The NASCAR Playoffs have begun for the Cup and Truck Series. Meanwhile, the Xfinity Series went back out West for road course racing. We have winners, losers, and a few wild moments in between.
Darlington Raceway is such a great track. And I would love to see Xfinity back at Darlington for Labor Day Weekend. I can’t lie, the Portland/Darlington weekend was really exciting and a nice change of pace. That secondary series continues to develop its own identity away from the Cup Series.
Of course, all eyes were on Darlington. A big sports weekend with a lot of great racing across the globe and the return of College Football. Let’s get into the NASCAR action before we head off to WorldWide Technology Raceway.
Denny Hamlin wins pole after heated hearing
The days leading up to Darlington were interesting to say the least. The NASCAR lawsuit had a preliminary injunction hearing that revealed some spicy text messages.
Neither side is happy with the other. They don’t get along. And of course, Denny Hamlin won the pole just a couple of days later.
Chandler Smith takes playoff hit in NASCAR Truck Series
For Chandler Smith, the NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs started with a rough hit into the wall. He led the first 10 laps, hit the wall, and was done for the day.
Smith is going to have to be really good in the next two races. If he isn’t careful, he could find himself out of the championship hunt.
Corey Heim earns 8th win of 2025 season
This Truck Series race came down to Layne Riggs and Corey Heim. Then, one bad pit stop later, it was Heim in a class of his own. Just like it has been all season long.
Heim is having a very special year. Somebody, please, anybody, put him in the Cup Series. Enough is enough.
Matt DiBenedetto escapes fire NASCAR Xfinity race
Scary moment for Matt DiBenedetto at the end of Stage 1 at Portland. The NASCAR Xfinity driver came to an abrupt stop on the track on the last lap of the stage and practically fell out of his car.
Matty D revealed that there was a fire in his car. His heat shields were starting to melt around his ankles and feet.
Xfinity Series grass fire at Portland
The racing in the Xfinity Series is so hot and fast that a grass fire started just off the track at one point. One trip through the grass for Thomas Annunziata and all of a sudden, flames.
It wasn’t a large fire, and thankfully, the race wasn’t stopped. Safety teams sprayed it down and got it put out from behind the fence.
Connor Zilisch wins again, quotes Dale Earnhardt
Who else but Connor Zilisch? Another win this season, and he continues his road course dominance. The Xfinity field got sloppy late. William Sawalich, Austin Hill, and others were all guilty of some antics.
Zilisch, coming off his collarbone injury and surgery, brought back an iconic quote. “It hurt so good,” Zilisch said. JRM even made shirts, almost identical to the ones Dale Earnhardt had in 1996 after his collarbone injury.
Josh Berry wrecks on Lap 1 of Southern 500
Finally, we got to the Cup Series race on Sunday night. Then it was under caution by Turn 2. A first lap wreck ended Josh Berry’s day more or less.
Berry did come back, about 128 laps down, and stole the fastest lap bonus point from Chase Briscoe. It was a clever move from the Wood Brothers team to salvage something.
NASCAR drivers have pit road woes at Darlington
Playoff drivers and non-playoff drivers alike had pit road issues. Just left and right, NASCAR penalties, mistakes on stops, and more.
We saw another driver pit outside the box. Brad Keselowski made a trip to Joey Logano’s pit box to get a front left tire tightened up.
Carson Hocevar No. 77 car possessed by demons
There was a moment in the race where Carson Hocevar’s car looked possessed. He was beefing with Chase Elliott, he was all over the place, getting into other drivers. Then, he was backwards in his pit box after a hit from Christopher Bell.
Things were just going out of control for Hocevar. He managed to salvage a P9 finish out of the night. The young driver even made a meme about his own driving after the race.
Chase Briscoe dominates, goes back-to-back in Southern 500
309 laps led for Chase Briscoe and back-to-back Southern 500 wins. How about that to start the NASCAR Playoffs? Briscoe got it done again and now has two wins with Joe Gibbs Racing this year.
The 19 team has advanced to the Round of 12 already. Now, Gateway and Bristol await these Playoff drivers the next two weeks. Who will survive and make the next round?
