Darlington Raceway hosts NASCAR Cup Series and O'Reilly Auto Parts Series openers

The NASCAR Cup Series and O'Reilly Auto Parts Series begin the 2026 postseason this weekend at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. The Cook Out Southern 500 serves as the final Crown Jewel race of the season and marks the first of 10 events to determine the Cup Series champion. Practice and qualifying sessions for both series are scheduled throughout Saturday, followed by the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Fleetio 200 that evening. Sunday concludes the weekend with the Cook Out Southern 500 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Denny Hamlin enters the weekend as the Cup Series standings leader, while Justin Allgaier holds the top position in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series standings. Broadcast coverage will be split between USA Network, The CW, and ESPN Unlimited, with additional access provided through the HBO Max Driver Cam.

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