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Briscoe Looking for Darlington History with a Third Straight Southern 500 to Start NASCAR Playoffs
Qualifying was wiped out by lightning, and NASCAR set the 38-car field by metric, giving Reddick his eighth pole start of the season.
- The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the championship begins Sunday, Sept. 6, at Darlington Raceway with the Cook Out Southern 500, putting 16 contenders to the test at one of the sport's most demanding tracks.
- Nicknamed "The Lady in Black," the 1.366-mile Darlington Raceway challenges drivers with abrasive pavement; unlike the past 12 years, the 2026 format features no elimination races, meaning all 16 playoff drivers will compete for the title throughout the entire 10-race postseason.
- Severe weather forced officials to cancel Saturday's qualifying session at Darlington Raceway; consequently, Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing will start from the pole position, marking his eighth time starting first this season.
- Championship leader Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing enters with a 25-point advantage, while Chase Briscoe aims for a third consecutive Southern 500 victory to join Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon in racing history.
- The 10-race playoff schedule concludes at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November, where the 2026 Cup Series champion will be crowned after drivers manage tire wear and track conditions through the final standings.
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Reddick takes Darlington pole after weather cancels qualifying - NASCAR Cup
·London, United Kingdom
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NASCAR Qualifying Results and Starting Lineup for Darlington Southern 500 (2026)
On Saturday evening, the NASCAR Cup Series held the qualifying session for this weekend's race at Darlington Raceway, the Cook Out Southern 500. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans and lightning strikes (and subsequent delays) forced NASCAR to cancel both practice and qualifying. The starting lineup for this weekend's race was set by the metric. […]
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Total News Sources49
Leaning Left12Leaning Right2Center27Last UpdatedBias Distribution66% Center
Bias Distribution
- 66% of the sources are Center
66% Center
L 29%
C 66%
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