What to Watch: ‘A lot to learn still’ at Darlington, where rules may make a ruckus in Goodyear 400

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Zack Albert

Track: Darlington Raceway
Location: Darlington, South Carolina
Track length: 1.366 miles
When: 3 p.m. ET
Where to tune in: FS1, HBO Max, FOX One, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Race purse: $11,233,037
Race distance: 293 laps | 400.2 miles
Stages: 90 | 185 | 293
Sunday’s starting lineup | Cup Series pit-stall assignments

Class in session for potentially topsy-turvy Goodyear 400

DARLINGTON, S.C. – One would think that for a track that’s been part of NASCAR history going on 76 years now, there wouldn’t be too much left to learn about competing at venerable Darlington Raceway. On the contrary, Sunday’s Goodyear 400 may be a rigorous study session with some overnight cramming that progresses through race day.

“There’s a lot different going on with the package, so a lot of homework to do tonight, even if we feel decent about our speed,” Austin Cindric said after putting his Team Penske No. 2 Ford 12th in Saturday’s qualifying. “There’s a lot to learn still.”

The sixth race of the NASCAR Cup Series season holds the promise of rules-configuration rambunctiousness at one of the most treacherous tracks on the circuit. The historic 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval is the backdrop for Sunday’s 400-miler (3 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), but the twist that everyone on the 37-car grid is chasing stems from a combination of several new-for-2026 factors here – increased horsepower, reduced aerodynamic downforce and Goodyear tires maximized for wear and management.

MORE: Weekend schedule, TV info | Darlington, always tough

Tyler Reddick, a three-time winner already this year, managed best in the early on-track impressions, surviving a scrape with Darlington’s undefeated outside wall during time trials to claim the pole position. But single-car runs in practice and qualifying only offer a hint at what Sunday’s show will look like, when a full field struggling for grip tries to navigate the track’s narrow bends.

“I just feel like we’re going to be out of control, and I think you’re going to be screaming and wanting tires way more than we’ll physically be able to put them on,” said RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher, the sixth-fastest qualifier in the No. 17 Ford. “I hope that the passing opportunities go up. If somebody is really struggling, we’ve got a couple of different lanes to look for fresh race track, and I hope it makes great racing.”

Another change for the season’s first stop at Darlington is the theme. The South Carolina stalwart had been the setting for NASCAR’s Throwback Weekend since 2015, when industry participation in vintage gear, paint schemes and the sport’s heritage was encouraged by all. Some of the retro feel rightfully remains at NASCAR’s first superspeedway, but the thrust of the weekend has shifted to a focus on the growing NASCAR Alumni extended network of drivers, owners and figures from stock-car racing’s past. Those legends will have plenty of race-day visibility as dignitaries for Sunday’s 400.

Honoring that history is important for Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott, whose father, Bill, won here five times during his Hall of Fame career. While the younger Elliott says the program had seemingly run its course, he also said “less is more” and that bringing back Throwback Weekend on an infrequent basis could rejuvenate the initiative.

“I think it was time for a change,” Elliott said. “I think that the throwback weekend was one of those things where it’s really cool, but man, you’re gonna be throwing it back to myself like five years ago if we keep throwing it back. So I think you have to be really careful about how you do those things and keep it fresh and keep it cool for everyone. You know, that’s not to be confused with a lack of appreciation or admiration or respect for those that have paved the way for myself or anybody else standing in here answering questions, or who gets to race on the weekend. I grew up in a house with someone who has lived this for a long time, so I certainly appreciate that aspect and recognize that a lot of us wouldn’t be here without those guys doing what they did to make the sport great and put on a lot of exciting events that have helped grow this thing over the years, too.

“So yeah, I think it’s always important to appreciate the people that have helped pave the way, and to keep it fresh I think is really important though, too.”

David Jensen | Getty Images

In the details …

The start of a new season offers a chance to begin with a clean slate. A number of drivers have proven that’s exactly what they needed in 2026. Bubba Wallace is the leader for the “Most Improved Driver” superlative after five races in 2026 compared to his first five of 2025, bettering his average finish by over 14 positions and currently sitting second in points. But notable others, like past champions Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney, are in the midst of significant turnarounds from last year’s opening salvo as well. A closer look at those who have made gains since the start of 2025:

DRIVER	2026 AVERAGE	2025 AVERAGE	DIFFERENCE
Bubba Wallace	8.8	23.0	+14.2
Brad Keselowski	13.4	24.8	+11.4
Ty Gibbs	14.6	25.5	+11.2
Tyler Reddick	4.8	13.6	+8.8
Shane van Gisbergen	17.0	25.4	+8.4
AJ Allmendinger	16.6	23.0	+6.4
Ryan Blaney	12.4	18.6	+6.2

Speed reads

Race-day essentials:

• Darlington hub: Key information, links, results | Read more
• Paint Scheme Preview: See the mix of new-age colors and throwback schemes | View gallery
• Hauler Talk: How officials moderate post-race altercations | Listen now
• Tire topics: Same Goodyear rubber, different Darlington challenge ahead | Read more
• More power!: Darlington will be ‘absolute animal’ to drive| What Letarte said
• More action!: Brad Keselowski expects ‘a lot of spins and crashes’ this week| Hear it from Kes
• Power Rankings: Cup Series’ top 20 drivers after Vegas | This week’s ranks
• NASCAR Classics: Inside the video vault from Darlington | Watch now

Contributing: Zach Sturniolo | NASCAR.com

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Staff Report

Bubba Wallace announced the birth of his and his wife’s daughter after qualifying second Saturday at Darlington Raceway.

Wallace and wife Amanda welcomed Cameron Jade Wallace on Thursday, Wallace announced in his post-qualifying interview on FOX Sports. For the first time as a father of two, Wallace will take the green flag in his No. 23 Toyota from the front row in Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington (3 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

MORE: Starting lineup | At-track photos

“That lap for the 23 was driven by Cameron Jade,” Wallace told FOX Sports. “You know who that is? That’s my baby girl. Just born!”

Wallace first became a father when he and Amanda welcomed their son Becks on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Wallace was competing that day at Kansas Speedway and ultimately missed his birth. Since then, Wallace was adamant he would not miss another birth, he told Dirty Mo Media’s “The Teardown” podcast in February.

Wallace, 32, is a three-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, earning his first crown-jewel victory by winning the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July 2025.

Posted on March 21, 2026March 21, 2026 by Reid Spencer

DARLINGTON, S.C. — The top two drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series standings will start 1-2 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday — but not before pole winner Tyler Reddick scraped the Turn 4 wall on his no-holds-barred qualifying lap.

Reddick beat 23XI Racing teammate Bubba Wallace for the top spot on the grid by 0.124 seconds in Saturday’s time trials for the Goodyear 400 on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

As the series’ points leader and winner of the first three races of the season, Reddick was the only driver to tour the 1.366-mile speedway in more than 169 mph, posting a speed of 169.152 mph in his No. 45 Toyota. Wallace, second in the standings and 61 points behind his teammate, paced his Toyota to 168.434 mph.

The Busch Light Pole Award was Reddick’s second of the season and the 13th of his career, but he ended the qualifying session with a noticeable “Darlington stripe” along the right side of the car.

“I knew qualifying was going to be really tough,” Reddick said. “A lot of drivers were having trouble finding that edge, that limit in Turn 1. I nailed that pretty good. Felt really good about the lap going down the back straightaway, and I truly think I kind of under-did it through the center of (Turns) 3 and 4 and felt like I just had to get on the gas and get off the corner — and basically just ran it into the wall.

“Looks like we’re all good on the damage, but to be able to have that kind of speed in practice and again in qualifying was awesome to see.”

Chase Elliott, runner-up to Denny Hamlin last Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, was third fastest at 167.727 mph, but Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet failed pre-qualifying inspection twice, resulting in loss of pit selection and ejection of his car chief.

Reigning series champion Kyle Larson claimed the fourth starting position at 167.396 mph, followed by Brad Keselowski in the fastest Ford at 167.129 mph.

“I thought it was really smooth,” said Keselowski, who qualified one position ahead of RFK Racing teammate Chris Buescher (167.021 mph). “It looks like Chris is qualified right next to me. I felt like I got all it had. We know the cars are going to be very difficult to drive, and that did not disappoint.”

Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Hamlin and Austin Dillon complete the top 10 of the starting order.

Along with Elliott’s Chevrolet, the No. 17 Ford of Buescher and the No. 66 Ford of Timmy Hill failed pre-qualifying twice and lost pit selection for Sunday’s race and the services of their respective car chiefs for the weekend.

Justin Allgaier, piloting the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in place of Alex Bowman as Bowman recovers from vertigo, qualified 15th.

Hill starts 37th on Sunday.

Practice

Erik Jones and Riley Herbst posted the fastest laps in NASCAR Cup Series practice Saturday, each posting matching laps of 164.33 mph (29.925 seconds).

Austin Cindric (163.827 mph), Carson Hocevar (163.576 mph) and Connor Zilisch (163.446 mph) completed the top five in single-lap speeds.

MORE: Practice results

Cindric was quickest in 10-lap averages at 160.175 mph ahead of Hocevar, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch and Herbst.

Notably, of the 26 drivers who posted 20-lap averages, the four slowest were typical Cup Series contenders Kyle Larson, William Byron, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott.

Practice offered teams their first chance to evaluate the real-life impacts of racing at Darlington with the 750-horsepower short-track package in the Next Gen car, coupling more power with less aerodynamic grip. Saturday’s quick time posted by Jones and Herbst was nearly a full second slower than that set by Michael McDowell (29.007 seconds) during practice for last fall’s Southern 500.

According to Racing Insights, drivers’ lap times slowed by roughly 1.5 seconds over just 10 laps.

Contributing: Staff report

Posted on March 21, 2026March 21, 2026 by Reid Spencer

Reaching 60 NASCAR Cup Series victories was a milestone of utmost importance to Denny Hamlin.

The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota achieved that goal last October at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With the victory, he tied Kevin Harvick for 10th on the career win list.

Last Sunday, again at Las Vegas, Hamlin won for the 61st time and now trails Kyle Busch for ninth all-time by two victories. One spot ahead of Busch on the career list is seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt, who won 76 Cup races.

Hamlin, who is signed to drive for JGR through 2027, doesn’t think Earnhardt’s total is within reach.

“I think it’s pie in the sky, realistically,” said Hamlin, who has estimated he’ll win 67 races by the end of his career. “I think that, given the runway, Kyle’s career – he’s still got more years to go than I will. He’s capable of running and winning long after I’m gone. I think I’m kind of where I’m at, and where I think I will be, but you just never know.

“I mean, each win stacks up and, you know, 50 was a goal at one point. So, you just keep moving, keep moving the bar as far as you can. I think that I’ve certainly got more wins than what I would have imagined.”

Hamlin has specific goals that don’t involve a set number of victories. He is still seeking a series championship after narrowly missing out in 2025.

“It’s just now, can we get the big prize at the end of the year?” Hamlin said. “That’s the only goal left to have, other than the Brickyard (400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway), is certainly one that still is mindful (for) me personally.”

Posted on March 21, 2026March 21, 2026 by Reid Spencer

For anyone who knows the secret to saving tires at Darlington Raceway — please tell Christopher Bell.

The driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Cup Series car would welcome any help he can get for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped track (3 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

RELATED: Darlington schedule | At-track photos

To run 293 laps at “The Lady in Black,” Goodyear has provided 10 sets of new tires along with the set of scuffs drivers will use in qualifying. An abundance of cautions could place considerable stress on strategic tire decisions.

Bell is running all three NASCAR national races this weekend, and he got his first taste of tire management in Friday night’s Craftsman Truck Series event, which featured nine cautions and two overtimes.

Bell finished sixth in that event but indicated he wouldn’t have actionable information on the Cup car until Saturday afternoon’s practice.

“We’ll certainly learn more about the strategy piece whenever we get into practice and, like I mentioned before, nobody has any idea, it’s all speculation on what the tire degradation is going to be and what that means for the strategy on Sunday,” Bell said on Saturday morning at Darlington.

“But how do you save tires? I don’t know. I didn’t do it very well last night. That was my Achilles heel, so hopefully I can save tires better today and tomorrow. I’m still looking for that magic answer if anyone else has it.”

Posted on March 21, 2026March 21, 2026 by Mike Hembree

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Contrary to the reactions of most drivers who drive out of the Darlington Raceway garage area to run a first lap on the old track, Chase Briscoe remembers being almost delighted.

“Honestly, I loved this place from the first laps I ran around it,” Briscoe said Saturday on the eve of the Goodyear 400 (Sun., 3 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). “I don’t know, just something clicked right away. I still had a lot to learn my first time coming here, but the style of racing here reminded me so much of sprint car racing, where you’re constantly changing what you’re doing.

“You’re always searching and trying to find that little bit more grip. You go to some of these race tracks and you’re pretty repetitive. Like you just do the same thing time in, time out. Here, you don’t ever run two laps the same. Every lap your car is just changing so much, so you’re always adapting, and that’s what I kind of loved about this place from the get-go, and then you just add the fact that you’re sliding all over the place.”

RELATED: Darlington schedule | At-track photos

Darlington loved Briscoe back. He finished a solid sixth in 2019 in his first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at the track. In his first Cup race, in 2021, he was 11th. He learned quickly, and he enters Sunday’s marathon as the winner of two of the past three Cup races at the track. In winning the Southern 500 last year, Briscoe led 309 laps, the most laps led in a Darlington race since Dale Earnhardt ran a dominant race in 1986, leading 335 laps on the way to a win.

Darlington is Briscoe’s top track in the category of laps led. He has been out front over the speedway’s 1.366 miles a total of 338 laps. Second on his laps-led list is Martinsville Speedway at 142.

“Really, from the first time I came here, I was like, man, this is one of my favorite places, and then as the success came in, it obviously got closer and closer to the top,” Briscoe said. “So yeah, I’ve always loved Darlington. It’s been a very influential place in my career and really my life in general.”

Briscoe is expected to be among the favorites in Sunday’s race, although the Darlington debut of this year’s new high-horsepower package has added a level of uncertainty to what might transpire across 400 hard miles. Will those who have figured out Darlington be in better shape, or could the new landscape lift up those who previously have struggled?

“I think there’s a probability that good guys miss it and some of the guys that are more mid-pack nail it and find the way forward,” said Tyler Reddick, three times a winner this year but 0-for-13 at Darlington. “But I think it will be the players you expect. I don’t think it’s going to be someone that’s bad here, figuring it out.”

And what makes the good guys good?

“It’s their feel,” Reddick said. “Their kind of driver understanding and their senses. This is a place that wears the tire out, and you just have to make adjustments constantly. You feel like the drivers that can really keep up with that are really good. But you’re not going to be able to lean too much on past experiences. It’s kind of like starting over.”

Briscoe is among those who enter Sunday with some wonder about conditions and results.

“I think that it’s such an unknown right now with what this thing is going to drive like that nobody really knows,” he said. “I would think certainly the guys that are good on the long runs and are good when the car is slipping and sliding around, those would be the guys I would think would be good just because I think that’s how the cars are going to drive. So, it will be interesting to see.”

Briscoe needs a boost. Through five races, he has three finishes of 36th or worse and is mired in 26th position in points, one of six 2025 playoff drivers who are outside the Chase qualification window.

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Staff Report

Three teams failed pre-race NASCAR Cup Series technical inspection twice at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, leading to the ejection of crew members.

The No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford and the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford each failed to pass inspection on their second time through inspection ahead of practice and qualifying for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 (3 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

MORE: Darlington schedule | At-track photos

As a result, each team lost the ability to choose its pit stall for Sunday’s 293-lap race. Additionally, No. 9 car chief Matt Barndt, No. 17 car chief Joshua Sisco and No. 66 car chief Dylan Roberts were ejected from the race weekend.

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Chevrolet, enters the race weekend fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings after five races, 87 points behind series leader Tyler Reddick. Chris Buescher, driver of the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford, is ninth in the standings, 109 markers behind Reddick. Timmy Hill, driver of the No. 66 Ford, is competing on a part-time basis and will make his first Cup start of the 2026 season, the 145th of his career.

Posted on March 21, 2026March 22, 2026 by Staff Report

After a two-race West Coast swing, the NASCAR Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series return to the East Coast for a trek to the historic Darlington Raceway, while the Craftsman Truck Series returns from a two-week hiatus at the South Carolina oval. Bookmark this page and come back often for your race-week essentials — from links to qualifying order, average practice speeds, results and more.

RELATED: Full weekend schedule | TV listings

NASCAR Cup Series

Race day: Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. The categories listed below will be filled out with links as the information becomes available.

Tires: Twelve sets for the weekend (10 new race sets, one set transferred from qualifying and one for practice).

Entry List
Qualifying Order
Practice Results
Practice Lap Averages
Practice Lap Times
Qualifying Results
Pit Stalls
Stage 1 Results
Stage 2 Results
Race Results

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Race day: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET on The CW. The categories listed below will be filled out with links as the information becomes available.

Tires: Seven sets for the weekend (four new race sets, one set transferred from qualifying and two for practice).

Entry List
Qualifying Order
Practice Results
Practice Lap Averages
Practice Lap Times
Qualifying Results
Pit Stalls
Stage 1 Results
Stage 2 Results
Race Results

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Race day: Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The categories listed below will be filled out with links as the information becomes available.

Tires: Six sets for the weekend (four new race sets, one set transferred from qualifying and one for practice).

Entry List
Qualifying Order
Practice Results
Practice Lap Averages
Practice Lap Times
Qualifying Results
Pit Stalls
Stage 1 Results
Stage 2 Results
Race Results

Posted on March 21, 2026March 21, 2026 by Staff Report

See where your favorite NASCAR Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Craftsman Truck Series drivers will pit this weekend at Darlington Raceway.

NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on Saturday (5:30 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Buckle Up South Carolina 200 at Darlington Raceway on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One, NRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on March 20, 2026March 20, 2026 by Mike Hembree

DARLINGTON, S.C. – There were two consolations for Kaden Honeycutt in Friday night’s Buckle Up South Carolina 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Darlington Raceway.

Honeycutt, who has put together one of the strongest starts of the Truck season, finished fourth Friday, and that was an item to place in the plus column after an evening of hard racing among the race’s front pack. And, as Honeycutt mentioned several times after the race, he had the best truck.

Honeycutt needed positives to hang his helmet on after a night that seemed to hold the promise of his first Truck Series victory. Earlier in the day, he had scored the first pole position of his short Truck Series career, and there was anticipation that he would be a force when the lights came on for the 200-mile race. In the end, he watched teammate Corey Heim surge to the win on the final overtime lap after Cup Series visitors Ross Chastain and Carson Hocevar showed their strength in the top five over the closing miles of the race. In Honeycutt’s view, Hocevar and Chastain went overboard in pushing their way through.

“We definitely had the best truck tonight,” Honeycutt said. “Just, when you’ve got nothing to lose and you come here and race in our series, you just do whatever you want. This is disappointing for sure. I’ve been on the verge of winning one of these races and just can’t close it, just from idiotic stuff from other people getting into me. So, it is what it is.”

He started on the outside alongside Chastain at the front on the final green flag but didn’t have a shot at taking the lead. “The top just wasn’t very good going in,” he said. “The bottom was preferred. I just couldn’t get going, spun the tires really hard. I did what I could and managed that and maximized what I could there.”

Honeycutt said both Chastain and Hocevar punted him in the race’s final segment. Still, he had a shot in the two-lap overtime but lost to Heim, who had fresher tires, and faded behind the aggressive runs of Chastain, who took second, and third-place Christian Eckes.

“By the time the 5 (Heim) got by me and then the 91 (Eckes), I pretty much committed to helping the 5 and see if he could get up there and win the race,” Honeycutt said. “I don’t know how he did, but he did, so great job for Toyota and everyone at Tricon.”

Honeycutt led a race-high 59 laps, his career high, and won the second stage.

Still, missing a good chance at a first win hurt.

“This is what happens when people fence each other,” he said. “That’s what happens. You feel like they have nothing to lose and you have everything. What the hell do they care about, right? I understand racing for a win, but they knew I had the best truck, so they did what they had to do to take me out of it. I’m just really upset that I haven’t been able to close one.”

Chastain had a different version of the closing segment.

“When I pushed Carson through, I pushed another Chevy, for sure,” he said. “On the restart when he got inside of him, Kaden missed the bottom into (Turn) 1 or gave Carson the bottom, and I pushed Carson through a couple restarts before the end. Yeah, I might’ve got him (Honeycutt) off of (Turn) 2, but not sure. I’ll have to go back and look, and if I did, I mean, definitely didn’t mean to. That guy’s great.”

Through four Truck Series races this season, Honeycutt has finishes of eighth, 21st, fifth and fourth. His Darlington finish moved him up four spots in the Truck Series standings to second place, 33 points behind series leader Chandler Smith.