The Cup Series playoffs kick off at the track where reputations are made and paint schemes get shredded — Darlington Raceway, “The Track Too Tough to Tame.” With the new playoff format putting a premium on points instead of just surviving to the next round, every lap at the egg-shaped oval carries extra weight.
Here are the best bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500, which starts at 5 p.m. ET at Darlington Raceway
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NASCAR Best Bets for the Cook Out Southern 500
Race Winner — Denny Hamlin (+500)
Shut the podcast down. Take a sabbatical from 23XI Racing. This is Hamlin’s year. This is Hamlin’s track. Denny dominates Darlington. His Cup and O’Reilly stats are spectacular. The No. 11 JGR Toyota driver has led over 1,000 laps and won five Cup Series races at Darlington. Despite being a full-time Cup Series driver for nearly 20 years, Hamlin has won six lower series races at “The Track Too Tough to Tame.” Ask Hamlin. It’s not that tough. It’s been tamed. Denny domesticated Darlington.
The regular-season champ enters the 2026 playoffs with a 25-point edge on the second seed. It’s a comfortable advantage, but there is no such thing for a driver who’s never won a championship. It’s all about points in the new playoff format. The safe approach is dead. Every week is a point haul, and this week is more than building a cushion. It’s an opportunity to make a statement in the first races of the playoffs.
Race Winner — Kyle Larson (+700)
Denny Hamlin can make a statement. Kyle Larson needs to make a statement. The 2025 Cup Series champion has been quiet. Darlington is a chance to make some noise. Yung Money usually makes noise at “The Lady in Black.” When it comes to ripping the wall and maximizing speed, few do it better than Larson.
Toyota has the car, but Larson has the talent. His unique ability to run an inch from the wall levels the playing field. Larson is playing catch-up in the standings. The old format is gone. The No. 5 Hendrick Chevy team needs to bank points at their best tracks and hold serve where Toyota is in control. It might be hyperbole, but Larson’s hopes of back-to-back championships hinge on the legendary egg-shaped oval in South Carolina.
