The NASCAR Cup Series is officially entering championship mode.
After 26 races of regular season competition, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase begins Sunday at one of the toughest tracks on the schedule: Darlington Raceway. The Cook Out Southern 500 will serve as the opening race of the 10 race championship battle, putting 16 playoff drivers under the microscope from the moment the green flag flies.
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The race is scheduled for Sunday, September 6, at 5 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on USA Network, HBO Max, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The 500 mile event will be the 27th points-paying race of the season.
Darlington Is the Perfect Playoff Opener
There may not be a better place to begin the Chase than Darlington.
Known as the “Lady in Black” and the “Track Too Tough to Tame,” Darlington is a 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval that forces drivers to balance speed with survival. Turns 1 and 2 feature 25 degrees of banking, while Turns 3 and 4 have 23 degrees.
The unique shape of the track means drivers cannot simply find one perfect setup. Teams must find a compromise that works in both ends of the track, while tire wear and traffic can dramatically change the handling of the car throughout a long green-flag run.
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And then there is the wall.
At Darlington, the fastest line often brings drivers dangerously close to the outside wall. A small mistake can turn a potential top five finish into a destroyed race car.
That makes the Southern 500 less about simply having the fastest car and more about managing the race for 367 laps.
Reddick and Hamlin Lead the Favorites
Two drivers enter Darlington with plenty of attention surrounding them: Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin.
Reddick already knows what it takes to win at Darlington. He won the track’s spring race, the Goodyear 400, earlier this season, giving the 23XI Racing driver tremendous confidence heading into the playoff opener. He also enters the weekend as one of the early favorites to win the Southern 500.
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Hamlin, meanwhile, enters the Chase as the No. 1 seed and the 2026 regular-season champion. His consistency throughout the season has made him one of the biggest championship favorites, and Darlington is a track where experience can be extremely valuable.
A strong performance Sunday could immediately put Hamlin in an excellent position for the rest of the opening playoff round.
Can Chase Briscoe Make History?
One of the biggest storylines heading into the race is Chase Briscoe.
Briscoe has won the Southern 500 in each of the last two seasons, taking the checkered flag at Darlington in both 2024 and 2025. Now, he has a chance to do something extremely rare: win the race three consecutive times.
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The last driver to win the Southern 500 three straight years was Jeff Gordon, who accomplished the feat four consecutive times from 1995 through 1998.
Briscoe will have to overcome a loaded playoff field to make history, but his recent success at the track makes him one of the drivers nobody can afford to overlook.
The Dark Horses
While the championship favorites will receive most of the attention, Darlington has plenty of potential dark horses.
Erik Jones is an obvious name to watch. The LEGACY MOTOR CLUB driver is a two-time Darlington winner and has recorded 10 top 10 finishes in 17 career starts at the track. He also finished 10th in the spring race this season.
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Carson Hocevar is another driver capable of making noise. The young Spire Motorsports driver has shown plenty of speed on larger ovals this season and enters the playoffs looking to make his presence known.
Ross Chastain could also be a factor. His recent performances have provided momentum heading into the Chase, and Darlington presents an opportunity for the Trackhouse Racing driver to make an early statement.
38 Cars Entered
The Southern 500 will feature a 38 car field, including all 16 Chase drivers.
Two non-chartered entries are also entered: Corey Heim will drive the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing, while Chad Finchum will pilot the No. 66 Ford for Garage 66.
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With the championship battle beginning, every driver will have a different objective. Some will be looking for a win, some will be focused on stage points, and others may simply want to survive Darlington without suffering major damage.
What to Expect
Expect the Southern 500 to be a battle of patience.
The race is long, the tires will wear, and the track will change throughout the afternoon and evening. Drivers who attack too aggressively early could pay for it later, while those who protect their equipment may find themselves in position to win when the race reaches its final stages.
The biggest question may be whether Reddick can repeat his spring success or whether Hamlin, Briscoe or another playoff contender can steal the spotlight.
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One thing is certain: the road to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship begins at one of the most unforgiving tracks in NASCAR.
And at Darlington, surviving the “Lady in Black” may be just as important as winning.
Prediction Denny Hamlin Extends His Chase Lead And Takes The White Flag In Darlington!
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