Chase Briscoe stepped up just when it counted.

As the NASCAR Cup Series approached its final race before the playoffs, Briscoe needed a victory in the Cook Out Southern 500 to seize a playoff berth. He achieved this as several other competitors also made significant efforts to secure their spots in the playoffs.

Before the season-ending race, 13 out of 16 playoff positions were already filled. Martin Truex Jr. secured his place even after crashing on the second lap, owing to his solid points lead. Meanwhile, Ty Gibbs skillfully navigated the race to maintain his position, clinching the last playoff spot based on points.

But Briscoe’s victory and his consequent entry into the playoffs were the highlights, showcasing Darlington’s reputation as one of the toughest tracks on the NASCAR circuit. Similar to the recent Daytona race, a new playoff driver emerged right at the end of the final race before the Round of 16.

Catch the highlights from Darlington Raceway:

Tyler Reddick claims regular season championship

Despite facing health issues, Reddick’s performance in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota was just enough to secure the regular season title. Kyle Larson, in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, finished the regular season just one point behind Reddick.

Chase Briscoe conquers the Southern 500

Briscoe clinched a playoff position with his first win of the season, finishing just ahead of Kyle Busch, who ended the race less than half a second behind Briscoe. Busch’s near victory led to him missing the playoffs. This win eliminated both Buescher and Wallace from playoff contention, while Ty Gibbs, driving the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, secured the final playoff spot based on points.

Kyle Busch’s late surge narrows race to two contenders

With fewer than ten laps remaining, the race was likely heading towards either Chase Briscoe of No. 14 Stewart-Haas or Kyle Busch of No. 8 Richard Childress Racing. Busch was trailing Briscoe by just 0.25 seconds, and the winner would secure a playoff spot—while the runner-up would be eliminated from contention.

Seventh caution waves after multi-car incident

Wallace and Gibbs, both in pursuit of playoff spots, were caught up in a significant crash that took out several cars.

Wallace’s chances for the playoffs likely ended with this incident, while Buescher escaped without major damage. Gibbs, however, was still in a good position; he needed to finish 26 places behind Buescher to be knocked out of the playoffs, according to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass.

When the race restarted after the caution, there would be fewer than 20 laps left in the Southern 500.

Briscoe takes the lead

After the sixth caution, Briscoe made an aggressive move on the inside in the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, overtaking Larson, who had led for a significant portion of the race in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

Another caution for debris on the front stretch

Debris from Hocevar’s No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet caused a third caution in recent minutes, prompting all but Chastain on the lead lap to pit during the yellow flag.

With 26 laps remaining, the race was poised to determine the winner. A first-time winner this season would secure a playoff spot. There was also a battle for the final playoff position between Wallace in the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota and Buescher in the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford, where Wallace needed to finish 12 spots ahead of Buescher for a chance to make it.

Caution after contact between Buescher and Gilliland

A collision between Todd Gilliland in the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford and Buescher in the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford resulted in another caution, allowing several cars to pit with just over 40 laps left.

While Buescher reported that his car was in decent shape, this caution had playoff ramifications. Bubba Wallace, driving the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota, was trailing Buescher by three points for the last playoff position.

Caution after Carson Hocevar spins out

Hocevar, who began the race in the second position driving the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, spun on turn three with more than 50 laps remaining, resulting in another caution. During this time, Ross Chastain, in the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, found himself in the pit lane.

Larson maintains a commanding position as he prepares for the wave-around.

Larson maintains lead with 75 laps remaining

With 293 laps completed in the Southern 500, Larson continues to lead significantly. Chase Briscoe trails him by more than four seconds in second place.

Larson secures Stage 2 victory; Truex earns playoff berth

Larson, piloting the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, has been dominating the race on Sunday. He clinches the second stage of the Southern 500, surpassing Chase Briscoe, and adds 10 points to his tally against Reddick in the race for the regular-season championship.

Despite Chris Buescher’s efforts in the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford during Stage 2, he fails to gain any additional points. This allows Truex to secure a playoff position, even after a crash forced him out of the race early. Even if Buescher were to score the highest points possible in this race, Truex would still qualify based on points alone.

Kyle Larson stays in control during Stage 2

The 32-year-old driver is in a solid position to potentially claim his fifth win of the season and a regular-season title. After several pit stops in Stage 2, Larson remains over a second ahead of Chase Briscoe’s No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

Cook Out Southern 500 Stage 1 results

1. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (10 points)
2. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota (9 points)
3. Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (8 points)
4. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota (7 points)
5. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (6 points)
6. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (5 points)
7. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (4 points)
8. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (3 points)
9. Josh Berry, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (2 points)
10. Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford (1 point)

Kyle Larson takes Stage 1 victory

Larson, currently leading in the playoff standings, secured the first stage at Darlington in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. This marks his ninth stage win this season, allowing him the opportunity to compete for the regular-season title. He gained three points on Tyler Reddick, who leads the regular-season standings.

Reddick, facing an illness, has been requesting snacks like crackers and bread, along with TUMS antacid from his pit crew and has even mentioned being unwell during the race.

Austin Cindric penalized for tire issue

The driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford was given a pass-through penalty after his crew inadvertently allowed a tire to roll away during a pit stop.

Truex takes blame for race incident

After being involved in a collision on the second lap that knocked him out of the race, Truex admitted his fault during an interview with NBC Sports.

Blaney reports fine after incident

Blaney sought medical assistance following his crash with Truex due to an arm injury, but later confirmed in an update on USA’s broadcast that he was okay, stating he was simply in the wrong place when Truex overcorrected.

Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney collide early in the race

Truex Jr., driving the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, nearly collided with William Byron in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. He overcorrected and struck Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford. Both cars were eliminated from the race following the crash on lap two, and Blaney required medical attention.

“I’m an idiot,” Truex expressed over the radio after the crash.

The incident is critical for Truex, who needed a steady performance to maintain his playoff position and must now see if his points lead is sufficient to keep him within the top 16.

NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500: Viewing details

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024
• Time: 6 p.m. ET
• Location: Darlington Raceway
• TV: USA Network
• Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, fuboTV

Catch all the NASCAR excitement with a Fubo subscription

Who will begin in pole position for the NASCAR race at Darlington?

Bubba Wallace, in the No. 23 car for 23XI Racing, will start the race from the pole position.

What’s the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500?

Further details about the lineup, starting times, and more for the NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500 can be accessed here.

• 1. Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, Toyota
• 2. Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet
• 3. Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
• 4. Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
• 5. Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
• 6. Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Toyota
• 7. Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford
• 8. William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
• 9. Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
• 10. Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, Ford
• 11. Austin Cindric, Team Penske, Ford
• 12. Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, Ford
• 13. Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
• 14. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
• 15. Josh Berry, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
• 16. Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
• 17. Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
• 18. John Hunter Nemechek, Legacy Motor Club, Toyota
• 19. Corey Lajoie, Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet
• 20. Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
• 21. Justin Haley, Rick Ware Racing, Chevrolet
• 22. Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet
• 23. Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford
• 24. Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford
• 25. Daniel Hemric, Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet
• 26. Zane Smith, Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet
• 27. Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
• 28. Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Club, Toyota
• 29. Noah Gragson, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
• 30. Ryan Preece, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
• 31. Michael McDowell, Front Row Motorsports, Ford
• 32. Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet
• 33. Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports, Ford
• 34. Shane van Gisbergen, Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet
• 35. Kaz Grala, Rick Ware Racing, Chevrolet
• 36. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet
• 37. Timmy Hill, Power Source, Ford

NASCAR Cup Series History at Darlington Raceway

Darlington Raceway made its debut as NASCAR’s first superspeedway in 1950. It was also the venue for the inaugural 500-mile race in the Cup Series, the Southern 500, held on Labor Day of that year.

Which Drivers Without Wins Are Close to Making the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs?

The lineup for the playoffs is almost finalized, with thirteen drivers having already secured their spots by winning races.

Currently, Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs, and Chris Buescher sit in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh positions in the Cup Series standings, respectively, without any wins in the regular season. The point difference between Truex Jr. and Buescher is 37. If a driver outside of these three wins on Sunday, one of them will miss out on the playoffs.

The following drivers have already secured playoff positions:

• William Byron
• Daniel Suárez
• Kyle Larson
• Christopher Bell
• Denny Hamlin
• Chase Elliott
• Tyler Reddick
• Brad Keselowski
• Austin Cindric
• Ryan Blaney
• Joey Logano
• Alex Bowman
• Harrison Burton

When Do the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Begin?

The playoffs will kick off on Sunday, September 8, with the Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.

NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Schedule

Round of 16

• Sept. 8: Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart | Atlanta Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. ET | USA Network
• Sept. 15: Go Bowling at The Glen | Watkins Glen International | 3 p.m. ET | USA Network
• Sept. 21: Bass Pro Shops Night Race | Bristol Motor Speedway | 7:30 p.m. ET | USA Network

Round of 12

• Sept. 29: Hollywood Casino 400 presented by ESPN BET | Kansas Speedway | 3 p.m. ET | USA Network
• Oct. 6: YellaWood 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 2 p.m. ET | NBC
• Oct. 13: Bank of America Roval 400 | Charlotte Motor Speedway (Roval) | 2 p.m. ET | NBC

Round of 8

• Oct. 20: South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 2:30 p.m. ET | NBC
• Oct. 27: Straight Talk Wireless 400 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 2:30 p.m. ET | NBC
• Nov. 3: Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Speedway | 2 p.m. ET | NBC

Championship 4

• Nov. 10: NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race | Phoenix Raceway | 3 p.m. ET | NBC

Who Recently Won the NASCAR Cup Race at Darlington?

Brad Keselowski ended a 110-race winless streak by winning at Darlington during the Goodyear 400 in May. The 2012 Cup Series champion was competing with Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher when an incident forced them to pit, allowing Keselowski to take the lead for the final laps.

Who Won the Latest NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500?

Kyle Larson took home the victory at the 2023 Cook Out Southern 500, which marked the first round of the previous season’s NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Who Has the Most Wins at the NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500?

Jeff Gordon holds the record for the most wins in this race, boasting six victories (from 1995-1998, 2002, and 2007).

Who Holds the Record for Most NASCAR Wins at Darlington?

Driving legend and NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson has the highest number of wins at this racetrack, with a total of ten.

How Many Drivers Have Clinched NASCAR Cup Wins in the 2024 Season?

This season has seen fourteen drivers win regular-season NASCAR Cup races in 2024, including:

• William Byron (Daytona 500, EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, Cook Out 400)
• Daniel Suárez (Ambetter Health 400)
• Kyle Larson (Pennzoil 400, AdventHealth 400, Toyota/Save Mart 350, Brickyard 400)
• Christopher Bell (Shriners Children’s 500, Coca-Cola 600, YSL News 301)
• Denny Hamlin (Food City 500, Toyota Owners 400, Würth 400)
• Chase Elliott (Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400)
• Tyler Reddick (GEICO 500, FireKeepers Casino 400)
• Brad Keselowski (Goodyear 400)
• Austin Cindric (Enjoy Illinois 300)
• Ryan Blaney (Iowa Corn 350, Great American Getaway 400)
• Joey Logano (Ally 400)
• Alex Bowman (Grant Park 165)
• Harrison Burton (Coke Zero Sugar 400)
• Austin Dillon* (Cook Out 400)

*Note: Dillon won the race but lost playoff eligibility due to the circumstances.

Both Logano and Ty Gibbs claimed victories in the NASCAR All-Star Race and the NASCAR All-Star Open, respectively, yet these races do not contribute to the championship standings.

What Is the Distance for the NASCAR Cup Race at Darlington?

The Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington consists of 367 laps, split into three stages: Stages 1 and 2 each have 115 laps, while Stage 3 has 137 laps.

Which Channel Will Broadcast the NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500?

The 2024 Cook Out Southern 500 can be seen on USA Network, airing at 6 p.m. ET, with a pre-race show starting at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Is There a Live Stream Available for the NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500?

You can stream the Cook Out Southern 500 live on the NBCSports website and the NBC Sports app. It’s also available for streaming on Fubo.

What’s the Weather Forecast for the NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington?

The most recent weather updates from AccuWeather suggest a temperature of 72 degrees on Sunday night during the Cook Out Southern 500.