Darlington Raceway Will Once Again Hold Two NASCAR Race Weekends in 2026 – Speedway Digest

Darlington Raceway will once again host two NASCAR race weekends in 2026, featuring a triple-header in the spring and a double-header over Labor Day weekend, including the opening round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

The Goodyear 400 NASCAR race weekend will take place on March 20-22, 2026, while next year’s Cook Out Southern 500 NASCAR race weekend will take place Sept. 5-6, 2026.

“Darlington Raceway is proud to be a key player on the NASCAR schedule, and it’s only fitting that the Lady in Black continues to play a pivotal role on the 2026 calendar by hosting the first race of the Cup Series Playoffs once again,” said Josh Harris, President of Darlington Raceway. “NASCAR fans show up time and time again to witness history and take part in the tradition that is Darlington Raceway, and we can’t wait to keep that energy going as we prepare for both 2026 and our upcoming Cook Out Southern 500 race weekend.”

Below are the dates for the 2026 races at Darlington Raceway:

2026 Goodyear 400 Race Weekend

Friday, March 20 – NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series RaceSaturday, March 21 – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series RaceSunday, March 22 – NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400

2026 Cook Out Southern 500 Playoffs Race Weekend

Saturday, Sept. 5 – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series RaceSunday, Sept. 6 – NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 Playoff Race

The Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway this past spring saw Denny Hamlin cross the finish line and secure his second win of the season, exactly one week after earning the victory in Martinsville. Hamlin took the race lead during the final late race caution pulling his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota out front ahead of Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron.

In just over a week, fans can witness all the intensity the track Too Tough to Tame has to offer over Labor Day Weekend, as drivers in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and NASCAR Cup Series compete in the opening round of the 2025 NASCAR Playoffs.

The weekend will feature the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Sober or Slammer 200 on Saturday, Aug. 30 followed by the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, Aug. 31, the culmination of Darlington’s 75th Anniversary celebration.

Fans can purchase tickets to the 2025 NASCAR Playoffs Race Weekend at Darlington Raceway via phone at 866-459-7223 or online at www.darlingtonraceway.com. 

NASCAR PR