The 2026 Daytona 500 champion from Corning, California, was awarded the first pole position of the 2026 Chase for the Cup Series based on a qualifying metric formula due to inclement weather and lightning canceling the event's practice and qualifying sessions.

On Sunday night under the lights, NASCAR will be racing at Darlington for the Cook Out Southern 500 to start the 2026 Chase. Darlington is a unique 1.33-mile egg shaped oval where tire wear is extreme, and the driver is a difference maker.

For the first time since 2013, NASCAR returns to the Chase format as the postseason begins with the 2026 Cook Out Southern 500.

DARLINGTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Gov. Henry McMaster will serve as the honorary pace car rider for Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Darlington Raceway announced the honor this week, saying McMaster will take part in pre-race ceremonies before riding in the passenger seat of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse that will lead the

The NASCAR Cup Series teams that tackle the Cook Out Southern 500 this weekend will have the same Goodyear tire set-up from their last visit to Darlington Raceway, just with more of them. The allotment grows to 15 total sets for Sunday\"s opener to The Chase presented by Mobil 1 (5 p.