Just two more races remain before the NASCAR playoffs start and there are plenty of positions up for grabs. This week at Darlington will give drivers opportunities to earn automatic bids into the race for the Monster Energy Cup Series.
With a very different 1.366-mile track and unique bankings on turns throughout the course, Darlington is a wild-card race with a lot of potential to win. Only nine drivers currently have automatic bids into the playoffs making this is a great chance for someone to sneak in who may not have the points to get there.
Defending champion Denny Hamlin is still looking for his first win of the season and an automatic bid of his own, but several drivers who showed well in last August’s race like Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray and Ty Dillon could have an opportunity to get into the playoffs.
The Bojangles’ Southern 500 can be seen at 6 p.m. ET Sunday on NBCSN.
Here’s the weekend schedule:
NASCAR at Darlington 2018: TV channel and streaming info
Note: All times are ET.
Friday, Aug. 31
1:05-1:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2:05-2:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
3:05-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
4:05-4:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
Saturday, Sept. 1
12:35 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
3:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 (147 laps, 200.8 miles), NBC/NBC Sports App
Sunday, Sept. 2
6 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 (367 laps, 501.3 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points standings
Driver Points Behind Leader (Playoff Points)
1. Kyle Busch, N/A (35)
2. Kevin Harvick, -43 (40)
3. Martin Truex, Jr. -154 (27)
4. Kurt Busch, -207 (7)
5. Clint Bowyer, -227 (10)
6. Joey Logano, -235 (8)
7. Brad Keselowski, -273 (4)
8. Ryan Blaney, -270 (5)
9. Kyle Larson, -274 (0)
10. Denny Hamlin, -296 (2)
11. Chase Elliott, -306 (8)
12. Aric Almirola, -345 (1)
13. Erik Jones, -368 (5)
14. Jimmie Johnson, -399 (0)
15. Alex Bowman, -431 (0)
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., -506 (2)
17. Ryan Newman, -522 (0)
18. Daniel Suarez, -524 (0)
19. Austin Dillon, -528 (5)
20. Paul Menard, -530 (1)
21. William Byron, -561 (0)
22. Jamie McMurray, -569 (0)
23. Chris Buescher, -623 (0)
24. AJ Allmendinger, -627 (1)
25. David Ragan, -654 (0)
26. Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., -657 (0)
27. Kasey Kahne, -658 (0)
28. Michael McDowell, -659 (0)
29. Ty Dillon, -693 (0)
30. Matt DiBenedetto, -737 (0)
Which Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers are racing at Darlington?
There are 40 Cup drivers entered in Sunday’s race. Here is the list of participating Cup drivers in alphabetical order by first name:
AJ Allmendinger
Alex Bowman
Aric Almirola
Austin Dillon
BJ McLeod
Brad Keselowski
Chase Elliott
Chris Buescher
Clint Bowyer
Corey Lajoie
Daniel Suarez
Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr.
David Ragan
Denny Hamlin
Derrick Cope
Erik Jones
Jamie McMurray
Kasey Kahne
Kevin Harvick
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Larson
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Jimmie Johnson
JJ Yeley
Joey Gase
Joey Logano
Landon Cassill
Martin Truex Jr.
Matt Kenseth
Matt DiBenedetto
Michael McDowell
Paul Menard
Ross Chastain
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Newman
Timmy Hill
Ty Dillon
William Byron
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