The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the Championship begins at Darlington Raceway with the Southern 500, where 16 drivers are now locked in and separated by only 100 points.
Denny Hamlin holds the top seed heading into the historic 1.366-mile oval, while Ryan Preece sits at the bottom of the field as the No. 16 seed after his Daytona victory. The Southern 500 marks the first of ten battlegrounds in the Chase, setting the stage for a tight title fight.
Darlington’s unique egg-shaped layout and abrasive surface will test both veteran contenders and rising seeds, with every point critical early in the playoff push.
