Darlington, SC – After thrilling superspeedway action at Daytona Beach’s World Center of Racing, the NASCAR Xfinity Series shifts gears and heads to Darlington Raceway—the legendary “track too tough to tame.” On Saturday, August 31, at 3:30 p.m. ET, fans can catch the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200, broadcast live on the USA Network, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
A Historic Venue
Darlington Raceway, nestled in Darlington, South Carolina, has witnessed 68 Xfinity Series races prior to this weekend. Its 1.366-mile layout has challenged drivers for decades, producing 36 different race winners and 32 pole winners.
- Mark Martin’s Dominance: NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin stands tall as the winningest driver at Darlington in the Xfinity Series. His eight victories (1993, 1994 sweep, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 sweep) are complemented by records in poles (eight), top fives (14), top 10s (18), and laps led (972).
- Memorable Firsts: Darlington has been a place of “firsts” for several drivers. Justin Ashburn (2003), Denny Hamlin (2004), and John Jackson (2011) made their Xfinity Series debuts here. Kyle Busch (2004) and Ross Chastain (2018) secured their first poles on this hallowed track.
- Career Milestones: Geoff Bodine (1982), Neil Bonnett (1983), and Ron Bouchard (1984) all earned their first Xfinity Series career wins at Darlington.
Race Day Schedule
Saturday promises a full slate for drivers:
- 10:30 a.m. ET: Practice
- 11:10 a.m. ET: Qualifying (on the NBC Sports App)
- 3:30 p.m. ET: Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200
Taming the Lady in Black
Darlington’s nickname—the “track too tough to tame”—holds true for most, but a select group has conquered its challenges:
- Justin Allgaier: JR Motorsports’ Allgaier, the most recent winner at Darlington, boasts three victories (2021, 2022, 2024) and impressive stats: eight top fives, 14 top 10s, and 278 laps led.
- Brandon Jones: Still hunting for his first win this season, Jones clinched victory at Darlington in 2020. His record includes two top fives and six top 10s.
- Cole Custer: Stewart-Haas Racing’s Custer thrives on the 1.366-mile track. He’s consistently finished in the top five (except for one ninth-place finish in 2017) and secured a win in 2019.
- Joey Logano: Logano, driving the No. 15 AM Racing Ford, returns for his second Xfinity Series start this season. His Darlington record features one win (2012), four top fives, five top 10s, and 70 laps led.
- Chase Elliott: Hendrick Motorsports’ Elliott, piloting the No. 17 Chevrolet, has one win (2014) and promising stats: one top five, two top 10s, and 52 laps led.
- Noah Gragson: Making his debut with Rette Jones Racing in the Xfinity Series, Gragson has two Darlington wins (2021, 2022), five top fives, seven top 10s, and 253 laps led.
Exciting News: Shane van Gisbergen’s Full-Time Cup Series Debut
Three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen, who wowed fans with his Chicago Street Race win in 2023, joins the Cup Series full-time in 2025. Behind the wheel of the No. 97 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, he’s set to make waves in NASCAR’s premier league.
Clinch Scenarios Per NASCAR:
Already Clinched
The following five drivers have clinched a spot in the 12-driver postseason field: Justin Allgaier, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, Shane van Gisbergen, Sam Mayer.
Can Clinch Via Previous Wins
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by any driver that already has a win:
· Cole Custer: Would clinch regardless of finish
· Riley Herbst: Would clinch regardless of finish
· Jesse Love: Would clinch regardless of finish
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by AJ Allmendinger, Sheldon Creed, Parker Kligerman, Ryan Sieg or Sammy Smith:
· Cole Custer: Would clinch with 14 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Brandon Jones or a driver lower in the standings:
· Cole Custer: Would clinch regardless of finish
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
· Cole Custer, Riley Herbst, Jesse Love
The following drivers could clinch with a win:
· AJ Allmendinger: Could only clinch with help
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