The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the track that’s “Too Tough To Tame” for its regular-season finale on Labor Day weekend.
It’s perfect, actually, having the final race before the playoffs with the final three postseason spots on the line be held at one of NASCAR’s four Crown Jewel race tracks: Darlington Raceway and the Cook Out Southern 500.
That’s the chef’s kiss, right there.
When the green flag drops Sunday night under the lights, there will be 20 drivers battling for the final three playoff spots at the 1.366-mile, historic egg-shaped oval.
The simplest way to get in if you’re on the bubble is to win. After that, it’ll come down to points. And the top three drivers in points are: Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs and Chris Buescher – all of whom could get in if there’s not a first-time winner.
Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain are the fourth and fifth drivers who are on the outside looking in. Unless, of course, they win Sunday night.
Oh, and there’s another race within the race going on as well, as Tyler Reddick could lock up the regular-season championship over Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott by earning 44 points.
So, buckle up. This will be a good one, as FrontPageBets takes a look at the drivers to watch in the regular-season finale at Darlington Raceway on Sunday night (6 p.m.; USA Network) in the Cook Out Southern 500.
The driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota is winless this season, but he sits inside the cutline to make the postseason based on points, regardless of finish if there’s a repeat winner. If not, Truex would still make the playoffs with just 19 points Sunday.
However, the veteran driver would love to get another crown jewel victory in the regular-season finale and head into the Cup Series postseason with all the momentum.
Truex has two career wins at Darlington as well as 10 top-10 finishes at the 1.366-mile oval. He is tied for second among active drivers for the most wins there.
Keselowski won this season’s first Darlington race in May.
But the driver of the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford, who is already in the playoffs, is looking for the season sweep at the too-tough-to-tame track.
And there’s a lot of reasons to like his chances: Not only does Keselowski have two career wins, he’s finished in the top 10 in five out of his last six Darlington starts, bringing his average finish to 10.9.
The driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevy is one of a handful of drivers who most likely needs to win Sunday to get in the playoffs.
Chastain has two top-5 finishes in his 10 career starts at Darlington, including a fifth-place finish in this race last year.
His best finish was third in the fall race of 2021.
NASCAR Darlington Cook Out Southern 500 driver odds
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Mike Szvetitz is the General Manager and Content Director for FrontPageBets.com. Szvetitz is a 24-year veteran reporter and editor, including serving 17 years as a sports editor in Florida, Alabama and Virginia, covering everything from preps to pros. His "View From The Lazy Boy" column won multiple state and national awards. He can be reached at mszvetitz@timesdispatch.com.
