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League: NASCARSport: MotorsportsCountry: United StatesCategory: Scores & Results

NASCAR cancels Darlington qualifying due to lightning as Reddick takes pole

7 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 6, 2026, 1:02 AM

Last updated Sep 6, 2026

NASCAR cancels Darlington qualifying due to lightning as Reddick takes pole
Summary

NASCAR officials canceled practice and qualifying sessions for the Cup Series at Darlington Raceway on Saturday due to persistent lightning in the area. Despite the absence of rain, the dangerous weather conditions forced the cancellation of all on-track activity for the day. Per league protocols, the starting lineup for the Southern 500 will now be determined by a metric formula based on owner standings and recent race performance. This calculation places Tyler Reddick on the pole, with Daniel Suarez starting alongside him on the front row. Several Chase drivers, including Carson Hocevar and Chris Buescher, will begin the event further back in the field. The race is scheduled to proceed tomorrow night at Darlington.

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By the Numbers
  • •Severe weather and lightning forced the cancellation of all Saturday activity at Darlington Raceway.
  • •The starting order follows a weighted metric of owner standings and previous race results.
  • •Tyler Reddick starts from the pole with Daniel Suarez in the second position.
  • •The Southern 500 serves as the opening race of the 2026 Chase.
Latest Updates
  • 1:02 AMYahoo Sports — NASCAR Darlington Starting Lineup: Full Grid After Qualifying Is Canceled
  • 12:27 AMESPN F1 — Reddick on Darlington pole after qualifying nixed
  • 11:35 PMYahoo Sports — Weather Cancels Darlington Qualifying Tyler Reddick Lands Pole
  • 10:16 PMRacer — Darlington qualifying canceled, Reddick to start from pole
  • 10:08 PMYahoo Sports — NASCAR Cup Darlington Southern 500 starting lineup after lightning cancels qualifying
  • 10:08 PMMotorsport.com — NASCAR Cup Darlington Southern 500 starting lineup after lightning cancels qualifying
  • 10:07 PMYahoo Sports — NASCAR Cup Darlington Lineup Set After Qualifying Canceled
What they're saying
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NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Darlington Raceway has been canceled due to inclement weather, meaning the starting lineup for Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 will be set without drivers making a qualifying lap. The cancellation puts Tyler Reddick on the pole, with Daniel Suárez joining him on the front row for the opening race of […] The post NASCAR Darlington Starting Lineup: Full Grid After Qualifying Is Canceled appeared first on HEAVY.

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Unfortunately, constant lightning on a very hot day in Darlington forced NASCAR to cancel Cup Series qualifying for the very first race of the 2026 Chase...even without a single drop of rain. As a result, the metric will set the starting lineup, which is a weighted average of a car's place in the owner standings (30%), and the entry's finish in the most recent race (70%). Tyler Reddick, who ...Keep reading

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The NASCAR Cup Series playoff opener at Darlington Raceway got an unexpected twist Saturday afternoon. Practice and qualifying for the Cook Out Southern 500 were canceled because of lightning and severe weather in the area , meaning drivers never got the opportunity to put down a qualifying lap. NASCAR ultimately used its established metric to…

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