Driver talent will truly be tested this weekend, as Darlington Raceway sets the stage for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale, the Cook Out Southern 500, this Sunday, September 1 at 6 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Only three spots are still available in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, and this is the final chance the drivers have to lock themselves into the postseason.
Facing the competitors Sunday night is the historic Darlington Raceway, which is unlike any other track on the schedule. The 1.366-mile, egg-shaped, paved oval has hosted 126 NASCAR Cup Series races dating back to 1950, and with its rich tradition of history it has become one of the most iconic tracks amongst competitors, earning the nickname ‘The Lady in Black’, and this weekend’s Cook Out Southern 500 is considered a ‘Crown Jewel’ event.
This season marks the first time Darlington Raceway has hosted the NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale, race No. 26 on the schedule, since the inception of the Playoffs in the series in 2004.
Darlington Raceway is the fourth different track to host the regular season finale in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2004, joining Richmond Raceway (2004-2017), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2018-2019) and Daytona International Speedway (2020-2023).
Looking back at the significance of Darlington Raceway
Originally, Darlington Raceway was built as a 1.25-mile paved speedway in 1949-1950 and hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history, and the first event on asphalt on September 4, 1950. A total of 75 cars competed in the inaugural event and Curtis Turner won the pole at 82.034 MPH, and the race was won by Johnny Mantz (Plymouth, 75.250 MPH). The inaugural Darlington Cup race took 6 hours, 38 minutes, and 40 seconds to complete.
Since then, Darlington Raceway has undergone some changes through the years. In 1953, the track was re-measured to 1.375-miles. Then in 1970, the track was re-configured to 1.366-miles following the spring race of that season. The track was repaved in 1995 and then again prior to the 2008 season.
Over the years the iconic facility has become known amongst its competitors as ‘the track too tough to tame’. In total, the 126 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway have produced 55 different pole winners and 54 different race winners.
This weekend, NASCAR Cup Series on-track activity at Darlington Raceway will begin with practice followed by Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 12:30 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Regular Season Championship comes down to the final race at Darlington
With just one race to go in the regular season, Tyler Reddick managed to extend his points lead at Daytona and now has a 17-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott in second, and an 18-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson in third. Reddick will look to close out the regular season this weekend at Darlington Raceway and hold onto the points lead and win the Regular Season Championship, becoming the sixth different driver to accomplish the feat.
