Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Cook Out Southern 500

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina going into the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

DARLINGTON-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

(Driver stats below are during the Loop Data Era: 2005 to Present)

Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

• One top five, two top 10s; one pole
• Average Finish of 16.400, 12th-best
• Average Running Position of 14.276, 12th-best
• Driver Rating of 79.1, 12th-best
• 1,826 Laps in the Top 15 (58.1%), 12th-most

Kyle Busch (No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)

• One win, six top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average Finish of 13.880, eighth-best
• Average Running Position of 10.652, fifth-best
• Driver Rating of 98.3, fourth-best
• 6,836 Laps in the Top 15 (78.9%), fourth-most

William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• One win, four top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average Finish of 14.833, 10th-best
• Average Running Position of 10.979, sixth-best
• Driver Rating of 94.6, sixth-best
• 3,003 Laps in the Top 15 (77.5%), fifth-most

Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• Four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average Finish of 16.667, 13th-best
• Average Running Position of 13.741, 11th-best
• Driver Rating of 84.0, 11th-best
• 3,443 Laps in the Top 15 (69.2%), ninth-most

Ty Gibbs (No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

• One top five, one top 10
• Average Finish of 13.500, sixth-best
• Average Running Position of 15.031, 13th-best
• Driver Rating of 78.1, 13th-best
• 498 Laps in the Top 15 (37.7%), 13th-most

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

• Four wins, 13 top fives, 17 top 10s; one pole
• Average Finish of 8.250, series-best
• Average Running Position of 7.800, series-best
• Driver Rating of 107.0, series-best
• 7,329 Laps in the Top 15 (88.4%), series-most

Erik Jones (No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota)

• Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average Finish of 12.385, fourth-best
• Average Running Position of 12.996, ninth-best
• Driver Rating of 87.7, 10th-best
• 2,955 Laps in the Top 15 (69.6%), eighth-most

Brad Keselowski (No. 6 RFK Racing Ford)

• Two wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
• Average Finish of 10.905, second-best
• Average Running Position of 12.164, eighth-best
• Driver Rating of 93.7, seventh-best
• 4,860 Laps in the Top 15 (67.6%), 10th-most

Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• One win, six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average Finish of 11.308, third-best
• Average Running Position of 9.618, second-best
• Driver Rating of 105.6, second-best
• 3,618 Laps in the Top 15 (80.7%), second-most

Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford)

• One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
• Average Finish of 13.571, seventh-best
• Average Running Position of 11.328, seventh-best
• Driver Rating of 92.9, ninth-best
• 5,427 Laps in the Top 15 (75.5%), sixth-most

Tyler Reddick (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota)

• Three top fives, four top 10s; one pole
• Average Finish of 13.400, fifth-best
• Average Running Position of 10.322, third-best
• Driver Rating of 93.7, eighth-best
• 2,492 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3%), third-most

Martin Truex Jr (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

• Two wins, four top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
• Average Finish of 13.917, ninth-best
• Average Running Position of 10.497, fourth-best
• Driver Rating of 100.4, third-best
• 5,993 Laps in the Top 15 (72.3%), seventh-most

2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Clinch Scenarios – Darlington Raceway

 Already Clinched

The following 13 drivers have clinched a spot in the 16-driver postseason field: Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric, Harrison Burton.

Can Clinch Via Points

If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 4th winless driver in the standings.  The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs or Chris Buescher.

• Martin Truex Jr.: Would clinch regardless of finish
• Ty Gibbs: Would clinch with 16 points
• Chris Buescher: Would clinch with 34 points
• Bubba Wallace: Could only clinch with help
• Ross Chastain: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from Bubba Wallace or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 3rd winless driver in the standings.

• Martin Truex Jr.: Would clinch with 19 points
• Ty Gibbs: Would clinch with 38 points
• Chris Buescher: Could only clinch with help
• Bubba Wallace: Could only clinch with help
• Ross Chastain: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:

• Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, Chase Briscoe, Todd Gilliland, Carson Hocevar, Michael McDowell, Josh Berry, Noah Gragson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Preece, Daniel Hemric, Austin Dillon, Justin Haley, John Hunter Nemechek, Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith

Can Clinch Regular Season Championship

Additionally, the Regular Season Championship could be clinched by the following drivers:

• Tyler Reddick: Would clinch with 44 points
• Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
• Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help

Recent Clinch History: Last Five Regular Season Finales

2023 Season – Heading into the final race of the regular season at Daytona International Speedway, the 2023 season had produced 15 different winners clinching their spots leaving just one position still available to make the Playoffs, and it was 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace in 16th and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs in 17th battling it out for the final postseason position. The two drivers were separated by 32 points heading into the race. RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher, who came into the Daytona weekend ranked seventh in the Playoff outlook standings already locked-in on wins, won the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway. Bubba Wallace would finish 12th at Daytona and clinch the final spot in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs on points. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. clinched the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship, the second of his career (2017, 2023).

2022 Season – Heading into the final race of the regular season at Daytona International Speedway, the 2022 season had produced 15 different winners clinching their spots leaving just one position still available to make the Playoffs, and it was Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney in 16th and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. in 17th battling it out for the final postseason position. The two drivers were separated by 25 points heading into the race. It was also announced Kurt Busch would forgo his Playoff position as he was still recovering from injury. Ultimately, Truex would finish eighth and Blaney would finish 15th, the Team Penske driver earned enough points to hold onto one of the two open Playoff spots on points. But it was Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon, who came into the Daytona weekend ranked 20th in the Playoff outlook standings (-255 points behind the postseason cutline), that won the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway, clinching the final spot in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs on wins – the second driver to win his way into the Playoffs in the regular season finale; joining William Byron (2020). Hendrick Motorsport’s driver Chase Elliott clinched the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship.

2021 Season – Heading into the final race of the regular season at Daytona International Speedway, the 2021 season had produced 14 different winners with two additional drivers clinching their spots on points leaving just one spot still available to make the Playoffs, and it was Richard Childress Racing teammates Austin Dillon and Tyler Reddick battling it out for the final postseason position. Ultimately, Ryan Blaney won the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway, but he had already clinched his spot in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs earlier in the season. Because of the repeat winner, the 16th and final Playoff spot was earned by points, and it was Tyler Reddick’s fifth-place finish to Austin Dillon’s 17th at Daytona that earned him enough points to advance for the first-time in his career to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Hendrick Motorsport’s driver Kyle Larson clinched the Regular Season Championship in 2021.

2020 Season – Heading into the last race of the regular season at Daytona International Speedway in 2020, six spots were still up for grabs in the Playoffs. Ultimately, William Byron won the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway to clinch his spot in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – the first driver since ‘Win & You’re In’ was introduced in the series to win his way into the postseason in the final race. The other five Playoff spots were clinched on points. Kevin Harvick clinched the Regular Season Championship in 2020.

2019 Season – Heading into the last race of the regular season at Indianapolis in 2019, just two spots were still up for grabs in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and three drivers were vying for the spots – Clint Bowyer, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Newman. Ultimately, Kevin Harvick won the regular season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but he had already clinched his spot in the Playoffs earlier in the season. Clint Bowyer (fifth-place finish) and Ryan Newman (eighth-place) raced their way into the postseason clinching the last two spots on points. Kyle Busch clinched the Regular Season Championship in 2019 for the second-time in his career (2018, 2019).

NASCAR Cup Series 2024 Top 16 in the Driver Standings at Darlington Raceway

* – Based on last 24 races at Darlington Raceway (2005 – 2024).

Darlington Raceway – Statistics & Tidbits

 Track Length: 1.366-Miles

Degree of Banking in Corners: 25 degrees – Turns 1 & 2 and 23 degrees – Turns 3 & 4

Degree of Banking on Straights: 6 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 1,229 feet

Backstretch Length: 1,229 feet

Season Race: #26 of 36 (September 1, 2024)

The Purse: $8,644,143

Race Length: 501.32 Miles (367 laps)

Stage 1 & 2 Length: 115 Laps (each)

Final Stage Length: 137 Laps

QUALIFYING & RACE RECORDS

Track Qualifying Record:

Aric Almirola, Ford, 184.145 mph, 26.705 secs., April 11, 2014, (Set in Round 1 of 2)

Track Race Record (500 miles):

Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 141.383 mph, (03:32:45), May 11, 2013

2023 Cook Out Southern 500 pole winner:

Christopher Bell, Toyota, 169.193 mph, 29.065 secs., September 2, 2023

2023 Cook Out Southern 500 winner:

Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 120.906 mph, (04:08:47), September 3, 2023

HISTORY

• Darlington Raceway was built as a 1.25-mile paved superspeedway in 1949-1950 in Darlington, South Carolina.
• Darlington Raceway hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history and the first on asphalt on September 4, 1950 – 75 cars competed in the event – Curtis Turner won the pole at 82.034 mph, and the race was won by Johnny Mantz (Plymouth, 75.250 mph, 6:38:40).
• The track was re-measured to 1.375 miles in 1953.
• The track was re-configured to 1.366 miles following the spring race in 1970.
• The track was repaved in 1995.
• The 2005 race was the first Saturday night race at Darlington Raceway.
• The track was repaved again prior to the 2008 season.
• In 2020, Darlington Raceway hosted the NASCAR Cup Series three times in one season as part of the reschedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. One of the first live sporting events to come back after the pandemic break.
• In total there have been 126 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Darlington Raceway from 1950-2024.

 STARTS

• A total of 755 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway; 472 drivers have competed in more than one race at Darlington.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Darlington Raceway with 65 starts.
• Top five in Darlington Cup Starts (All-Time): Richard Petty (65), Buddy Baker (58), Dave Marcis (58), Ricky Rudd (58), Darrel Waltrip (55).

• Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Darlington Raceway with 25 starts.
• Top five in Darlington Cup Starts (Active): Kyle Busch (25), Denny Hamlin (24), Martin Truex Jr. (24), Joey Logano (21), Brad Keselowski (21).
• A total of 124 different drivers have made their NASCAR Cup Series career debut at Darlington Raceway; the most recent was T.J. Bell on May 7, 2011.

• Of the 124 drivers making their NASCAR Cup Series career debuts at Darlington Raceway, NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte posted the best finish of fourth-place after starting 19th on September 4, 1978.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen (16 starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Darlington Raceway with a 3.688.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in average starting position at Darlington Raceway with an 8.750 in 24 starts.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Darlington Raceway (All-Time and Active)

POLES

• A total of 55 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at least one pole at Darlington Raceway.
• Curtis Turner won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Darlington Raceway in 1950 driving an Oldsmobile with an average speed of 82.034 mph.
• This weekend, seven of the 55 NASCAR Cup Series Darlington Raceway pole winners are active this weekend.

• NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Darlington Raceway with 12 poles – (1967, ’70, ’72, ’73 sweep, ’75 sweep, ’76 sweep, ’77, ’78 and ’82)
• Pearson’s 12 Darlington poles are tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough (12 poles at Daytona) for the second-most poles all-time at a single track in the NASCAR Cup Series. Pearson also holds the series record with 14 poles at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• Joey Logano (2022 sweep) leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Darlington Raceway with two.
• Youngest Darlington Cup pole winner: William Byron (09/01/2019 – 21 years, 9 months, 3 days).
• Oldest Darlington Cup pole winner: David Pearson (09/06/1982 – 47 years, 8 months, 15 days).
• In total, 10 drivers have won consecutive poles at Darlington Raceway – Fonty Flock (1952-1953), Fireball Roberts (three: 1959, 1960 sweep), Fred Lorenzen (three: 1963 sweep, 1964), Cale Yarborough (1969 sweep), David Pearson (1973 sweep and five straight: 1975 sweep, 1976 sweep, 1977), Bill Elliott (1985 sweep), Sterling Marlin (1992 sweep), Dale Jarrett (1996-1997), Kasey Kahne (2004, 2005) and Joey Logano (2022 sweep).
• NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive Cup poles at Darlington Raceway with five straight (1975 – 1977).
• A total of eight drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Darlington Raceway.

• A total of 47 different organizations in the NASCAR Cup Series have won a pole at Darlington Raceway.
• Wood Brothers Racing leads all organizations in NASCAR Cup Series poles at Darlington Raceway with 12 poles among three drivers: David Pearson (’72, ’73 sweep, ’75 sweep, ’76 sweep, ’77, and ’78), Cale Yarborough (1969 sweep) and Donnie Allison (1971).
• Of the 47 organizations with Cup poles at Darlington, eight are active this weekend.

• A total of 12 different manufacturers have won at least one pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.
• Ford leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Darlington Raceway with 45 poles; followed by Chevrolet (22), Mercury (13), Pontiac (10), Dodge (8), Toyota (5), Buick (3), Oldsmobile (3), Plymouth (3), Chrysler (1), Hudson (1) and Studebaker (1).

WINS

• A total of 53 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Darlington Raceway; 29 of the 53 have multiple wins at Darlington Raceway.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway was on September 4, 1950 and was won by Johnny Mantz driving a 1950 Plymouth for car owner Hubert Westmoreland (75.250 mph, average time: 06:38:40).
• This weekend. eight of the 54 NASCAR Cup Series Darlington race winners are active this weekend.

• NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in victories at Darlington Raceway with 10 wins (1968, ’70, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76 sweep, ’77, ’79, 80); followed by Dale Earnhardt with nine and Jeff Gordon with seven.
• Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin (2010, 2017, 2020-2, 2021-2) leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in wins at Darlington with four victories.
• Youngest Cup Series Darlington winner: Kyle Busch (5/10/2008 – 23 years, 0 months, 8 days).
• Oldest Cup Series Darlington winner: Harry Gant (09/01/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 22 days).
• 13 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Darlington; Dale Earnhardt (1989-1990) and Jeff Gordon (1995-1996) are tied for the series-most consecutive wins at Darlington with three each.
• Six drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway: Johnny Mantz (1950), Nelson Stacy (1961), Larry Frank (1962), Terry Labonte (1980), Lake Speed (1988) and Regan Smith (2011).
• A total of 21 different starting positions on the grid have resulted in victories in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (21) than any other starting position at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series (16.7%).
• The outside front row (second-place) has produced the second-most wins (19) in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway (15.1%).
• The front row starting positions combined have produced 31.7% of the race winners at Darlington Raceway with 40 wins coming from the two spots.
• A total of 12 different drivers have won from the pole at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series – David Pearson (four), Bill Elliott (three), Bobby Allison (two), Dale Earnhardt (two), Fred Lorenzen (two), Richard Petty (two), Dale Jarrett, Fonty Flock, Herry Gant, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick and Tim Richmond (each had one).
• NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins from the pole at Darlington Raceway with four wins (1971, 1972, 1976 sweep).
• Joey Logano (2022) is the only active drivers to win from the pole at Darlington Raceway.
• A total of 21 of the 126 (16.7%) NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway have been won from the pole or first starting position; the most recent was Joey Logano in 2022.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Darlington is 43rd by Johnny Mantz in 1950 – the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event held at the historic raceway.

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Darlington Raceway

• A total of 47 different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.
• Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins by an organization at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series with 16 victories – Tim Richmond (1986), Ricky Rudd (1991), Jeff Gordon (1995, ’96 sweep, ’97, ’98, ’02, ’07), Terry Labonte (2003), Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep and 2012), Mark Martin (2009) William Byron (2023), and Kyle Larson (2023).
• A total of 11 different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway; led by Chevrolet with 44 victories; followed by Ford (33), Mercury (10), Toyota (10), Oldsmobile (six), Dodge (five), Pontiac (five), Buick (four), Plymouth (four), Hudson (three) and American Motor Company (two).

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

• A total of 64 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Darlington Raceway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty lead the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Darlington Raceway with eight second-place finishes each.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in second-place finishes at Darlington with four.

Top Five In Runner-Up Finishes at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 150 different drivers have finished in the top-five in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Darlington Raceway with 25.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-five finishes at Darlington with 13.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 244 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted top-10 finishes at Darlington Raceway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott leads all NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top 10s at Darlington with 35 top 10s.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top 10s at Darlington with 17 top 10s.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Average Finishing Position:

• Bob Burdick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Darlington Raceway with a 3.0 in two starts.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Darlington with a 8.250 in 24 starts.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)

LAP LEADERS

• In total of 179 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have led at least one lap at Darlington Raceway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Darlington Raceway with 2,648 laps led in 44 series starts.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led with 979 laps led in 24 starts.
• The most laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway by the race winner was 351 laps of the scheduled 400 laps (87%) by Johnny Mantz on September 4, 1950. He started the race from the 43rd position.
• The most laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway by a driver that did not win the race was 284 laps of the scheduled 367 laps (77%) by Kyle Larson on September 2, 2018. He started the race from the second position.
• The fewest laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway by the race winner was just the final lap by Ricky Craven on March 16, 2003. He started the race from the 31st position.
• Last season’s winner, Kyle Larson, led a total of 55 laps. He took the lead on Lap 313 and led the final 55 laps enroute to the win.

Top 10 Lap Leaders at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)

FEMALE COMPETITORS

• Three female drivers have competed at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series – Danica Patrick, Janet Guthrie and Shawna Robinson. Patrick is the only female competitor to make multiple starts at Darlington.

TRACK / EVENT STATS

• Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway is the March 16, 2003 race won by Ricky Craven with a margin of victory of 0.002 second over Kurt Busch.
• Darlington’s 0.002 sec. margin of victory is tied with the 2011 Spring Talladega race for the second-closest finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series using electronic scoring.

Top Five Closest Margins of Victory at Darlington Raceway

• Four NASCAR Cup Series races have resulted in a NASCAR Overtime finish at Darlington Raceway:

• Darlington Raceway holds the top-five NASCAR Cup Series records of largest Place Differential in a single event (all-time). The series record for the most positions advanced from a driver’s starting position to their finishing position belongs to NASCAR Hall of Famer Fireball Roberts, who in 1950 started 67th and finished runner-up advancing 65 positions.

• Nine of the 126 races at Darlington Raceway have been shortened from their scheduled number of laps; the most recent was in 2020.

• Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway seven times: 1952, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2016.
• The five qualifying sessions from 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and instead the starting lineup was determined by a random draw or inverted field.

NASCAR IN SOUTH CAROLINA

• South Carolina has hosted a total of 331 NASCAR national series races among 10 different tracks.

• The first NASCAR Cup Series race held in the state of South Carolina was at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 4, 1950 – the event was won by Johnny Mantz in a Plymouth.

SOUTH CAROLINA IN NASCAR

• A total of 140 different drivers have made at least one NASCAR national series start with their home state recorded as South Carolina.
• James Hylton leads all NASCAR drivers from South Carolina with the most NASCAR national series starts with 607.
• Four drivers from South Carolina have been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame – David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Cotton Owens and Tiny Lund.
• 11 drivers from South Carolina have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series; seven have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.

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