As NASCAR heads to Darlington Raceway for an action-packed weekend, both the Xfinity and Cup Series are reaching critical junctures in their playoff races. The historic “Track Too Tough to Tame” is set to host pivotal events that could shape the postseason landscape in both series.

Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 (Xfinity Series)
When: Saturday, August 31, 3:30 p.m. ET (USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Where: Darlington Raceway; Darlington, SC
Last Year’s Winner: Denny Hamlin
My Pick To Win: Justin Allgaier

Tight Battle for Final Playoff Spots

With four races left in the Xfinity Series regular season, the fight for the final playoff positions is intensifying. Ryan Sieg currently holds a slim 15-point lead over Sammy Smith for the last playoff-eligible spot. Just above them, Parker Kligerman, Sheldon Creed, and AJ Allmendinger seem relatively secure with point advantages of 44, 93, and 113 respectively over Smith.

For drivers below Smith in the standings, including Brandon Jones in 14th place (108 points behind Sieg), winning a race may be their only realistic path to the playoffs.

Regular Season Championship Race

At the top of the standings, Justin Allgaier has taken control of the Regular Season Championship race, holding a 33-point lead over defending series champion Cole Custer. Allgaier’s recent streak of seven consecutive top-10 finishes, including a win at Michigan, has given him the edge.

Custer, despite recent setbacks, remains optimistic about his chances at Darlington, where he has an impressive record including a 2019 victory. “We just need to leave the bad luck behind us,” Custer said. “We still have a shot to fight for it, though. We just need to get back to where we were.”

Additional Challenges

The task of clinching a playoff spot through victory at Darlington is made even more challenging by the presence of several full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the race, including Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, and Noah Gragson.

Cook Out Southern 500 (Cup Series)
When: Sunday, September 1, 6 p.m. ET (USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Where: Darlington Raceway; Darlington, SC
Last Year’s Winner: Kyle Larson
My Pick To Win: Kyle Busch

Last Chance for Playoff Qualification

The Cup Series heads into its final regular-season race with high stakes. Thirteen drivers have already secured playoff spots through race wins, leaving three berths available based on points.

Martin Truex Jr. is in the strongest position to claim one of these spots, needing just 19 points to clinch. Ty Gibbs is also well-positioned, requiring 38 points to secure his playoff berth.

The real drama surrounds the final spot, currently held by Chris Buescher, who sits 21 points above the cut line. Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain find themselves on the outside looking in, 21 and 27 points below the cutoff, respectively.

Potential Spoilers

The playoff hopes of these bubble drivers could be dashed if a currently winless driver, such as Kyle Busch or two-time Southern 500 winner Erik Jones, manages to take the checkered flag at Darlington.

Ross Chastain remains optimistic despite his precarious position: “We need to gather a lot of points Sunday night and win,” he said. “The math is the math. If we have a fast car, that will obviously increase our chances.”

Regular Season Championship Battle

A three-driver battle for the NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship adds another layer of excitement. Tyler Reddick leads Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott by 17 and 18 points, respectively. The winner of this title will receive a crucial bonus of 15 playoff points.

Larson, the defending Southern 500 winner, expressed his enthusiasm: “I love racing at Darlington, and it was cool to get that first (Cup) win there last year in the Southern 500. We’re going to race hard for stage points and hopefully be able to battle for the Regular Season Championship at the end of the race.”

The Darlington Challenge

Darlington Raceway presents unique challenges for drivers in both series. Its abrasive surface and distinctive egg shape require precise driving and effective tire management. As Martin Truex Jr. noted, “It’s a long race, a lot of pit stops and a lot of chances for things to go wrong. Track position is obviously really important… It’s tough to stay up front and be consistently really strong.”

As NASCAR descends on Darlington for this crucial weekend, fans can expect intense racing, strategic gambles, and potentially season-defining moments in both the Xfinity and Cup Series. With playoff berths, championships, and pride on the line, the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 and the Cook Out Southern 500 promise to deliver thrilling action and high-stakes drama.

Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images