What’s Happening?

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Darlington Raceway alongside the Xfinity Series this weekend. For the NASCAR Cup Series this is the cutoff race for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. There is one spot left for a first-time winner and three spots open. Darlington is fast and slippery. Playoff underdogs will have to fight hard for a win this weekend.

• Darlington Raceway is known for its odd egg shape, which, as the legend goes, is due to the land purchase avoiding a minnow pond. The track is also known for its high line and banking, which shoot cars out onto the straightaway like a pinball machine.
• Darlington Raceway hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series race in 1950 and has hosted two races initially from 1952 until 2004. The double returned in 2021, and traditionally, this race, The Southern 500, has taken place on Memorial Day weekend.
• The Xfinity Series first raced at Darlington in 1982, with its first year of double races in 1984, before ending in 2004. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Xfinity Series began racing at Darlington twice a year again in 2020.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times ET)

Saturday, August 31st – Cup Series Practice/Qualifying – Xfinity Practice/Qualifying/RACE

• 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Xfinity Series Practice/Qualifying
• 12:35 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Cup Series Practice/Qualifying on USA
• 3:30 p.m. – Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 on USA

Sunday, September 1st – Cup Series RACE

• 6:00 p.m. – Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500

Race Facts

Darlington Raceway

• Year Built: 1950
• Length: 1.366 mile
• Shape: Egg-Shaped Oval
• Banking: 25 Degrees in Turns 1 and 2; 23 Degrees in Turns 3 and 4; 3 Degrees on Frontstretch; 2 Degrees on Backstretch
• Surface: Asphalt
• Lights?: Yes
• Rain Tires?: No

Xfinity Series

• Race Length: 147 Laps (200 Miles)
• Stages: Laps 45 Laps (Stages 1 & 2), 57 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winner: Denny Hamlin (Fall 2023)

Former winners in the Field:

• Brandon Jones (2020)
• Chase Elliott (2014)
• Cole Custer (2019)
• Joey Logano (2012)
• Justin Allgaier (Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2024)
• Noah Gragson (Fall 2021, Fall 2022

Cup Series

• Race Length: 367 Laps (501.32 Miles)
• Stages: 115 Laps (Stage 1&2), 137 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winner: Kyle Larson (Fall 2023)

Former winners in the Field:

• Brad Keselowski (2018, Spring 2024)
• Denny Hamlin (2010, 2017, Spring 2020, Fall 2021)
• Erik Jones (2019, Fall 2022)
• Joey Logano (Spring 2022)
• Kyle Larson (Fall 2023)
• Martin Truex Jr. (2016, Spring 2021)
• William Byron (Spring 2023)

Entry Lists

Xfinity Series

There are 38 cars for 40 spots, no cars will be sent home. Notable entries include:

• Chad Finchum – No. 14 – SS-Green Light Racing
• Joey Logano – No. 15 – AM Racing
• Chase Elliott – No. 17 – Hendrick Motorsports
• Joe Graf Jr. – No. 19 – Joe Gibbs Racing
• Christopher Bell – No. 20 – Joe Gibbs Racing
• Corey Heim – No. 26 – Sam Hunt Racing
• Noah Gragson – No. 30 – Rette Jones Racing
• TBA – No. 35 – Joey Gase Motorsports
• Garrett Smithley – No. 45 – Alpha Prime Racing
• Carson Kvapil – No. 88 – JR Motorsports
• Ross Chastain – No. 92 – DGM Racing
• Greg Van Alst – No. 07 – SS-Green Light Racing

Cup Series

There are 37 cars for 40 spots. No cars will be sent home. Notable entries include:

• Cody Ware – No. 15 – Rick Ware Racing
• Shane Van Gisbergen – No. 16 – Kaulig Racing
• Timmy Hill – No. 66 – MBM Motorsports

Qualifying Order

Xfinity Series

Cup Series

What To Watch For

Xfinity Series

• The Xfinity Series is four races away from the start of their playoffs at Kansas Speedway. In the remaining races, drivers have the challenge of a drafting track, road course, and short track. However, Darlington is a beast of its own. Four open spots remain in the playoffs, all of which could have first-time winners in the next four tracks.
• The Xfinity race at Darlington has been a highlight of the season for years. With late restarts and dive bombing, this track and the Xfinity Cars work well together. As some drivers in this field have taught fans in the past, just because your favorite driver is in third on the last lap doesn’t mean much.

Cup Series

• Three spots remain in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. This, the cutoff race, will certainly be exciting. Notable former such as Martin Truex Jr. and Erik Jones have yet to lock themselves into the playoffs. Jones 277 points out of the playoffs; however, that Jones boy can race with the best at Darlington.
• The spring race at Darlington had a thrilling finish, and the leaders made contact twice in closing laps. At one point, Brad Keselowski was in third. After Chris Buescher and Tyler Reddick made contact, he won. Chris Buescher is notably the cutoff driver for the playoffs. He will be hungry to redeem himself this week.

Note: This article will be updated as more information about the weekend comes out.