stake whenever NASCAR can get cars on the track.
Here is the complete NASCAR Darlington weekend schedule, along with the latest weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday.
NASCAR Darlington Schedule for Saturday, Sept. 5
Saturday is packed with on-track activity at Darlington, beginning early in the afternoon and continuing into the evening.
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The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series gets the weekend started before the Cup Series takes over the track for its only practice and qualifying sessions ahead of the Southern 500.
Saturday’s schedule (all times ET):
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1:30 p.m. — O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice
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2:35 p.m. — O’Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying
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4 p.m. — NASCAR Cup Series practice — truTV
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5:10 p.m. — NASCAR Cup Series qualifying — truTV
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Post-Cup qualifying — NASCAR press conference
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7:30 p.m. — O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Fleetio 200 — The CW
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Post-O’Reilly race — NASCAR press conference
MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will also provide radio coverage of the Cup Series sessions and the Fleetio 200.
That schedule could become considerably more complicated if the current forecast holds.
Darlington Weather Forecast for Saturday
Saturday currently presents the biggest weather concern of the weekend.
The forecast calls for partial cloudiness early before scattered showers and thunderstorms develop during the afternoon, with some storms potentially producing strong, gusty winds.
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The chance of rain is listed at 60%, with a high temperature around 97 degrees.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms remain possible Saturday night, when the chance of rain stays at 60%. The overnight low is expected to fall to around 70 degrees.
That timing matters because essentially every meaningful Saturday session is scheduled for the afternoon or evening. Rain could therefore affect anything from Cup practice and qualifying to the 7:30 p.m. O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race.
NASCAR will have plenty to squeeze into the window if thunderstorms begin disrupting the schedule.
What Time Is the NASCAR Race at Darlington on Sunday?
The main event arrives Sunday.
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The Cook Out Southern 500 is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 6, with television coverage on USA Network and streaming on HBO Max.
MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the radio broadcast.
The Southern 500 marks the first race of the 10-race NASCAR Chase, immediately raising the stakes at a track where even a normal afternoon can punish mistakes.
And Sunday’s weather could make the opening championship race even less predictable.
Will It Rain During the Southern 500?
There is a legitimate chance.
Sunday’s forecast calls for partial cloudiness early with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. The chance of rain currently sits at 50%, with a high around 88 degrees and ENE winds of 5 to 10 mph.
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The concern doesn’t disappear after sunset, either.
Scattered thunderstorms are possible during the evening before giving way to a few overnight showers. The nighttime chance of rain is listed at 40%, with temperatures dropping to around 68 degrees.
The timing is particularly notable with the Southern 500 scheduled for 5 p.m. ET. The current forecast puts the possibility of thunderstorms directly into the window leading up to and surrounding the race.
That does not mean the Southern 500 will be delayed or postponed. Forecasts can change significantly as race day approaches, particularly when dealing with scattered summer thunderstorms. But as things stand, weather is unquestionably worth monitoring throughout the weekend.
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The NASCAR Chase Begins at Darlington
Weather or not, NASCAR couldn’t have picked a much tougher place to begin its championship run.
The 1.366-mile Darlington Raceway has long punished drivers who ask too much of their cars, and now 16 championship contenders arrive knowing every point over the next 10 races matters.
Hamlin begins the Chase as the No. 1 seed with 2,100 points. Ryan Blaney follows at 2,075, with Tyler Reddick third at 2,065.
Reddick also enters the weekend with perhaps the most relevant recent Darlington result of anyone in the field. He won the Cup Series’ spring race at the track in March after overcoming a series of problems throughout the afternoon.
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Chase Briscoe, meanwhile, returns as the defending Southern 500 winner.
This time, Darlington isn’t simply another crown-jewel race. It’s where the championship fight begins.
And if the early forecast proves accurate, NASCAR’s 16 Chase drivers may have to contend with the weather before they ever get the chance to contend with the Lady in Black.
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