What to Watch Out for in the Cup Race at Darlington

What’s Happening?

The now unofficial NASCAR throwback weekend marches on with the classic Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. It is going to be a hot one in Darlington, South Carolina so, if you’re in attendance, be sure to drink plenty of water. If you’re watching from home, though, there are a lot of things to keep an eye on this afternoon. For starters, 23XI continued their stellar start to 2026 by sweeping the front row. Can they get it done today? Both Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick are strong at the track. Or can a crafty veteran like Brad Keselowski or Kyle Busch snap their lengthy winless streaks?

Here’s what you need to watch out for in today’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington.

Too. Tough. To. Tame.

Darlington! Coverage begins Sunday at 1:30p ET on FS1 and streaming on @watchfoxone » https://t.co/kIpAkwpvNQ pic.twitter.com/St0Y5YpbrU

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 20, 2026

Pre-Race Fast Notes

• As referenced before, the 23XI duo of Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace continue to flex their pace as they swept the front row. It has been a good start to the year for Toyota in general as they’ve won four of the five races to start the season. They’re on track to get it done again here today. Tyler Reddick is shooting for his fourth win of the year while Bubba is going for his first after four top 10s to start the season with a worst finish of 11th.
• Today’s main story is the story of teammates. While 23XI swept the front row, Hendrick Motorsports swept the second row with Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson while the RFK duo of Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher claimed the third. Of those four, Keselowski and Larson are the favorites, as both have recent wins at the track. But Buescher and Elliott are no slouches either. Expect a strong run from all of these cats this afternoon at the Track Too Tough to Tame.
• Missing this weekend his HMS driver Alex Bowman, who continues to suffer from vertigo symptoms. In his place is yesterday’s winner, Justin Allgaier. Allgaier rolls off in the 15th position. Expect a strong run from him as he runs well at the track in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and keep Alex Bowman in your thoughts. We’re wishing him a speedy recovery.
• The layout for the race is as follows: 90-95-108. Teams are granted 11 sets of tires and the fuel window is suspected to be between 70-75 laps.
• Coverage for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway begins at 3 PM EST on FS1.

Starting Lineup

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