As one of NASCAR’s most venerable venues, Darlington Raceway has a tenor all its own.
Engines cry, tires wail and supporters ululate. All amid a plume of burnt rubber and gasoline.
For hardcore race fans, it doesn’t get much better than this. The Southern 500 is one of NASCAR’s crown jewel races. This year’s iteration should be especially enticing. One reason why? It’s the final Cup Series race of the regular season.
With one race to go in the regular season standings, the playoff picture rests under a microscope. In the standings, 21 points separate 16th-place Chris Buescher from 17th-place Bubba Wallace. Ross Chastain and Kyle Busch find themselves in similarly precarious positions, as do more than a dozen other competitors who dream of postseason qualification — and the additional funds that brings.
The Lady in Black is as captivating as it is combative. She can mystify even the most steadfast of competitors, capable of imposing heartbreak on any of the gleaming chariots that litter her surface.
Sunday’s race could prove a similar story. Then again, volatility isn’t always a bad thing. And if Harrison Burton’s win last week taught us anything, a few unruly wrecks could bring an unsuspecting name to the top of the charts.
If it’s unpredictability you want, it’s unpredictability you’re going to get at Darlington, the track that is “too tough to tame.” We wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Sunday’s race at Darlington. Follow below for highlights, results and more as the Cup Series’ regular season closes with a flourish.
MORE: Watch the Southern 500 live with Fubo (free trial)
NASCAR at Darlington live updates, highlights from 2024 race
(All times Eastern)
6:20 p.m.: Back to green. Wallace out in the front. Looks like Reddick will go up there with him. Could be the most important race in 23XI Racing history.
6:13 p.m.: Truex and Blaney are done for the day. If there’s a new winner, things could get hairy for Truex— who is retiring at season’s end.
6:10 p.m.: CAUTION! Truex goes spiraling into the wall three laps in! He got too tight into the corner and collected Ryan Blaney in the process.
“I’m an idiot.”
Martin Truex Jr. loses it and takes Ryan Blaney with him! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/MD17i40cMr
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 1, 2024
6:09 p.m.: And we’re green from Darlington! Wallace and Carson Hocevar lead the way!
6:05 p.m.: As a reminder, Chris Buescher sits 21 points above the cut line. Bubba Wallace is the first driver out, while Ross Chastain is 27 points back of the No. 17. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs sit 58 and 39 points above the cut line, respectively. Win and you’re in. Here we go.
5:55 p.m.: Engines are a-go here at the Lady in Black. We’re about 10 minutes out from the start of tonight’s race.
5:05 p.m.: The weather appears to be holding up an hour from green flag. Rain appears to be headed to the north of the track.
An hour before 6:05p green flag and most of weather staying north. pic.twitter.com/2oJx7uFcJj
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 1, 2024
4:40 p.m.: Plenty of captivating decals for Sunday’s race. None have as much star power as Tyler Reddick’s, who will weave his way down the Lady in Black adorned by Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and Tiger Woods. Given the stakes for the 23XI Racing standout — Reddick can clinch a regular-season championship with a strong showing — it makes since why Reddick and his business partners would seek to take inspiration from three of sport’s greatest-ever talents.
Weekend colors. 🎨@UpperDeckSports | @USAFRecruiting | @BubbaWallace | @TylerReddick pic.twitter.com/paGHPCQNzH
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) August 31, 2024
What channel is NASCAR on today?
- TV channel: NBC (U.S.) | TSN (Canada)
- Live stream: Peacock, Fubo
- Radio: MRN
Saturday’s race will be broadcast on NBC in the United States. Canadian viewers can find the action on TSN.
Veteran announcer Leigh Diffey will lead the race’s lap-by-lap commentator, supplanting longtime announcer Rick Allen, who is moving down to the Xfinity Series. He’ll be joined by former Cup Series stars Jeff Burton and former Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte.
Cord-cutters can follow the action on Peacock, as well as with Fubo, which offers a free trial.
NASCAR start time today
- Date: Saturday, September 1
- Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
The Southern 500 has a listed start time of 6:00 p.m. ET., but pre-race festivities are expected to push the waving of the green flag closer to 6:05 p.m. ET.
NASCAR at Darlington starting lineup 2024
Leading the field for Sunday night’s race are Bubba Wallace and Carson Hocevar. Below is the rest of the starting lineup for Sunday’s race:
| Starting pos. | Driver | Car No. | Team |
| 1. | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing |
| 2. | Carson Hocevar | 77 | Spire Motorsports |
| 3. | Chase Briscoe | 14 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 4. | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 5. | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 6. | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing |
| 7. | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske |
| 8. | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 9. | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 10. | Chris Buescher | 17 | RFK Racing |
| 11. | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske |
| 12. | Brad Keselowski | 6 | RFK Racing |
| 13. | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 14. | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 15. | Josh Berry | 4 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 16. | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 17. | Kyle Busch | 8 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 18. | John Hunter Nemechek | 42 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 19. | Corey LaJoie | 7 | Spire Motorsports |
| 20. | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 21. | Justin Haley | 51 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 22. | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse |
| 23. | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske |
| 24. | Harrison Burton | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 25. | Daniel Hemric | 31 | Kaulig Racing |
| 26. | Zane Smith | 71 | Spire Motorsports |
| 27. | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 28. | Erik Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 29. | Noah Gragson | 10 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 30. | Ryan Preece | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 31. | Michael McDowell | 34 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 32. | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse |
| 33. | Todd Gilliland | 38 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 34. | Shane van Gisbergen | 16 | Kaulig Racing |
| 35. | Kaz Grala | 15 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 36. | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daughtery Racing |
| 37. | Timmy Hill | 66 | Hill Motorsports |
