# 2024 Cook Out Southern 500

The 2024 Cook Out Southern 500, the 75th running of the event, was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 1, 2024, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina on the 1.366-mile (2.198 km) speedway, it was the 26th race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, last race of the regular season, and the final Crown Jewel of the year. Chase Briscoe won the race, his first win since the 2022 Ruoff Mortgage 500. Kyle Busch finished 2nd, and Christopher Bell finished 3rd. Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain rounded out the top five, and Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Corey LaJoie, and Tyler Reddick rounded out the top ten.
This was Stewart-Haas Racing's final win in the Cup Series before shutting down after the season.

## Report
### Background

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

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Noah Gragson | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | Kaz Grala (R) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | Shane van Gisbergen (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota |
| 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | Power Source | Ford |
| 71 | Zane Smith (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 77 | Carson Hocevar (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Practice

Erik Jones was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 29.542 seconds and a speed of 166.461 mph (267.893 km/h).

### Practice results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 29.542 | 166.461 |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.598 | 166.146 |
| 3 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 29.603 | 166.118 |
| Official practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Bubba Wallace scored the pole for the race with a time 29.421 of and a speed of 167.146 mph (268.995 km/h). Rookie Carson Hocevar scored a personal and team best qualifying effort in 2nd.

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 |
| 1 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 29.328 | 29.421 |
| 2 | 77 | Carson Hocevar (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.419 | 29.445 |
| 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.294 | 29.576 |
| 4 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.445 | 29.444 |
| 5 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.292 | 29.582 |
| 6 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 29.463 | 29.446 |
| 7 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 29.375 | 29.617 |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.439 | 29.528 |
| 9 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.239 | 29.670 |
| 10 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 29.622 | 29.650 |
| 11 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 29.444 | — |
| 12 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 29.624 | — |
| 13 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.472 | — |
| 14 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.649 | — |
| 15 | 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.509 | — |
| 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.670 | — |
| 17 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.531 | — |
| 18 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 29.696 | — |
| 19 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.534 | — |
| 20 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.791 | — |
| 21 | 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 29.538 | — |
| 22 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 29.806 | — |
| 23 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 29.563 | — |
| 24 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.849 | — |
| 25 | 31 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 29.571 | — |
| 26 | 71 | Zane Smith (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.852 | — |
| 27 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.601 | — |
| 28 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 29.925 | — |
| 29 | 10 | Noah Gragson | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.632 | — |
| 30 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.981 | — |
| 31 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 29.653 | — |
| 32 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 30.015 | — |
| 33 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 29.853 | — |
| 34 | 16 | Shane van Gisbergen (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 30.267 | — |
| 35 | 15 | Kaz Grala (R) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 30.142 | — |
| 36 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 0.000 | — |
| 37 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | Power Source | Ford | 31.296 | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race
### Race results
#### Stage results

Stage One Laps: 115
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 115
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage results

Stage Three Laps: 137
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 367 | 57 |
| 2 | 17 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 35 |
| 3 | 9 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 367 | 46 |
| 4 | 4 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 53 |
| 5 | 22 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 32 |
| 6 | 10 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 367 | 32 |
| 7 | 14 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 367 | 43 |
| 8 | 23 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 367 | 29 |
| 9 | 19 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 28 |
| 10 | 6 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 367 | 37 |
| 11 | 20 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 26 |
| 12 | 30 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 367 | 25 |
| 13 | 11 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 367 | 24 |
| 14 | 12 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 367 | 24 |
| 15 | 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 22 |
| 16 | 1 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 367 | 32 |
| 17 | 33 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 367 | 20 |
| 18 | 32 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 366 | 19 |
| 19 | 27 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 366 | 18 |
| 20 | 13 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 366 | 26 |
| 21 | 24 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 365 | 16 |
| 22 | 36 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 365 | 15 |
| 23 | 26 | 71 | Zane Smith (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 364 | 14 |
| 24 | 28 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 364 | 13 |
| 25 | 18 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 364 | 12 |
| 26 | 34 | 16 | Shane van Gisbergen (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 364 | 0 |
| 27 | 21 | 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 363 | 10 |
| 28 | 31 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 363 | 9 |
| 29 | 25 | 31 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 362 | 8 |
| 30 | 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 344 | 17 |
| 31 | 15 | 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 343 | 12 |
| 32 | 29 | 10 | Noah Gragson | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 343 | 5 |
| 33 | 2 | 77 | Carson Hocevar (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 335 | 4 |
| 34 | 35 | 15 | Kaz Grala | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 332 | 3 |
| 35 | 37 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | Power Source | Ford | 278 | 0 |
| 36 | 5 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 | 1 |
| 37 | 7 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 2 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 26 among 11 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 7 for 39
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 55 minutes and 14 seconds
* Average speed: 127.800 miles per hour (205.674 km/h)

## Media
### Television

USA 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 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 Marty Snider |

### Radio

MRN 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: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Todd Gordon | Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Turns 3 & 4: Mike Bagley | Steve Post Chris Wilner Brienne Pedigo Alex Weaver |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Kyle Larson | 2,040 |
| 4 | 2 | Christopher Bell | 2,032 (–8) |
| 2 | 3 | Tyler Reddick | 2,028 (–12) |
| 1 | 4 | William Byron | 2,022 (–18) |
| 1 | 5 | Ryan Blaney | 2,018 (–22) |
| 2 | 6 | Denny Hamlin | 2,015 (–25) |
| 4 | 7 | Chase Elliott | 2,014 (–26) |
| 1 | 8 | Brad Keselowski | 2,008 (–32) |
| 6 | 9 | Joey Logano | 2,007 (–33) |
| 9 | 10 | Austin Cindric | 2,007 (–33) |
| 6 | 11 | Daniel Suárez | 2,006 (–34) |
| | 12 | Alex Bowman | 2,005 (–35) |
| 5 | 13 | Chase Briscoe | 2,005 (–35) |
| 20 | 14 | Harrison Burton | 2,005 (–35) |
| 5 | 15 | Ty Gibbs | 2,004 (–36) |
| 7 | 16 | Martin Truex Jr. | 2,004 (–36) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 944 |
| 2 | Toyota | 929 (–15) |
| 3 | Ford | 908 (–36) |