NASCAR Cup Series

Podium Preview: Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

by
Rob Tiongson
September 3, 2023

William Byron hopes to kick off the Playoffs like he is on pit road – leading. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

DARLINGTON, S.C. – It does not matter if it is 1950 or 2023 when it comes to the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington. This race is simply one of the most daring and challenging races of all the NASCAR Cup Series races in a season.

Sure, drivers and teams acquainted themselves with this 1.366-mile track nearly four months ago with the Goodyear 400. But that was in the heat of the day with about 100 less miles than tonight’s race.

A 500-mile race at “The Track Too Tough to Tame” has tested the greats like Richard Petty, David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Ned Jarrett, Harry Gant, Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt. Some have been as stymied by this track as a fan wanting to meet their favorite celebrity at a convention.

As if that is not enough, the Cook Out Southern 500 kicks off this year’s Playoffs. With the most diverse field of organizations in the 19 years of a postseason format, anything is possible when it comes to the heroes who may emerge from tonight’s race in South Carolina.

Last year, Erik Jones spoiled the Playoffs by winning the 500 in the famed No. 43 car. As he looks to defend his crown from last year, Martin Truex Jr. and William Byron hope to start things right and strong to ease into the Round of 12.

Once the NASCAR official unfurls the green flag on race day, it is anyone’s guess as to who will prevail in this year’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington. For the time being, come along for the ride this and each race weekend with Podium Preview.

This weekend, Cody Shoppe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler and yours truly ponder about who will rock, who will roll and who is ready to go, cat, go at Darlington!

Podium Preview: Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

Podium Perspectives

Question 1

Chris Buescher enters the Playoffs as the winner of three of the past five races. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

Which driver and team can make the most immediate impact on the Round of 16’s opener at Darlington Raceway?

Sisoler : Walking into this weekend, I would’ve said the team that is arguably the hottest team in NASCAR and seems to be Ford’s top challenger to the dominance of William Byron from Hendrick, RFK, and while I still think they can given that both Keselowski and Buescher are in the top 8 for the race, I think after qualifying someone else has leapt to the top of the pyramid for this weekend.

Looking at speeds across practice and qualifying, you can’t deny that Christopher Bell and his No. 20 team at Joe Gibbs Racing have found something at “The Lady in Black” for today’s event and could be the big threat to stop a Byron/HMS sweep of the Cup races at Darlington in 2023.

Torres : When you’re hot, you’re hot and RFK Racing is that team. Both Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski escaped the chaos and finished in the top-10 at Darlington earlier this year. Now that both have proven how competitive they’ve been, especially Buescher with three wins, RFK will be a threat in the race.

The question will remain if Keselowski, who finished sixth in May, can finally seal the deal and go back to victory lane. We saw it with Erik Jones in last year’s Southern 500, perhaps history will repeat itself for Keselowski.

Shoppe : I expect Joe Gibbs Racing’s three Playoff drivers will make some noise as early contenders in these playoffs. Martin Truex Jr. enters the postseason with a regular season championship. Denny Hamlin is back with another strong year, still determined to get his first championship. Also Christopher Bell, the Darlington pole sitter, was a Championship 4 driver from last year.

Question 2

Chase Elliott would like a good result or 10 to close out this year. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

Which non-Playoff racer and team has the makings to have a great 10-race finish to 2023?

Tiongson : I really look forward to seeing what Chase Briscoe and his No. 14 team can do down the stretch. It will not be a season he will remember but the last 10 races may be the start to a season he will cherish to kick off 2024.

The rules may change and who knows what the Ford Mustang or Ford stock car will be next year. But there is nothing like momentum and finding speed to send a message to the competition. They can look at someone like Michael McDowell, a fellow Ford Performance driver, and how he was able to hit on a combination late last year to have the incredible pace and power that got him into this year’s postseason.

Lambeth : Easy answer, Chase Elliott. Despite not making the playoffs as a driver, the No. 9 team remains in the hunt for the owner’s championship. Missing seven races during the regular season really put him in a tough position with significant pressure to win as his only hope of advancing to the postseason.

With the pressure off now, Elliott can solely focus on performing at a high level and ultimately returning to Victory Lane. In the final 10 races, there are some good tracks coming up where he could be a factor during the last stretch of 2023 and has the potential to make some noise in the owner’s title fight. I do not see Elliott ending the season winless.

Somehow, someway, the TPF stock car has no scratches or “Darlington Stripe” to show for after two laps. Now, let us rewind to last Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, Race No. 26 of 36 for this year’s NASCAR Cup Series season, with our race and points reports!

Sisoler and yours truly survived Daytona with a top five result.

Meanwhile, Sisoler kicks off the Playoffs with a slender points lead.