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.<\/p>\n
The Goodyear 400 NASCAR race weekend will take place on March 20-22, 2026, while next year\u2019s Cook Out Southern 500 NASCAR race weekend will take place Sept. 5-6, 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cDarlington Raceway is proud to be a key player on the NASCAR schedule, and it\u2019s 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,\u201d said Josh Harris, President of Darlington Raceway. \u201cNASCAR fans show up time and time again to witness history and take part in the tradition that is Darlington Raceway, and we can\u2019t wait to keep that energy going as we prepare for both 2026 and our upcoming Cook Out Southern 500 race weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Below are the dates for the 2026 races at Darlington Raceway:<\/p>\n
2026 Goodyear 400 Race Weekend<\/p>\n
Friday, March 20 \u2013 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series RaceSaturday, March 21 \u2013 NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series RaceSunday, March 22 \u2013 NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400<\/p>\n
2026 Cook Out Southern 500 Playoffs Race Weekend<\/p>\n
Saturday, Sept. 5 \u2013 NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series RaceSunday, Sept. 6 \u2013 NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 Playoff Race<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 75th\u00a0Anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n