The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs open Sunday night with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, starting at 6 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Drivers face the challenge of navigating Darlington’s notoriously difficult surface, where minimizing mistakes is critical to advancing through the Round of 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Darlington event.
The “Lady in Black” is well known for punishing even small errors, making Darlington a true test for drivers attempting to secure their position in the postseason. With a long race night ahead, the risk of mishaps is amplified, necessitating careful strategy and execution for those looking to remain in contention.
Drivers Emphasize Error-Free Racing to Advance
Alex Bowman, who barely clinched his playoff berth during the regular-season finale at Daytona, understands the need to focus on steady, conservative racing amid the pressure. Positioned 16th on the playoff grid, with no room for mistakes, Bowman is fighting to maintain his place and move beyond the first round.
“That’s the biggest thing about Darlington for me is just avoiding mistakes and racing the race track and kind of letting the rest happen,”
Bowman said.
Bowman lies five points below the current cutoff line for the Round of 12 but remains close enough to challenge for a better standing. His position contrasts sharply with that of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson, who start their playoff runs with significant point cushions.
Hendrick Motorsports Stars Start Strong in the Playoffs
Regular Season Champion William Byron and 2021 series champion Kyle Larson enter the playoffs ranked well above the elimination threshold, each carrying 32 playoff points. This lead gives them a substantial advantage in the early stages of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Darlington round.
Byron expressed confidence in his team’s approach to the first round and their ability to capitalize on the tracks ahead. He noted the importance of building on recent successes to ease pressure and continue momentum.
“I think, in our position, we’ve had that conversation of just trying to stack some more points and stack some more race wins,”
Byron said.
I think we’ve been in this position before, and we feel like we kind of understand the cadence of the first round.
He singled out Darlington as a track that plays to their strengths compared to other venues such as WWT Raceway and Bristol, which can be more unpredictable.
“It’d be really nice to go out there and win one of these just to take the pressure off and have some forward momentum as well. They’re good tracks for us. I think Darlington’s the best in the first round for us. The other two (WWT Raceway and Bristol) can be hit-or-miss for us, but who knows? We could be really fast at those. So just, yeah, we’ll see.”
Joey Logano Poised to Defy the Odds Despite Playoff Pressure
Three-time and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano is currently 12th in the playoff standings, holding a slim one-point lead above the elimination line. Despite his precarious position, Logano remains optimistic as his Team Penske group tends to peak during this phase of the season.
With a reputation that precedes him, Logano is aware that his past championship success makes him a marked competitor among his peers. Nevertheless, he embraces this reality and trusts in his team‘s preparation heading into Darlington.
“I think we’ve kind of ruined the under-the-radar thing at this point, which is fine,”
Logano said.
It’s just kind of a unique position for us to be in. I think if you look at our stats, people would say you’re under the radar, but I think they look at the whole body of work over the last 10 years and they’d say, ‘Well, I don’t think they’re under the radar that much.’”
“It’s a very unique spot to be in. I think we have a really solid race team in the Playoffs and that’s why I look forward to this part of the year every year.”
Defending Cook Out Southern 500 Winner Aims for Consistency and Victory
Chase Briscoe enters the race positioned eighth in the playoff standings, leading the cutoff line by four points. As last year’s winner of the Cook Out Southern 500—previously the regular-season finale—Briscoe recognizes the importance of strong performance in the coming rounds to improve his playoff standing.
He stressed execution as the key factor for his team over the first two rounds, hoping to secure crucial wins that will provide a cushion going into the later stages.
“We’re already starting 20, 30 points behind, so that’s the big thing I think for us is we have to be able to execute in these first two rounds and hopefully win a race or two,”
Briscoe said.
If we can do that and shorten that gap Playoff-point-wise, I think it puts us in a better spot.”
“For me, just from an execution standpoint, that’s the biggest thing and just trying to win a race these first two rounds, just trying to get more Playoff points to set us up for (an) easier way to that final four.”
Darlington’s Role as a Deciding Factor in Playoff Advancement
Given Darlington Raceway’s reputation as a challenging venue, its influence on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Darlington event cannot be overstated. With multiple races in the Round of 16 and high stakes at play, the track’s uneven surface and demanding layout put both driver skill and team strategy to the test.
The Cook Out Southern 500 serves as an early indicator of who can maintain composure under pressure, with the likelihood that errors here could mean the difference between advancing or elimination. The outcomes will shape the playoff field as the competition intensifies toward the season finale.
With drivers like Bowman fighting to stay alive, established champions like Logano aiming to defend their legacy, and strong contenders including Byron, Larson, and Briscoe looking to capitalize on points leads, Darlington promises to be a pivotal battleground during the first playoff round.
