Darlington NASCAR Viewer's Guide: Everything you need to know for the Southern 500
16 drivers have locked themselves into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the championship, and now only 100 points separates them. Denny Hamlin is the No. 1 seed, while Ryan Preece is the No. 16 seed after a dramatic win at Daytona. The first of ten battlegrounds will be the historic Darlington Raceway, and the 2026 edition of the Southern 500. The History and Track Dimensions for ... Keep…
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the championship reaches the historic Darlington Raceway for the 2026 Southern 500. Ten drivers, separated by only 100 points, will compete in this grueling 500-mile race. Darlington, known as the "Lady in Black," is one of the most challenging tracks on the NASCAR schedule. Its egg-shaped oval, 1.366 miles in length, has steep banking in the turns and slight banking on the straightaways, making it a difficult track to master.
Denny Hamlin, the winningest driver in Cup Series history without a title, is the top seed at 2100 points and enters the postseason as the clear favorite. Ryan Preece, the runner-up in the 2025 championship, holds the 16th seed with 2075 points. The 2026 edition of the Southern 500 promises to be an intense battle for the championship, with only ten drivers left in the running.
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