The last chance has arrived. NASCAR Cup Series drivers outside of the playoff cut line will have one last opportunity to make their way into the playoffs. The challenge is steep, and the obstacle looms even larger in the form of one of NASCAR’s toughest tracks: Darlington Raceway.
The Track Too Tough To Tame moves to the regular season finale this year, boosting the prestige of the iconic Southern 500 even more. A track that truly represents NASCAR’s past and foreshadows its future, any driver would love to etch their name alongside the legends of the past to conquer the 1.366-mile track.
Darlington brings out the stars each time around, and past champions of the event will be on hand to witness the final race before the playoffs.
Pre-Race Concert: Cheat Codes will be one of the final entertainment acts that fans see before the green flag waves for the Cook Out Southern 500. The electronic music trio is a multi-Platinum group with multiple top 10s on Billboard‘s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
Hauler Parade Grand Marshal: Darlington’s popular NASCAR Cup Series Hauler Showcase & Parade rolls around again, with Kyle Petty serving as the grand marshal. Petty, an eight-time Cup winner, competed in 51 races at The Lady in Black.
Cale Yarborough Tribute: After his death at the end of 2023, tributes have poured in for the late NASCAR Hall-of-Famer Cale Yarborough. Another one will come to fruition this weekend when his No. 11 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass will hit the same track that Yarborough guided it to victory at in the 1978 Southern 500. The car will be piloted by three-time Darlington winner and former Cale Yarborough Motorsports driver Dale Jarrett prior to the command to start engines.
About the author
Luken Glover joined the Frontstretch team in 2020 as a contributor, furthering a love for racing that traces back to his earliest memories. Glover inherited his passion for racing from his grandfather, who used to help former NASCAR team owner Junie Donlavey in his Richmond, Va. garage. A 2023 graduate from the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is the author of "The Underdog House," contributes to commentary pieces, and does occasional at-track reporting. Additionally, Glover enjoys working in ministry, coaching basketball, playing sports, and karting.
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