NASCAR Cup Series begins the Chase postseason at Darlington Raceway

4 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 1:30 AM

Last updated Sep 7, 2026

NASCAR Cup Series begins the Chase postseason at Darlington Raceway
Summary

The NASCAR Cup Series begins its postseason tonight with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. The green flag is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET, marking the first of 10 races in the Chase for the Cup. Denny Hamlin enters the playoff field as the points leader following a regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway. That qualifying race featured a victory by RFK Racing's Ryan Preece, who secured his spot in the 16-driver postseason grid. With the points standings reset for the playoff run, the field of competitors now faces the demands of the egg-shaped Darlington oval. The event is scheduled to air on USA, with additional coverage options available through streaming services.

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By the Numbers
  • •The Southern 500 takes place today at 5 p.m. ET at Darlington Raceway.
  • •This race serves as the first of 10 events in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase.
  • •Denny Hamlin enters the postseason as the current points leader.
  • •Ryan Preece qualified for the 16-driver field after winning at Daytona International Speedway.
  • •The event is scheduled for broadcast on USA.
Latest Updates
  • 1:30 AMTennessean — NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington: Live updates, rain delay updates, leaderboard for Southern 500 - The Tennessean
  • 1:13 AMYahoo Sports — NASCAR results for Southern 500 race at Darlington, full finishing order
  • 7:30 PMYahoo Sports — How to watch the NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500 without cable tonight
  • 3:04 PMYahoo Sports — Watch the NASCAR Southern 500, here's how to stream it live with Sling
What they're saying
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Here's how to watch the NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, including start time, TV channel and live streaming options without cable.

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The NASCAR Cup Series' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway is Sunday, Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. ET. Here's how to watch it live on Sling.

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The NASCAR Cup Series continues the 2026 season with the Southern 500 at Darlington. Follow our NASCAR race updates here.

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