NASCAR: 2024 Southern 500 qualifying updates, full starting lineup

As a devoted NASCAR enthusiast with decades of racing passion under my belt, I can hardly contain my excitement for the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway this Sunday night! The track’s unique egg-shape and its reputation as “Too Tough To Tame” have always made it one of my favorites.

On this coming Sunday evening, Darlington Raceway is set to stage the 26th and concluding event of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season calendar.

Despite the Cook Out Southern 500 traditionally opening the four-round, 10-race playoffs from 2020 to 2023 and maintaining its slot on Labor Day weekend, the three-week summer break due to NBC’s coverage of the Summer Olympics in Paris, France causes the season to conclude a week later.

Consequently, Darlington has two scheduled races for the regular season now, which puts it among three tracks running twice prior to the playoffs. Known as the “Too Tough To Tame”, the four-turn, 1.366 mile (2.198-kilometer) egg-shaped oval in Darlington, South Carolina had already hosted a race back in May.

For this coming Sunday’s 366-lap race, the conventional one-car qualifying system will decide the starting grid, and this arrangement is based on a four-factor metric that NASCAR has been employing since 2020. You can learn more about how this formula works by following this link.

In this race setup, the top five drivers from both groups will move forward to a competition called the shootout, where they’ll battle it out for the prime starting position. Drivers not making it past the first group will take positions on the outside lane, while those falling short in the second group will start on the inside lane.

Since our race at Darlington in May, there’s been a major shift in the qualifying process. Now, instead of a direct 10-driver competition, the pole position contest is organized in groups.

Regarding the pole position, although the quickest driver across all groups will maintain their spot, an equally intriguing scenario unfolds: a competitor from the opposing group, who might rank as low as sixth place in the overall standings, is poised to line up alongside them on the front row.

Drivers from the second group will occupy the remainder of the outer lane, while drivers from the first group will take up the remaining space in the inner lane.

Access a full qualifying order here.

NASCAR at Darlington: Full starting lineup

Check back for a full starting lineup

Group A – Advanced

Group B – Advanced

Tune in to USA Network at 6:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, September 1 for the live broadcast of the Cook Out Southern 500 from Darlington Raceway. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson is the reigning race winner, and RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski won at the track back in May. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale!

2024-08-31 20:02