Drivers to watch, drivers with questions to answer in Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

This weekend the NASCAR Playoffs begin with the Round of 16. The action gets started at Darlington with the Cook Out Southern 500. Considering how difficult this race track is, we should get a great race on Sunday.

The Track Too Tough to Tame is back again. Home to some of the most memorable races in NASCAR history, Darlington Raceway can produce thrillers. William Byron won here earlier in the season, for the Goodyear 400.

There is a ton on the line. While there are three races in the first round, no one in the top-16 can afford to make a mistake at the Cook Out Southern 500. You get one DNF and you will find yourself behind for the rest of the postseason, if not eliminated.

Drivers to watch at Darlington

Chris Buescher
The hottest name in NASCAR and a driver who won in the Round of 16 a season ago, although he was out of the playoff picture. Buescher and RFK Racing have been great this season and three wins in five weeks proves it. Racing is all about momentum, and he’s got a lot of it.

Denny Hamlin
In the spring race, this was a Ford/Chevy affair. Byron won, five Fords finished in the top-10, and now we’re running it back. However, I find that Denny Hamlin, a four-time winner at The Lady in Black, will have something to say about that. This season might be his best chance to finally win a championship.

William Byron
Can’t make this list and not include Byron. While I think he’s a little suspect still, his five wins say otherwise. He just can’t disappear for two to three races at a time like he often does. It is hard not to consider the 24 team favorites for the Bill France Cup this year. Byron enters the Cook Out Southern 500 tied for the most points with Martin Truex Jr.

Drivers with questions to answer in Cook Out Southern 500

Kevin Harvick
A three-time winner at Darlington, it would be cool to see Harvick perform well or even win the Southern 500. This season hasn’t gone the way he wanted it to go, I’m sure. However, that can all change with a strong playoff run. Perhaps Darlington has a little magic left for the No. 4 team? P2 in the Goodyear 400 this year behind Byron. Also a great paint scheme this week.

Bubba Wallace
Look, Wallace doesn’t have to win this race to make the Round of 12. However, he has to have another strong performance like he did in the spring. He was top-5 here back then and he has to keep that up, pick up stage points, and hope he builds momentum at the very least heading into Kansas. The 16th-place driver has to prove themself more than the others.

Brad Keselowski
Ford was strong here earlier this season. Keselowski is another driver without a win on the year who would love to have one – why not Darlington? The RFK driver-owner has a lot on his plate lately. He’s also helped Buescher win. Now it might be his turn to grab a checkered flag at the Southern 500.