The 76th edition of the Southern 500 is set to wave the green flag on the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, with Darlington Raceway once again kicking off the 10-race chase for the crown. It’ll be the fifth time the historic oval has opened the postseason.
Known far and wide as ‘The Track Too Tough To Tame’, Darlington has handed out plenty of trophies to different drivers in recent years. Denny Hamlin, however, has managed to crack the code more than once—he’s the only repeat winner in the last 11 races and has led laps in every single one of those starts, racking up three victories along the way.
Meanwhile, William Byron has carved out his own slice of history at the track. The regular-season champ dominated back in April, setting a Darlington record by pacing the field for the first 243 laps in a race that saw just four lead changes—the fewest since the very first Southern 500 in 1950.
Here is everything you need to know about the Southern 500 Darlington playoff race, including the start time for the race.
What time does the NASCAR race start today?
- Track: Darlington Raceway in South Carolina
- Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
- Time: 6:00 p.m. ET or 3:00 p.m. PT
- Length: 367 laps, 501.32 miles
- Purse: $10,447,135
The Southern 500 is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. ET or 3:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, August 31. The race will be held at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.
What channel is NASCAR on today?
- TV Channel: USA Network | TSN, RDS (Canada)
- Live stream: Fubo, Peacock (U.S.) | TSN+ (Canada)
The Southern 500 Darlington playoff race is available for live TV broadcast on USA Network in the United States. Streaming options are available on Fubo and Peacock.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
NASCAR radio station for Southern 500 Darlington playoff Race
Listen to the 2025 Southern 500 Darlington playoff and every race of the NASCAR season on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
NASCAR Southern 500 starting grid
| Rank | Driver | Car No. | Team Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2 | Chase Briscoe | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 3 | Josh Berry | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 4 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 6 | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 7 | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 8 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing |
| 9 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 10 | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske |
| 11 | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske |
| 13 | Justin Haley | 7 | Spire Motorsports |
| 14 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske |
| 15 | Chris Buescher | 17 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing |
| 16 | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 17 | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 18 | Cole Custer | 41 | Haas Factory Team |
| 19 | Erik Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 20 | Shane van Gisbergen | 88 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 21 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 22 | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | Kaulig Racing |
| 23 | Kyle Busch | 8 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 24 | Zane Smith | 38 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 25 | Michael McDowell | 71 | Spire Motorsports |
| 26 | Carson Hocevar | 77 | Spire Motorsports |
| 27 | Ryan Preece | 60 | RFK Racing |
| 28 | Todd Gilliland | 34 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 29 | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 30 | John Hunter Nemechek | 42 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 31 | Ty Dillon | 10 | Kaulig Racing |
| 32 | Brad Keselowski | 6 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing |
| 33 | Riley Herbst | 35 | 23XI Racing |
| 34 | Noah Gragson | 4 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 35 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | HYAK Motorsports |
| 36 | Cody Ware | 51 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 37 | Derek Kraus | 44 | NY Racing Team |
| 38 | Timmy Hill | 66 | Garage 66 |
NASCAR point standings 2025
Below are the updated standings ahead of NASCAR at South Carolina.
| Rank | Driver | Points |
| 1 | Kyle Larson | 2032 |
| 2 | William Byron | 2032 |
| 3 | Denny Hamlin | 2029 |
| 4 | Ryan Blaney | 2026 |
| 5 | Christopher Bell | 2023 |
| 6 | Shane van Gisbergen | 2022 |
| 7 | Chase Elliott | 2013 |
| 8 | Chase Briscoe | 2010 |
| 9 | Bubba Wallace | 2008 |
| 10 | Austin Cindric | 2008 |
NASCAR Cup Series playoff race schedule 2025
(All times Eastern)
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV/Winner |
| Aug. 31 | Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway | 6 p.m. | USA, Fubo |
| Sep. 7 | Enjoy Illinois 300 | World Wide Technology Raceway | 3 p.m. | USA, Fubo |
| Sep. 13 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | Bristol Motor Speedway | 7:30 p.m. | USA, Fubo |
| Sep. 21 | NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at New Hampshire | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | 2 p.m. | USA, Fubo |
| Sep. 28 | Hollywood Casino 400 | Kansas Speedway | 3 p.m. | USA, Fubo |
| Oct. 5 | Bank of America ROVAL 400 | Road Course | 3 p.m. | USA, Fubo |
| Oct. 12 | South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 5:30 p.m. | USA, Fubo |
| Oct. 19 | NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Talladega | Talladega Superspeedway | 2 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |
| Oct. 26 | NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Martinsville | Martinsville Speedway | 2 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |
| Nov. 2 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship | Phoenix Raceway | 3 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |
