NASCAR Reveals Entry List for 2026 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway

The NASCAR Cup Series is gearing up for one of its most anticipated events, the 2026 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. This race, scheduled for September 2026, marks a significant moment in the season as it is the final race at Darlington for the year and the first in the Chase for the championship.

On Monday afternoon, NASCAR unveiled the entry list for the Southern 500, which features a total of 36 guaranteed charters. Among these, 35 drivers are full-time competitors in the series. Notably, Austin Hill will step in to drive the No. 33 car for Richard Childress Racing, taking over for the late Kyle Busch, who tragically passed away earlier this year. This change adds an emotional layer to the race, as fans and fellow competitors remember Busch's impact on the sport.

In addition to the full-time drivers, the entry list includes two open entries: Chad Finchum from Garage 66 and Corey Heim from 23XI Racing. This brings the total number of drivers competing in the Southern 500 to 38, setting the stage for an exciting race filled with both seasoned veterans and emerging talents.

As the Southern 500 approaches, anticipation builds among fans and teams alike. The race is not only a chance for drivers to earn crucial points in the Chase but also a prestigious event that has a rich history in NASCAR. Darlington Raceway, known as the "Track Too Tough to Tame," has been a staple in the NASCAR schedule since its inception, and the Southern 500 is one of the crown jewels of the series.

Here is the complete entry list for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington in September 2026:

1. No. 1 Ross Chastain
2. No. 2 Austin Cindric
3. No. 3 Austin Dillon
4. No. 4 Noah Gragson
5. No. 5 Kyle Larson
6. No. 6 Brad Keselowski
7. No. 7 Daniel Suarez
8. No. 9 Chase Elliott
9. No. 10 Ty Dillon
10. No. 11 Denny Hamlin
11. No. 12 Ryan Blaney
12. No. 16 A.J. Allmendinger
13. No. 17 Chris Buescher
14. No. 19 Chase Briscoe
15. No. 20 Christopher Bell
16. No. 21 Josh Berry
17. No. 22 Joey Logano
18. No. 23 Bubba Wallace
19. No. 24 William Byron
20. No. 33 Austin Hill
21. No. 34 Todd Gilliland
22. No. 35 Riley Herbst
23. No. 38 Zane Smith
24. No. 41 Cole Custer
25. No. 42 John Hunter Nemechek
26. No. 43 Erik Jones
27. No. 45 Tyler Reddick
28. No. 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
29. No. 48 Alex Bowman
30. No. 51 Cody Ware
31. No. 54 Ty Gibbs
32. No. 60 Ryan Preece
33. No. 66 Chad Finchum*
34. No. 67 Corey Heim*
35. No. 71 Michael McDowell
36. No. 77 Carson Hocevar
37. No. 88 Connor Zilisch
38. No. 97 Shane van Gisbergen

* = open entry

As the race day approaches, fans can expect a thrilling competition as drivers vie for victory on one of NASCAR's most storied tracks.