Chase Briscoe dominated the opening race of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, leading 309 of 367 laps to take the checkered flag in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 31.
The 30-year-old Indiana native became the first driver to win back-to-back Southern 500 race since Greg Biffle in 2005 and 2006, when the race was called the Dodge Charger 500. This win marked the fourth of Briscoe’s Cup career.
Despite leading nearly every lap – aside from when the lead changed hands during green-flag pit stops – Briscoe had to fight to the end to secure the victory as Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones made furious charges on the leader in the closing laps. Reddick closed to within a 10th of second before Briscoe held on to edge Reddick by 0.408 seconds and Jones by a second.
“That was way harder than it needed it to be,” Briscoe said after climbing out of his No. 19 Toyota. “So cool to win two Southern 500s in a row. This is my favorite race of the year. The atmosphere here is unlike anywhere else. This was great way to start our playoffs, and man, that was a lot of fun.”
Briscoe won this same race last year when it was the regular-season finale to clinch a berth in the 2024 playoffs. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver made this year’s playoffs after winning at Pocono Raceway on June 22, 2025.
‘This is definitely what we are capable of doing,’ Briscoe said. ‘We haven’t been able to go out and dominate a race like that (before today), but the potential has been there from Day 1.’
Sixteen drivers are competing to win the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship, but the playoff field will be trimmed to 12 in two weeks after the first elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Briscoe, now, is guaranteed a berth in the Round of 12 with his victory at Darlington.
Sunday night’s race was a strong one for Toyota drivers, who swept the top four positions and claimed six of the Top 10. And it was an especially good showing for Legacy Motor Club, with John Hunter Nemechek joining Erik Jones in the top four.
But it was a mixed bag for the 16 championship contenders. Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin, also driving Toyotas, were the only playoff drivers to join Briscoe and Wallace in the Top 10.
Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports, which put four drivers in the playoffs, had a rough night; Chase Elliott’s was the team’s highest finisher in 17th. Team Penske didn’t fare much better, with Austin Cindric finishing 12th to lead the organization’s three drivers.
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue on Sunday, Sept. 7 with the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
NASCAR Darlington race results
Top 10 finishers in NASCAR Southern 500 at Darlington, with starting positions in parentheses, car number, make and seconds behind winner.
(2) Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
(4) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota, 0.408 seconds back
(19) Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota, -0.537 seconds
(30) John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota, -1.250 seconds
(22) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet, -6.158 seconds
(8) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota, -6.712 seconds
(1) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota, -12.013 seconds
(23) Kyle Busch, No. 18 Chevrolet, -12.140 seconds
(26) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet, -15.230 seconds
(15) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford, -15.381 seconds
FULL RESULTS: Final leaderboard of the Cook Out Southern 500
NASCAR playoff standings after Darlington race
Here are the updated playoff points following Chase Briscoe’s win in the Cook Out Southern 500 (x-clinched berth in Round of 12):
x-Chase Briscoe (2) ….. 2,070
Denny Hamlin (4) ….. 2,067
Kyle Larson (3)….. 2,062
Tyler Reddick (0) ….. 2,059
Bubba Wallace (1) ….. 2,049
William Byron (2) ….. 2,049
Ryan Blaney (2) ….. 2,046
Ross Chastain (1) ….. 2,045
Austin Cindric (1) ….. 2,036
Christopher Bell (3) ….. 2,035
Chase Elliott (1) ….. 2,033
Shane van Gisbergen (4) ….. 2,027
Joey Logano (1) ….. 2,024
Austin Dillon (1) ….. 2,019
Alex Bowman (0) ….. 2,008
Josh Berry (1) ….. 2,008
Chase Briscoe wins Southern 500 at Darlington
Chase Briscoe held off a furious charge from Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones to with the Cook Out Southern 500 for the second consecutive year. Reddick closed to within a 10th of second before Briscoe held on, taking the checkered flag by 0.408 over Reddick and 0.537 over Jones.
With the victory, Briscoe becomes the first driver to clinch a berth in the Round of 12 of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
NASCAR at Darlington: Lap 347 update
With 20 laps to go in the Cook Out Southern 500, Tyler Reddick is trying to chase down leader Chase Briscoe in the closing laps of the race, with Erick Jones closing in as well. Briscoe has dominated the race, but Reddick and Jones have been faster as the laps wind down.
NASCAR at Darlington: Lap 313 update
Derek Kraus’s car caught fire and came to a stop in Turn 2, bringing out the caution flag with 54 laps remaining in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington. Playoff driver Ryan Blaney was on pit road at the time of the caution but will remain on the lead lap. Playoff driver Chase Elliott, who was racing one lap down, received the free pass.
Chase Briscoe retained the lead after pit stops and has now led 258 laps. Tyler Reddick outdueled John Hunter Nemechek on the race off pit road and will restart second.
NASCAR at Darlington: Lap 300 update
With 67 laps remaining in the Cook Out Southern 500, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe leads, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick by 1.468 seconds. Legacy Motor Club drivers John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones run third and fourth, respectively, and 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace sits in fifth as Toyota drivers claim the top five positions.
NASCAR at Darlington: Lap 275 update
A number of playoff drivers, including race leader Chase Briscoe, made green-flag pit stops for gas and ties. Drivers will have to make at least once more stop before the race’s scheduled end of 367 laps.
Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott and Shane van Gisbergen are among the playoff drivers that have delayed pit stops.
NASCAR at Darlington: Lap 265 update
Chase Briscoe has now led 214 of 265 laps of the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington. Tyler Reddick runs second and Ross Chastain third. Legacy Motor Club is having a stellar night, with drivers John Hunter Nemechek running fourth and Erik Jones running fifth.
Chase Briscoe sweeps first two stages at Darlington
Chase Briscoe won both the first and second stages in a dominating performance over the first 230 laps in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Briscoe has led 182 laps over the two stages.
Tyler Reddick finished second, Erik Jones third, Kyle Larson fourth and AJ Allmendinger fifth. Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, John Hunter Nemechek, Ryan Preece and William Byron rounded out the top 10.
Six of the top 10 are playoff drivers: Briscoe, Reddick, Larson, Chastain, Wallace and Byron.
Ryan Blaney spins on restart on Lap 209 at Darlington
Kyle Busch got loose on the restart, forcing Ryan Blaney to check up before Austin Dillon got into the back of Blaney’s No. 12 Ford. Blaney ended up spinning out toward the inside wall and cut his right front tire to bring out the caution on Lap 209. A playoff driver, Blaney saved his car from crashing into the wall and managed to keep his Ford from suffering major damage.
On the restart, leader playoff drivers Chase Briscoe and Tyler Reddick battled, but Briscoe kept the lead when the caution flag flew. Briscoe and Reddick will restart on the front row with less than 20 laps remaining in Stage 2.
Cody Ware brings out caution in Stage 2
Ryan Preece got into the back of Cody Ware, who spun in Turn 3 from 28th position, to bring out the caution flag on Lap 203. With 27 laps remaining in Stage 2, all the leaders came down pit road for more fuel in tires. Playoff driver Christopher Bell made multiple stops so his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team could repair damage to his Toyota.
Chase Briscoe again maintained the top position, coming out ahead of Tyler Reddick, Erik Jones and Kyle Larson. But Briscoe is still reporting voltage issues, with a possible malfunction of his alternator.
Kyle Larson begins green-flag pit stops in Stage 2
Kyle Larson started a flurry of green-flag pit stops in Stage 2 in the Cook Out Southern 500 on Lap 187 of a scheduled 367. Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric and Christopher Bell delayed their pit stops, coming down for fuel and tires nearly five laps later.
Chase Briscoe, who has dominated the race, returned to the lead after pit stops were completed. But the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has reported electricty and voltage issues in his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
NASCAR at Darlington: Lap 171 update
Erik Jones, who has had some of his best career races at Darlington Raceway, passed Ross Chastain to move up to second behind race leader Chase Briscoe. Jones has won the Southern 500 at Darlington twice for two his three career NASCAR Cup Series victories.
Carson Hocevar brings out caution flag at Darlingon
Carson Hocevar spun off Turn 4 from 19th position, bringing out the caution flag on Lap 152 of 367. Hocevar had been loose for multiple laps and made at least one save, but could not save his car from ultimately spinning across the track.
All the leaders came down pit road for fuel and tires during the caution flag. Denny Hamlin, who had been running inside the Top 3 for most of the race, had a disastrous pit stop and will restart at the back of the pack among lead-lap drivers. William Byron and Ryan Blaney also had slow pit stops.
Chase Briscoe kept his lead on the pit stop exchange, with Ross Chastain coming out second, Tyler Reddick third and Kyle Larson fourth.
Chase Briscoe regains lead at Darlington
After losing the lead on the restart to begin Stage 2, Chase Briscoe accelerated past Denny Hamlin seven laps later to surge back to the front in the Cook Out Southern 500. Briscoe led 85 laps to win the opening stage.
Denny Hamlin takes lead on restart at Darlington
Denny Hamlin beat Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe on a restart to open Stage 2 of the Cook Out Southern 500 on Lap 126 of 267. Hamlin has five career victories at Darlington Raceway, the most among active drivers.
Chase Briscoe wins Stage 1 at Darlington
Chase Briscoe, who started second, took the lead on the opening lap and led 85 of 115 laps in the first stage to score 10 stage points. Tyler Reddick finished second, and pole sitter Denny Hamlin third, as Toyota drivers swept the top three spots.
Ross Chastain, in a Cheverolet, finished fourth and Bubba Wallace in a Toyota finished fifth. Kyle Larson (Chevrolet), Christopher Bell (Toyota), Austin Cindric (Ford), John Hunter Nemechek (Toyota) and Ryan Blaney (Ford) rounded out the top 10.
All of the drivers in the top 10 minus Nemechek are in the playoffs.
NASCAR at Darlington Lap 75 update
Chase Briscoe, who has led nearly every lap of this opening stage, came down pit road for fuel and tires on Lap 75 during a wave of green-flag pit stops. These pit stops mark the second of two under green during the first stage, which is scheduled for 115 laps.
NASCAR at Darlington: Lap 37 update
Chase Briscoe, who has led every lap of the Cook Out Southern 500 so far, led a wave of drivers down pit road for green-flag pit stops. The opening stage is 115 laps, and the race is scheduled for 367 laps.
Playoff driver crashes in opening laps at Darlington
Josh Berry got loose and careened into Tyler Reddick before slamming the back of his No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford into the outside wall on the first lap of the race. Reddick was just able to save his No. 45 Toyota from hitting the wall, but Berry’s vehicle suffered major damage, and he was forced to drive it back to the garage for repairs.
Chase Briscoe, who started second, was able to grab the lead from pole sitter Denny Hamlin on that first lap and maintained it on the restart.
How to watch NASCAR race today: Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington
Date: Sunday, Aug. 31
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
Location: Darlington Raceway
Stream the NASCAR race at Darlingon on Fubo
Which drivers made the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
Here are the reset NASCAR standings entering the first playoff race at Darlington Raceway, with points and number of wins in parentheses:
Kyle Larson (3)….. 2,032
William Byron (2) ….. 2,032
Denny Hamlin (4) ….. 2,029
Ryan Blaney (2) ….. 2,026
Christopher Bell (3) ….. 2,023
Shane van Gisbergen (4) ….. 2,022
Chase Elliott (1) ….. 2,013
Chase Briscoe (1) ….. 2,010
Bubba Wallace (1) ….. 2,008
Austin Cindric (1) ….. 2,008
Ross Chastain (1) ….. 2,007
Joey Logano (1) ….. 2,007
Josh Berry (1) ….. 2,006
Tyler Reddick (0) ….. 2,006
Austin Dillon (1) ….. 2,005
Alex Bowman (0) ….. 2,002
Who is starting on pole for NASCAR playoff race at Darlington?
Denny Hamlin, who has won four times this season and has five career victories at Darlington Raceway to lead all active drivers, will start on pole in the Cook Out Southern 500 in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. His JGR teammate Chase Briscoe, also a playoff driver, will start alongside Hamlin on the front frow.
What is the weather forecast for the NASCAR playoff race at Darlington?
Drivers, crew members and fans alike couldn’t have asked for better conditions for the Cook Out Southern 500. The Weather Channel is calling for sunny skies and temperatures right around 80 degrees when the green flag drops. After the sun goes down, skies will remain clear, and temperatures will fall into the 70s and perhaps high 60s for the checkered flag. Precipitation will not be a factor at all tonight.
What is the lineup for NASCAR playoff race at Darlington?
Here is the lineup for tonight’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (car number in parentheses; P=playoff driver):
(11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota
(19) Chase Briscoe (P), Toyota
(21) Josh Berry (P), Ford
(45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota
(5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet
(1) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet
(20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota
(23) Bubba Wallace (P), Toyota
(3) Austin Dillon (P), Chevrolet
(2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford
(24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet
(12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford
(7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
(22) Joey Logano (P), Ford
(17) Chris Buescher, Ford
(54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
(99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
(41) Cole Custer, Ford
(43) Erik Jones, Toyota
(88) Shane Van Gisbergen (P), Chevrolet
(9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet
(16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
(8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
(38) Zane Smith, Ford
(71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
(77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
(60) Ryan Preece, Ford
(34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
(48) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet
(42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
(10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
(6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
(35) Riley Herbst, Toyota
(4) Noah Gragson, Ford
(47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
(51) Cody Ware, Ford
(44) Derek Kraus, Chevrolet
(66) Timmy Hill, Ford
How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Darlingon?
The Cook Out Southern 500 is 367 laps around the 1.366-mile track for a total of 501.32 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 115 laps; Stage 2: 115 laps; Stage 3: 137 laps.
Who won the most NASCAR Cup race at Darlington?
William Byron led 246 of 297 laps in the Goodyear 400 at Darlington on April 6, 2025, but the Hendrick Motorsports driver did not walk away with the tropy. Denny Hamlin powered through following a late-race caution to score the overtime victory, his second of four wins this season.
NASCAR Darlington playoff race betting odds
Here are the favorites to win the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, according to BetMGM odds (as of afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 31):
Denny Hamlin +475
Kyle Larson +500
William Byron +650
Tyler Reddick +700
Ryan Blaney +750
Christopher Bell +900
Chase Briscoe +900
Ross Chastain +1600
Josh Berry +1800
Bubba Wallace +2200
Joey Logano +2200
Chase Elliott +2500
What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Darlington start?
The Cook Out Southern 500 is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.
What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race at Darlington on?
The Cook Out Southern 500 will be broadcast on USA Network, the channel for most of the Cup Series playoffs. Pre-race coverage will start at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race at Darlington?
Yes, the Cook Out Southern 500 will be streamed on Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
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