NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin with the Southern 500 at Darlington

The NASCAR Cup Series postseason begins Sunday, Sept. 6, at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. This 10-race stretch features a field of 16 drivers competing for the championship, with points reset for the final bracket. Denny Hamlin enters the opening race as the top seed and tournament favorite following a consistent regular season. Ryan Preece secured the final playoff berth last weekend at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona after a walk-off victory. Unlike previous formats, this version of the Chase features no elimination rounds, meaning the title will go to the driver who maintains the highest level of performance across the final 10 events. Drivers like Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and Chase Briscoe are also considered primary contenders in the field.

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