2023 Cook Out Southern 500
{{short description|NASCAR Cup Series race}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report
| Type = CUST
| Description = Race 27 of 36 in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series
| Race Name = Cook Out Southern 500
| Details ref = {{cite web |title=2023 schedule |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/2023-nascar-cup-series-schedule/|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site |accessdate=October 10, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Darlington Raceway |url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/darlington-raceway.html |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC. |access-date=August 7, 2022 |archive-date=April 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430210206/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/darlington-raceway.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nascar/news/nascar-releases-2023-cup-series-schedule-highlighted-by-new-chicago-all-star-race-stops/ |title= NASCAR releases 2023 Cup Series schedule highlighted by new Chicago, All-Star race stops |author=Taranto, Steven |date=September 14, 2022 |accessdate=March 29, 2023 |publisher=CBS Broadcasting Inc}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/09/14/nascar-unveils-2023-schedule-three-national-series/ |title=NASCAR unveils 2023 schedule for its national series |date=September 14, 2022 |accessdate=March 29, 2023 |publisher=National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC}}{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/2/12327_ENTNUM.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=August 28, 2023|date=August 28, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Practice Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2023/nascar-cup-series/darlington-raceway-2/stn/practice1/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=September 2, 2023|date=September 2, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Qualifying Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2023/nascar-cup-series/darlington-raceway-2/stn/qualifying/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=September 2, 2023|date=September 2, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Cook Out Southern 500 Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2023/nascar-cup-series/darlington-raceway-2/stn/results/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=September 3, 2023|date=September 3, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/3/12327_UNOFFDRIVPTS.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=September 3, 2023|date=September 3, 2023}}
| Fulldate = {{Start date|2023|09|03}}
| Year = 2023
| Image = Darlington raceway.svg
| Caption =
| Location = Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina
| Course_mi = 1.366
| Course_km = 2.198
| Distance_laps = 367
| Distance_mi = 501.322
| Distance_km = 806.666
| Weather =
| Avg = {{convert|120.906|mph|km/h}}
| Pole_Driver = Christopher Bell
| Pole_Team = Joe Gibbs Racing
| Pole_Time = 29.065
| Most_Driver = Denny Hamlin
| Most_Team = Joe Gibbs Racing
| Most_laps = 177
| Car = 5
| First_Driver = Kyle Larson
| First_Team = Hendrick Motorsports
| Network = USA
| Announcers = Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty
| Ratings =
| Radio = MRN
| Booth_Ann = Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Todd Gordon
| Turn_Ann = Dave Moody (1–2) and Jason Toy (3–4)
}}
The 2023 Cook Out Southern 500, the 74th running of the event, was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 3, 2023, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Contested over 367 laps on the {{convert|1.366|mi|km|adj=on}} egg-shaped oval, it was the 27th race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, the first race of the 2023 NASCAR playoffs, and the first race of the Round of 16.
Report
=Background=
File:DarlingtonRacewayDodgeCharger500.JPG where the race was held.]]
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.
{{clear}}
==Entry list==
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes the driver ineligible for series driver points.
- (P) denotes playoff driver.
- (OP) denotes owner’s playoffs car.
Practice
Christopher Bell was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 29.197 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|168.428|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Christopher Bell leads Darlington Cup practice|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/christopher-bell-playoffs-darlington-cup-practice/10515283/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=September 2, 2023|location=Darlington, South Carolina|date=September 2, 2023}}
=Practice results=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |
| Pos
! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Time ! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}} |
|---|
| 1
| 20 || Christopher Bell (P) || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 29.197 || 168.428 |
| 2
| 34 || Michael McDowell (P) || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 29.398 || 167.277 |
| 3
| 47 || Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P) || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet || 29.438 || 167.049 |
| colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/2/12327_PRACFINAL.pdf Official practice results] |
Qualifying
Christopher Bell scored the pole for the race with a time of 29.065 and a speed of {{Convert|169.193|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=JGR locks out front row for Southern 500 with Bell on pole|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/southern-500-bell-pole-gibbs-pole-hamlin-playoffs-darlington/10515325/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=September 2, 2023|location=Darlington, South Carolina|date=September 2, 2023}}
=Qualifying results=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |
| Pos
! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! {{Tooltip|R1|Best time in Round 1}} ! {{Tooltip|R2|Best time in Round 2}} |
|---|
| 1
| 20 || Christopher Bell (P) || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 28.985 || 29.065 |
| 2
| 11 || Denny Hamlin (P) || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 28.907 || 29.091 |
| 3
| 45 || Tyler Reddick (P) || 23XI Racing || Toyota || 28.800 || 29.103 |
| 4
| 12 || Ryan Blaney (P) || Team Penske || Ford || 28.870 || 29.224 |
| 5
| 6 || Brad Keselowski (P) || RFK Racing || Ford || 29.078 || 29.232 |
| 6
| 22 || Joey Logano (P) || Team Penske || Ford || 28.924 || 29.245 |
| 7
| 4 || Kevin Harvick (P) || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 29.155 || 29.249 |
| 8
| 17 || Chris Buescher (P) || RFK Racing || Ford || 28.944 || 29.278 |
| 9
| 34 || Michael McDowell (P) || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 29.177 || 29.290 |
| 10
| 10 || Aric Almirola || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 29.161 || 29.406 |
| 11
| 8 || Kyle Busch (P) || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 29.030 || — |
| 12
| 14 || Chase Briscoe || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 29.034 || — |
| 13
| 9 || Chase Elliott (OP) || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 29.095 || — |
| 14
| 2 || Austin Cindric || Team Penske || Ford || 29.108 || — |
| 15
| 42 || Carson Hocevar (i) || Legacy Motor Club || Chevrolet || 29.154 || — |
| 16
| 16 || A. J. Allmendinger || Kaulig Racing || Chevrolet || 29.168 || — |
| 17
| 54 || Ty Gibbs (R) || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 29.192 || — |
| 18
| 5 || Kyle Larson (P) || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 29.200 || — |
| 19
| 23 || Bubba Wallace (P) || 23XI Racing || Toyota || 29.206 || — |
| 20
| 43 || Erik Jones || Legacy Motor Club || Chevrolet || 29.215 || — |
| 21
| 99 || Daniel Suárez || Trackhouse Racing || Chevrolet || 29.236 || — |
| 22
| 7 || Corey LaJoie || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet || 29.252 || — |
| 23
| 24 || William Byron (P) || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 29.256 || — |
| 24
| 48 || Alex Bowman || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 29.284 || — |
| 25
| 47 || Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P) || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet || 29.299 || — |
| 26
| 77 || Ty Dillon || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet || 29.306 || — |
| 27
| 1 || Ross Chastain (P) || Trackhouse Racing || Chevrolet || 29.337 || — |
| 28
| 3 || Austin Dillon || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 29.410 || — |
| 29
| 31 || Justin Haley || Kaulig Racing || Chevrolet || 29.447 || — |
| 30
| 38 || Todd Gilliland || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 29.452 || — |
| 31
| 19 || Martin Truex Jr. (P) || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 29.462 || — |
| 32
| 21 || Harrison Burton || Wood Brothers Racing || Ford || 29.477 || — |
| 33
| 15 || J. J. Yeley (i) || Rick Ware Racing || Ford || 29.478 || — |
| 34
| 41 || Ryan Preece || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 29.574 || — |
| 35
| 51 || Ryan Newman || Rick Ware Racing || Ford || 29.711 || — |
| 36
| 78 || B. J. McLeod || Live Fast Motorsports || Chevrolet || 29.989 || — |
| colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/2/12327_QUALRES.pdf Official qualifying results] |
Race
=Race results=
==Stage results==
Stage One
Laps: 115
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98% | |||||
| Pos
! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick (P) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 17 | Chris Buescher (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/3/12327_UNOFFRES.pdf Official stage one results] |
Stage Two
Laps: 115
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98% | |||||
| Pos
! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 8 | Kyle Busch (P) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
| colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/3/12327_UNOFFRES.pdf Official stage two results] |
=Final Stage results=
Stage Three
Laps: 137
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98% | |||||||
| Pos
! Grid ! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Laps ! Points | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 57 |
| 2 | 3 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 367 | 51 |
| 3 | 8 | 17 | Chris Buescher (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 367 | 36 |
| 4 | 23 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 39 |
| 5 | 27 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 32 |
| 6 | 5 | 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 367 | 38 |
| 7 | 19 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 367 | 30 |
| 8 | 13 | 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 33 |
| 22
|9 | 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 367 | 38 |
| 10 | 20 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 367 | 35 |
| 11 | 11 | 8 | Kyle Busch (P) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 31 |
| 12 | 6 | 22 | Joey Logano (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 367 | 25 |
| 13 | 16 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 24 |
| 14 | 10 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 367 | 24 |
| 15 | 12 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 367 | 22 |
| 16 | 25 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 22 |
| 17 | 15 | 42 | Carson Hocevar (i) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 367 | 0 |
| 18 | 31 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 367 | 19 |
| 19 | 7 | 4 | Kevin Harvick (P) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 367 | 25 |
| 20 | 28 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 20 |
| 21 | 17 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 367 | 16 |
| 22 | 22 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 15 |
| 23 | 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 366 | 17 |
| 24 | 29 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 366 | 13 |
| 25 | 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 366 | 32 |
| 26 | 30 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 366 | 11 |
| 27 | 35 | 51 | Ryan Newman | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 365 | 10 |
| 28 | 34 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 364 | 9 |
| 29 | 26 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 364 | 8 |
| 30 | 33 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 362 | 0 |
| 31 | 14 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 361 | 6 |
| 32 | 9 | 34 | Michael McDowell (P) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 329 | 5 |
| 33 | 24 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 322 | 4 |
| 34 | 21 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 320 | 3 |
| 35 | 32 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 318 | 2 |
| 36 | 36 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet | 210 | 1 |
| colspan="8"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/3/12327_UNOFFRES.pdf Official race results] |
=Race statistics=
- Lead changes: 13 among 7 different drivers
- Cautions/Laps: 8 for 51 laps
- Red flags: 1 for 10 minutes
- Time of race: 4 hours, 8 minutes, and 47 seconds
- Average speed: {{convert|120.906|mph|km/h}}
Media
=Television=
USA covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, two–time Darlington winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. called Stages 1 and 3 of the race from the broadcast booth. Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty called Stage 2 of the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" | |
| colspan="2"|USA | |
|---|---|
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Throwback commentator: Dale Jarrett Throwback commentator: Kyle Petty | Dave Burns Kim Coon Marty Snider |
=Radio=
MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" | ||
| colspan="3"|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: Jason Toy | Steve Post Chris Wilner Brienne Pedigo Alex Weaver |
Standings after the race
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Drivers' Championship standings
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |
| ! Pos
! Driver ! Points |
|---|
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,075 |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,074 (–1) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,060 (–15) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,057 (–18) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,057 (–18) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,055 (–20) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,050 (–25) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,048 (–27) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 9 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,046 (–29) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,043 (–32) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 11 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,033 (–42) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 12 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,031 (–44) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 13 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,030 (–45) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 14 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,029 (–46) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 15 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,027 (–48) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 16 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,012 (–63) |
| class="sortbottom"
!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/3/12327_UNOFFDRIVPTS.pdf Official driver's standings] |
{{col-2}}
;Manufacturers' Championship standings
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |
| ! Pos
! Manufacturer ! Points |
|---|
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 1,000 |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 | Ford | style="text-align:center;"| 929 (–71) |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 3 | Toyota | style="text-align:center;"| 927 (–73) |
| class="sortbottom" |
- Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{NASCAR next race
| Series = NASCAR Cup Series
| Monsteryear = 2023
| Previous_race = 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400
| Next_race = 2023 Hollywood Casino 400
}}
{{2023 NASCAR Cup}}
{{Bojangles' Southern 500}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook Out Southern 500, 2023}}
Category:2023 NASCAR Cup Series
Category:NASCAR races at Darlington Raceway