The 2025 Cook Out Southern 500, the 76th running of the event, was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on August 31, 2025, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina on the 1.366-mile (2.198 km) speedway, it was the 27th race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, first race of the playoffs, and the final Crown Jewel of the year.
| Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 27 of 36 in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series | |||
 | |||
| Date | August 31, 2025 | ||
| Location | Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 1.366 miles (2.198 km) | ||
| Distance | 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.666 km) | ||
| Average speed | 130.148 miles per hour (209.453 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||
| Time | 28.694 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Laps | 309 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Josh Berry | Wood Brothers Racing | |
| Time | 29.039 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | USA | ||
| Announcers | Leigh Diffey, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte | ||
| Nielsen ratings | 1.88 million | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | MRN | ||
| Booth announcers | Alex Hayden, Mike Bagley and Todd Gordon | ||
| Turn announcers | Dave Moody (1–2) and Kurt Becker (3–4) | ||
Chase Briscoe won the race. Tyler Reddick finished 2nd, and Erik Jones finished 3rd. John Hunter Nemechek and A. J. Allmendinger rounded out the top five, and Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Carson Hocevar, and Chris Buescher rounded out the top ten.
Report
editBackground
edit
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.
Entry list
edit- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (P) denotes playoff driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Practice
editMichael McDowell was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 29.007 seconds and a speed of 169.531 mph (272.834 km/h).
Practice results
edit| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 71 | Michael McDowell | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.007 | 169.531 |
| 2 | 7 | Justin Haley | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.123 | 168.856 |
| 3 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.124 | 168.850 |
| Official practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
editDenny Hamlin scored the pole for the race with a time of 28.694 and a speed of 171.381 mph (275.811 km/h).[7]
Qualifying results
edit| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 28.694 | 171.381 |
| 2 | 19 | Chase Briscoe (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 28.715 | 171.255 |
| 3 | 21 | Josh Berry (P) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 28.829 | 170.578 |
| 4 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 28.848 | 170.466 |
| 5 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.925 | 170.012 |
| 6 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 28.933 | 169.965 |
| 7 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 28.962 | 169.795 |
| 8 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 28.985 | 169.660 |
| 9 | 3 | Austin Dillon (P) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.004 | 169.549 |
| 10 | 2 | Austin Cindric (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 29.023 | 169.438 |
| 11 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.025 | 169.426 |
| 12 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 29.032 | 169.386 |
| 13 | 7 | Justin Haley | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.060 | 169.222 |
| 14 | 22 | Joey Logano (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 29.080 | 169.106 |
| 15 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 29.082 | 169.094 |
| 16 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.127 | 168.833 |
| 17 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 29.172 | 168.573 |
| 18 | 41 | Cole Custer | Haas Factory Team | Ford | 29.196 | 168.434 |
| 19 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 29.216 | 168.319 |
| 20 | 88 | Shane van Gisbergen (P) (R) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 29.223 | 168.278 |
| 21 | 9 | Chase Elliott (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.226 | 168.261 |
| 22 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 29.234 | 168.215 |
| 23 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.235 | 168.209 |
| 24 | 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 29.245 | 168.152 |
| 25 | 71 | Michael McDowell | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.249 | 168.129 |
| 26 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.249 | 168.129 |
| 27 | 60 | Ryan Preece | RFK Racing | Ford | 29.254 | 168.100 |
| 28 | 34 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 29.263 | 168.048 |
| 29 | 48 | Alex Bowman (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.269 | 168.014 |
| 30 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 29.327 | 167.682 |
| 31 | 10 | Ty Dillon | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 29.338 | 167.619 |
| 32 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 29.401 | 167.260 |
| 33 | 35 | Riley Herbst (R) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 29.445 | 167.010 |
| 34 | 4 | Noah Gragson | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 29.511 | 166.636 |
| 35 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Hyak Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.663 | 165.782 |
| 36 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 29.997 | 163.936 |
| 37 | 44 | Derek Kraus | NY Racing Team | Chevrolet | 30.451 | 161.492 |
| 38 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | Garage 66 | Ford | 31.025 | 158.504 |
| Official qualifying results | ||||||
Race
editRace results
editStage results
editStage One Laps: 115
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Chase Briscoe (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 2 | Austin Cindric (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results | |||||
Stage Two Laps: 115
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Chase Briscoe (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 60 | Ryan Preece | RFK Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results | |||||
Final Stage results
editStage Three Laps: 137
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 19 | Chase Briscoe (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 367 | 60 |
| 2 | 4 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 367 | 53 |
| 3 | 19 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 367 | 42 |
| 4 | 30 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 367 | 38 |
| 5 | 22 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 38 |
| 6 | 8 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 367 | 41 |
| 7 | 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 367 | 38 |
| 8 | 23 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 29 |
| 9 | 26 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 28 |
| 10 | 15 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 367 | 27 |
| 11 | 6 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 38 |
| 12 | 10 | 2 | Austin Cindric (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 367 | 28 |
| 13 | 24 | 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 367 | 24 |
| 14 | 34 | 4 | Noah Gragson | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 367 | 23 |
| 15 | 32 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 367 | 22 |
| 16 | 27 | 60 | Ryan Preece | RFK Racing | Ford | 367 | 21 |
| 17 | 21 | 9 | Chase Elliott (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 20 |
| 18 | 12 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 367 | 20 |
| 19 | 5 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 30 |
| 20 | 14 | 22 | Joey Logano (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 367 | 17 |
| 21 | 11 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 17 |
| 22 | 16 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 367 | 15 |
| 23 | 9 | 3 | Austin Dillon (P) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 14 |
| 24 | 18 | 41 | Cole Custer | Haas Factory Team | Ford | 367 | 13 |
| 25 | 17 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 366 | 12 |
| 26 | 28 | 34 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 366 | 11 |
| 27 | 13 | 7 | Justin Haley | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 366 | 10 |
| 28 | 33 | 35 | Riley Herbst (R) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 366 | 9 |
| 29 | 7 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 365 | 12 |
| 30 | 35 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Hyak Motorsports | Chevrolet | 365 | 7 |
| 31 | 29 | 48 | Alex Bowman (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 365 | 6 |
| 32 | 20 | 88 | Shane van Gisbergen (P) (R) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 365 | 5 |
| 33 | 25 | 71 | Michael McDowell | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 365 | 4 |
| 34 | 31 | 10 | Ty Dillon | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 365 | 3 |
| 35 | 38 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | Garage 66 | Ford | 354 | 0 |
| 36 | 37 | 44 | Derek Kraus | NY Racing Team | Chevrolet | 282 | 1 |
| 37 | 36 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 249 | 1 |
| 38 | 3 | 21 | Josh Berry (P) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 239 | 2 |
| Official race results | |||||||
Race statistics
edit- Lead changes: 24 among 10 different drivers
- Cautions/Laps: 7 for 37 laps
- Red flags: 0
- Time of race: 3 hours, 51 minutes and 7 seconds
- Average speed: 130.148 miles per hour (209.453 km/h)
Media
editTelevision
editUSA covered the race on the television side. Leigh Diffey, two–time Darlington winner Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon, Parker Kligerman and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
| USA | |
|---|---|
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Leigh Diffey Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte |
Dave Burns Kim Coon Parker Kligerman Marty Snider |
Radio
editMRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
| MRN Radio | ||
|---|---|---|
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Mike Bagley Announcer: Todd Gordon |
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Turns 3 & 4: Kurt Becker |
Steve Post Chris Wilner Brienne Pedigo |
Standings after the race
edit
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References
edit- ^ "2025 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
- ^ "Darlington Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
- ^ Sturniolo, Zach (August 29, 2024). "NASCAR reveals milestone 2025 Cup Series schedule, complete with international flair, return to roots". NASCAR. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
- ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. August 25, 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
- ^ "Cook Out Southern 500 Results". Racing-Reference. August 31, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
- ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. August 31, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
- ^ DeGroot, Nick (August 30, 2025). "Denny Hamlin earns Southern 500 pole as playoff drivers dominate". Motorsport.com. Darlington, South Carolina: Motorsport Network. Retrieved August 30, 2025.