DARLINGTON, S.C. - Though NASCAR split its series this weekend - the Cup Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series are at Darlington Raceway, the Xfinity Series and ARCA Series at Portland International Speedway - all eyes were on The Lady in Black on Saturday morning.
And they're sure to be again on Sunday night.
Cup Series practice and qualifying for the prestigious Southern 500 went into the books before the first college football games kicked off on Saturday. Kyle Larson led Hendrick Motorsports with a lap of 28.925, good enough to roll off fifth this weekend. William Byron will start 11th, Chase Elliott 21st and Alex Bowman 29th.
Sunday's race will mark the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. All four Hendrick Motorsports cars are among the 16-driver field with Larson and Byron tied atop the standings. Larson and Byron each have a win at Darlington with Larson's coming in the 2023 Southern 500.
USA Network will air the Southern 500, which is set to start at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Here's a look at how the Cup Series will line up:
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NASCAR starting lineup for Sunday
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11, 29.694
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19, 28.715
- Josh Berry, No. 21, 28.829
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45, 28.848
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet
- Ross Chastain, No. 1, 28.933
- Christopher Bell, No. 20, 28.962
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23, 28.985
- Austin Dillon, No. 3, 29.004
- Austin Cindric, No. 2, 29.023
- William Byron, No. 24 All-Pro Chevrolet, 29.025
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12, 29.032
- Justin Haley, No. 7, 29.06
- Joey Logano, No. 22, 29.08
- Chris Buescher, No. 17, 29.082
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54, 29.127
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99, 29.172
- Cole Custer, No. 41, 29.196
- Erik Jones, No. 43, 29.216
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88, 29.223
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 29.226
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16, 29.234
- Kyle Busch, No. 8, 29.235
- Zane Smith, No. 38, 29.245
- Michael McDowell, No. 71, 29.249
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77, 29.249
- Ryan Preece, No. 60, 29.254
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34, 29.263
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 29.269
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42, 29.327
- Ty Dillon, No. 10, 29.338
- Brad Keselowski, 29.401
- Riley Herbst, No. 35, 29.445
- Noah Gragson, No. 4, 29.511
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 29.663
- Cody Ware, No. 51, 29.997
- Derek Kraus, No. 44, 30451
- Timmy Hill, No. 66, 31.025
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NASCAR practice results
- Michael McDowell, No. 71, 29.007
- Justin Haley, No. 7, 29.123
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54, 29.124
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77, 29.203
- Noah Gragson, No. 4, 29.248
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34, 29.271
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16, 29.332
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23, 29.404
- Kyle Busch, No. 8, 29.411
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42, 29.464
- Ty Dillon, No. 10, 29.499
- Riley Herbst, No. 35, 29.523
- Ross Chastain, No. 1, 29.565
- Erik Jones, No. 43, 29.621
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99, 29.642
- William Byron, No. 24 All-Pro Chevrolet, 29.655
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47, 29.658
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19, 29.671
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11, 29.729
- Zane Smith, No. 38, 29.74
- Austin Cindric, No. 2, 29.759
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45, 29.794
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 29.847
- Austin Dillon, No. 3, 29.855
- Cody Ware, No. 51, 29.863
- Christopher Bell, No. 20, 29.885
- Joey Logano, No. 22, 29.906
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12, 29.909
- Chris Buescher, No. 17, 29.963
- Ryan Preece, No. 60, 29.968
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 29.99
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88, 30.015
- Josh Berry, No. 21, 30.018
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 30.022
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6, 30.096
- Cole Custer, No. 41, 30.139
- Derek Kraus, No. 44, 30.768
- Timmy Hill, No. 66, 31.64
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Where is the NASCAR race this weekend?
The NASCAR Cup Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series are at Darlington Raceway this weekend. The NASCAR Xfinity Series is running at Portland International Speedway.
NASCAR weekend TV schedule
Saturday, Aug. 30
- Noon - CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race (FS1)
- 3 p.m. - Xfinity Series practice (CW App)
- 4:05 - Xfinity Series qualifying (CW App)
- 7:30 - Xfinity Series race (CW)
Sunday, Aug. 31
- 6 p.m. - Cup Series race (USA)