The 76th running of the Southern 500 will open the NASCAR Cup Series playoff as Darlington Raceway shifts back to begin the 10-race run to the championship for the fifth time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Track Too Tough To Tame\u201d has produced a long roster of winners recently. Denny Hamlin, who won at the 1.366-mile oval in April, is the only repeat winner in the past 11 races at Darlington. Hamlin also has led in the past 11 races at Darlington, earning three victories.<\/p>\n
William Byron, who won the regular-season championship, set a track record by leading the first 243 laps April 6 at Darlington in a race that featured only four lead changes (the fweest since the inaugural Southern 500 in 1950).<\/p>\n
There were 26 lead changes in last year\u2019s Southern 500, the most in the crown jewel event since 2008.<\/p>\n
Details for Sunday\u2019s Cup race at Darlington Raceway<\/p>\n
(All times Eastern)<\/p>\n
START: The green flag is scheduled to wave at 6:05 p.m.<\/p>\n
PRERACE: The Cup garage will open at 3 p.m. … The drivers meeting will be at 4:50 p.m. … Driver introductions will be at 5:15 p.m. … The national anthem will be performed at 5:48 p.m. by the Parris Island Marine Band. … The command to start engines is scheduled to be given at 5:55 p.m.<\/p>\n
DISTANCE: The race is 367 laps (501.32 miles) on the 1.366-mile oval in Darlington, S.C..<\/p>\n
STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 115. Stage 2 ends at Lap 230.<\/p>\n
PURSE: $10,447,135<\/p>\n