Cook Out Southern 500 – Darlington Raceway
Darlington, S.C. – August 31, 2025

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 10TH STAGE 1: 8TH STAGE 2: 18TH FINISH: 12TH POINTS: 9TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse team delivered a solid, steady performance in Sunday night’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, finishing 12th in the opening race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Cindric rolled off 10th and managed a loose condition in the opening segment, rallying to an eighth-place finish and banking valuable Stage points in the crown jewel event. The balance shifted to the tight side in Stage 2, but adjustments helped the team move in the right direction as Cindric crossed the line 18th while reporting improvement in the handling. In the final stint, the car continued to trend in a positive direction, allowing Cindric to hold his ground and secure a 12th-place finish under the lights at the track “Too Tough To Tame.” The result keeps him ninth in the NASCAR Playoffs standings, 12 points above the elimination line with two races remaining in the Round of 16.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “It was a decent night. We got a little behind in Stage 2 – had a bad pit stop and kind of got pinballed around on a few restarts and had to hit the full reset button. We really drove our way up through under green through the duration of Stage 3. I thought Brian made some good adjustments and I feel like we got a somewhat of a representative finish. I wish we would have been able to hold onto the track position we qualified with, but getting Stage points early was good.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/DUTCH BOY FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 12TH STAGE 1: 10TH STAGE 2: 31ST FINISH: 18TH POINTS: 7TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang Dark Horse team faced an up-and-down night in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs opener at Darlington Sunday night that ended in an 18th-place result. After starting 12th, Blaney settled into 10th on the leaderboard for the opening run of the night and, following a pair of green flag pit cycles, he went on to complete the pass for 10th with four laps remaining in the segment to cap off Stage 1. Following a caution on lap 152 while running ninth, Blaney found himself on the wrong end of contact between the Nos. 20 and 77 on pit road as the No. 77 slid in front of the 12 team’s stall, forcing Blaney to delay his exit and miring him back to 20th in the running order for the ensuing restart. He worked his way back up to 13th by the time the caution flag flew on lap 203 but the following restart altered the 12 team’s night as the No. 8 got loose in front of Blaney and the No. 3 made contact with his rear bumper, sending the Menards/Dutch Boy Ford spinning towards the inside wall on the frontstretch. After a pair of trips to pit road to remedy a flat right front tire and damage to the splitter, Blaney rejoined the field without losing a lap but came away with a 31st-place finish in Stage 2. The 12 team continued to make adjustments on each subsequent stop to offset the damage, allowing Blaney to climb back into the top-20 prior to lap 300, but an untimely caution while Blaney was on pit road trapped them a lap down. After taking the wave around to rejoin the lead lap prior to the final restart of the night with 48 laps to go, Blaney picked up seven positions over the course of the final run to salvage an 18th-place finish. Blaney enters the second race of the Round of 16 in seventh in the playoff standings, 22 points above the elimination line.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “There were multiple instances, one on pit road. We had to start in the back and then getting spun off turn four killed the splitter, and then we came from the back to 19th and then the caution came out as soon as we got to pit road and sent us all the way back again. Just about everything that could go wrong tonight went wrong. At least we recovered to where we did, which is ok, I guess. It just wasn’t a smooth night.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 14TH STAGE 1: 16TH STAGE 2: 13TH FINISH: 20TH POINTS: 13TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse team came away with a 20th-place finish in Sunday night’s Southern 500 at Darlington to open the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Logano battled handling issues throughout the opening 115-lap segment but managed to maintain track position over the course of two green flag pit cycles, resulting in a 16th-place finish in Stage 1. After falling outside the top-20 during the opening laps of Stage 2, Logano battled his way back inside the top-15 before the caution flag flew on lap 210, setting up a 16-lap run to the end of the stage that saw the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford cross the line 13th in Stage 2. As Logano continued to battle inside the top-20 over the course of the final run of the night, a caution on lap 312 set up one last restart with 48 to go before ultimately settling for a 20th-place finish. Logano enters the second race of the Round of 16 in 13th in the playoff standings, three points below the elimination line.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “We just had no grip. There isn’t much to say outside of that. It wasn’t good enough. This has been a good track for us in the past, but I don’t know. Some of our cars were decent at times, but not like we have been here. It’s a bit of a head scratcher to try to understand. It’s obviously not the day we wanted.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to World Wide Technology Raceway for the second race of the Round of 16 on Sunday, September 7. Coverage of the Enjoy Illinois 300 begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on USA, MRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Buescher 10th, Keselowski 15th and Preece 16th

DARLINGTON, SC (August 31, 2025) – The Southern 500 is one of the season’s most demanding races, and Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing met the challenge. Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Preece each delivered strong efforts Sunday at Darlington Raceway. Buescher earned his 14th top-10 finish this year, Keselowski posted what was perhaps the comeback of the race, and Preece overcame late adversity to score a respectable finish.

17 Chris Buescher

Chris Buescher attacked the Track Too Tough to Tame Sunday night, starting from the 15th position. The Kroger / Tree Top Ford immediately showed speed but was forced to navigate early chaos when Josh Berry spun in the opening laps. The No. 17 team quickly assessed the possibility of right-rear damage, but Buescher confirmed the steering felt fine, and they escaped without significant issues. He managed to stay in contention, finishing Stage One in 21st.

In Stage Two, Buescher continued to displaying strength. Restarting 19th, he quickly picked off positions and climbed into the mid-pack before minor contact with the No. 77 scuffed his Ford but sustained no serious damage. A series of cautions gave the team chances to execute flawless pit stops, cycling Buescher as high as seventh on restarts. His now had forward momentum, and by the stage’s end, had gained 10 spots from Stage One to finish 11th.

The final stage saw Buescher continue his determined climb. Running 11th early, he surged into the top 10 thanks to consistently strong pit stops. Buescher climbed as high as sixth, but as the laps wound down, a three-wide battle with Ross Chastain and AJ Allmendinger shuffled him back to eighth. He kept his composure through the intensity of Darlington’s closing laps. After a final round of stops set him up 15th for the restart with 48 laps to go, he charged back to secure a very respectable 10th-place finish.

“A bad start getting caught up in that accident, it got us way behind,” said Buescher. “Overall, it was pretty decent. We got better during the day.”

6 Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski’s Southern 500 was defined by perseverance as he overcame early adversity to drive the BuildSubmarines.com Ford to a solid finish under the Darlington lights. After starting 32nd, Keselowski threaded his way through traffic, including an early spin by Josh Berry. The biggest obstacle, however, came on pit road when the left-front tire wasn’t completely tight as he left his box. Instead of returning to his stall, Keselowski was forced to stop in Joey Logano’s pit stall, where the loose wheel was tightened by the 22 team. He was still assessed a drive-through penalty for pitting outside his box and finished Stage One in 33rd, two laps down.

In Stage Two, Keselowski and his RFK team clawed back with determination. After pitting between segments, he began turning competitive lap times and even passed some lead-lap cars. When an early caution came out, the No. 6 team stayed out, gaining one lap back as the leaders pitted. Keselowski finally returned to the lead lap by taking the wave-around in the next caution period. He ended the stage in 23rd and was eager to capitalize on the opportunity in the final stage.

Stage Three showcased Keselowski’s resilience. Restarting 23rd, he began picking his way forward, climbing into 19th before a caution on lap 316 gave him a chance to pit once more. Lined up 17th with under 50 laps remaining, Keselowski battled fiercely with playoff contenders and continued to gain ground. By the checkered flag, he had fought his way to a 15th-place finish, an impressive comeback from two laps down.

“We had really good long run speed,” Said Keselowski. “We needed all 500 miles today, that’s for sure. We passed some cars there towards the end and got ourselves a solid finish, but we want to be a little better.”

60 Ryan Preece

Ryan Preece lined up 27th for Sunday’s Southern 500 and wasted little time showing the Trimble Ford’s speed. After dodging early trouble, he began picking off positions, settling into the mid-20s by the midpoint of the opening stage. The way he flashed through the corners and posted fast, consistent lap times drew praise from crew chief Derrick Finley, and he ended Stage One in 23rd with confidence that his car would come alive as adjustments took hold.

That proved true in Stage Two, when Finley’s calls on pit road gave Preece the ability to surge forward. Restarting outside the top 20, he cracked the top 10 by lap 167, saying, “this is the best we’ve been, the car is coming to us.” Even a scrape with Cody Ware couldn’t slow his momentum, as Preece quickly regrouped and reestablished himself inside the front-running pack. By the end of the stage, he was ninth, earning valuable stage points and showcasing the form that has defined his strongest Cup Series season to date.

The final stage saw Preece continue to fight. He climbed as high as eighth, battling with Kyle Larson while navigating the challenges of Darlington’s narrow groove. A late caution set up a sprint to the finish, and Preece restarted eighth with 48 laps remaining. Although a brake issue hampered his drive over the closing stretch, he still managed to bring the No. 60 Ford home in 16th.

Up Next:

World Wide Technology Raceway (Madison, IL), Sunday, September 7, 2025, on USA Network @ 3:00pm ET

About RFK Racing

RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion Brad Keselowski and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988, and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass 300 wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content, and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Lexington, N.C. (August 31, 2025): AJ Allmendinger and the No. 16 team earned a fifth-place finish Sunday night in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

The team qualified 22nd for the race after being scored as seventh fastest in NASCAR Cup Series practice.

Allmendinger rated his No. 16 pit crew “1,000 out of 10” after the race as they continually gained several spots on pit road, including nine spots on a pit stop in stage two that gave Allmendinger a sixth-place restart position. Later in the race, the crew gained another two spots, giving Allmendinger the opportunity to restart on the outside of the second row.

“It feels awesome to get a top-five finish with our No. 16 Black’s Tire Chevrolet,” said Allmendinger. “Darlington (Raceway) has owned me, and I’ve worked hard trying to study this place. Our Black’s Tire Chevy was awesome all night. Trent Owens (crew chief) did a phenomenal job on the adjustments. We just kept fighting all race long. I’m constantly trying to learn around this place. My pit crew were absolutely phenomenal and that’s what got us near the front, and then we could just hold the track position. I’m just so proud of everyone on this team. It was a well-executed night all around. It just feels good to get around this place decent and come out with a strong finish.”

Allmendinger’s finish at Darlington is his second top-five finish of the 2025 season, his first being at Charlotte Motor Speedway earlier this year.
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 27 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

RICK WARE RACING
Cook Out Southern 500
Date: Aug. 31, 2025
Event: Cook Out Southern 500 (Round 27 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (1.366-mile oval)
Format: 367 laps, broken into three stages (115 laps/115 laps/137 laps)

Race Winner: Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Winner: Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

RWR Finish:

● Cody Ware (Started 36th, Finished 37th / Suspension, completed 249 of 367 laps)

RWR Points:

● Cody Ware (36th with 186 points)

Race Notes:

● Chase Briscoe won the Cook Out Southern 500 to score his fourth career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his second of the season and his second at Darlington. His margin over second-place Tyler Reddick was .408 of a second.

● There were seven caution periods for a total of 37 laps.

● Twenty-four of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Enjoy Illinois 300 on Sunday, Sept. 7 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. The second race in the 10-race NASCAR Playoffs starts at 3 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Mayer Maintains Championship Push; Creed Stays Above Playoff Cutline in Portland

DARLINGTON, S.C. (August 31, 2025) – Haas Factory Team (HFT) drivers battled through a demanding weekend on both coasts, as Cole Custer earned a 24th-place finish in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, while Xfinity Series teammates Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed faced late-race adversity on the road course at Portland International Raceway.

Cup Series

41 Cole Custer
Cole Custer capped off a long, physical night at Darlington Raceway with a 24th-place finish in Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500, completing all 367 laps in NASCAR’s crown-jewel Labor Day weekend event. Custer started 18th and stayed inside the top 25 throughout the race, finishing 20th in Stage One and 22nd in Stage Two as the team worked to adjust the balance of the No. 41 Autodesk/HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang.

Early in the race, Custer reported the car was a little loose on corner entry but improved over long runs. He pitted on lap 38 under green and cycled to 19th, showing steady pace despite tight handling and challenging track conditions. A stop just before a lap-151 caution temporarily put him a lap down, but he regained lead-lap status as the free pass recipient. After running long into a green-flag cycle, he pitted on lap 193 and restarted 24th following a lap-202 caution.

Throughout the night, the No. 41 team battled a tight-handling condition, particularly on short runs and in traffic. Despite a drop to 31st after a late green-flag pit stop on lap 280, Custer rallied back into the top 25, reaching 20th by lap 311 before a caution reset the field. Balance remained a challenge, and he settled into 24th over the final run to the checkered flag.

Xfinity Series

41 Sam Mayer
Sam Mayer entered Saturday night’s event at Portland International Raceway with momentum on his side. Fresh off a pole-winning effort at the same venue and already locked into the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs, Mayer continued to chase valuable points in the tight regular-season championship battle with contenders Connor Zilisch and Justin Allgaier. Piloting the No. 41 Audibel Ford Mustang, Mayer qualified fifth—marking his 11th top-10 start in the last 12 races and another strong showing on a technical road course.

The race’s opening stage ran caution-free through the first 25 laps on the 1.97-mile road course. Mayer quickly went to work, overtaking William Sawalich on the opening lap and settling into fourth position for the majority of the stage. With the field spreading out early, Mayer maintained his pace and positioning to earn seven valuable stage points—an important gain in the close championship race.

In Stage Two, Mayer continued his consistent performance, holding steady inside the top five despite increasing tire wear and pressure from the field. He finished the second stage in fifth, securing six additional stage points and further closing the gap on the regular-season points leaders.

Unfortunately, Mayer’s run at a top-10 finish unraveled in the closing laps. While battling for position late in the race, Mayer was spun and dropped back in the field. Despite the setback, he showcased resilience and determination, charging back through the pack on the final restart to salvage a 16th-place finish.

00 Sheldon Creed
Returning to a track where he earned the pole position just one year ago, Sheldon Creed entered Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Portland International Raceway looking to solidify his spot in the 2025 playoffs. With the No. 00 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Ford Mustang showing promise in practice, the team had high expectations heading into race day.

Despite the encouraging pace in early sessions, Creed’s qualifying effort placed him 16th on the grid—leaving work to do in the early stages of the race. Undeterred, Creed wasted no time showcasing the car’s potential, charging through the field during Stage One. Within the opening 25 laps, he climbed into the top 10, putting himself in position to collect valuable stage points. He secured a 10th-place finish in the stage, earning a crucial point as he remains locked in a tight battle near the playoff cutline.

Stage Two saw Creed remain in contention, running solid laps and keeping his No. 00 machine in the mix. He ultimately crossed the line 11th at the end of the segment—just one spot shy of additional stage points but continuing to demonstrate consistency.

Unfortunately, the momentum was halted in the final stage. While still showing top-10 speed, Creed was involved in a spin that dropped him through the field. Despite the setback, he fought to the finish and brought the car home in 27th position.

Up Next
The NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series head to World Wide Technology Raceway next weekend. Race coverage for the Xfinity Series is set for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on the CW, and Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on USA for the Cup Series.

About Haas Factory Team
The Haas Factory Team is a NASCAR Cup and Xfinity program owned by Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Beginning in 2025, the team will feature Cole Custer driving the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer take on the Xfinity Series in the No. 00 and No. 41 Ford Mustangs, respectively. Based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the Haas Factory Team reflects a commitment to performance and engineering excellence, carrying forward Gene Haas’s commitment to motorsports.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DARLINGTON RACEWAY
ROUND OF 16: RACE ONE
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT
AUGUST 31, 2025

Allmendinger Leads Chevrolet with Top-Five Finish at Darlington Raceway

• Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger led Chevrolet to the checkered flag with a fifth-place finish in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway – the team’s second top-five finish of the season. Three different Chevrolet organizations were represented in the top-10 of the final running order, including Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team, who overcame damage during an opening lap incident to rebound for an eighth-place finish. Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar turned in his seventh top-10 of the season – driving his No. 77 Chevrolet to a ninth-place result.
• With much of the playoff field plagued with problems throughout the opening race of the Round of 16, five Team Chevy championship contenders will head to World Wide Technology Raceway above the cutline – led by former champion, Kyle Larson, who drove his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to a strong points day in the first two stages to build his cushion to now 38-points.
• A trio of playoff contenders representing three Chevrolet organizations began their championship campaigns with top-10 qualifying efforts – led by the 2023 Southern 500 winner, Kyle Larson, who took the green-flag for the crown jewel event from the fifth position. Chaos ensued at the front of the field to bring the caution out on the opening lap, but all seven Team Chevy playoff contenders escaped without damage. The remainder of the opening stage went caution-free with the field seeing two sets of green-flag pit cycles. Remaining a steady fixture in the top-10 of the opening stage were Ross Chastain and Larson, who took the first green-white checkered flag in the fourth and sixth positions, respectively.
• Picking up right where he left off, Ross Chastain made the move up into the runner-up position when the second natural caution of the race fell on Lap 151. With a majority of the lead pack opting to hit pit road, the No. 1 pit crew powered off a stop to keep Chastain on the front-row for the restart. With a valiant effort to battle then-race leader, Chase Briscoe, for the top position, Chastain ultimately settled his Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet back into the second position near the halfway point of Stage Two. Battling overall loose conditions, Chastain held onto a position in the top-five before crew chief, Phil Surgen, called his driver to pit road during the green-flag cycle with 43 laps to go in the stage. As the field cycled through for the next green-flag run, it was playoff contenders Larson and Chastain that found their way back into the top-five before a pair of cautions flew during the closing laps of Stage Two. The duo went on to add onto an already strong points night with back-to-back top-six stage finishes.

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 RESULTS:

POS. DRIVER
5th – AJ Allmendinger
8th – Kyle Busch
9th – Carson Hocevar

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 27 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:

Wins: 12
Poles: 10
Top-Fives: 53
Top 10s: 114
Stage Wins: 22

UP NEXT: The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 16 will continue at World Wide Technology Raceway with the Enjoy Illinois 300 on Sunday, September 7, at 3 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Post-Race Driver Quotes:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Finished: 11th

“We were the best Chevrolet for a lot of the night. We were racing around the No. 5 (Kyle Larson), which we haven’t been doing much this year, so that was step one if we want to do anything this year in the playoffs. We had to be faster and we were. I was proud to be up there fighting with him and racing around him because he and the No. 24 (William Byron) have been the benchmark a lot of the year. To carry the flag for Chevrolet a lot tonight is something to be proud of. We just had a fueling issue there at the end and it took us back.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Finished: 23rd

“We started OK and then we just had issues throughout the race. We got too tight in that one run and just couldn’t overcome it. We kind of got it back going the other direction; made some passes and got up to around 18th. We hit pit road and the caution came out. It was just unfortunate. We just struggled with our No. 3 BPS/Winchester Deer Season XP Chevrolet and didn’t execute like we needed to. We just have to do better. But all-in-all, we’re not that far below the cutline. We just need to have a solid finish in the next two races of this round.”

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Finished: 19th

“It was a good thing we were able to get those stage points early. I felt pretty average all night. We had a lot of stack-ups on the restarts. I’m not sure why, but we had a big one there in the final stage and we just struggled after that. I’m not sure if the splitter got bent up or what happened, but it just took all my problems and made it all worse. We also had radio issues and all sorts of other problems, so to have a bad race and still gain on the cutline is rewarding. Obviously, we want more on this No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet team. It’s typically a good track for us, so I’m not sure, but we’ll regroup and hopefully rebound in the next two races.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Finished: 8th

“The No. 8 Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet was a strong car tonight in Darlington. We got caught up in the wreck on the initial lap of the race, but thanks to the hard work of our pit crew, they got us back on track and we raced our way to the front of the field. We struggled on restarts, but our adjustments on pit stops kept us competitive and let us leave with a top-10 finish.”

Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Finished: 17th

“It was a long night for the No. 9 NAPA Chevy team. We clawed our way up into the top-10. We went long on that one run in the second stage. Everybody had gotten really aggressive shorting it, so we just thought we’d tried to run long and see what happened. As soon as we did that and got eight or 10 laps in, the caution came out. We came in and ended up having an issue on pit road and, unfortunately, it all kind of happened at the same time on that next cycle. We just had to put our heads down and grind it out.

We just have to keep pushing at it. We just have to put our heads together and try to execute better at Gateway. Appreciate all the effort from everyone at NAPA, Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports. Everyone is working really hard, we just have to put our heads together and figure out how to go forward.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Finished: 5th

“It feels awesome to get a top-five finish with our No. 16 Black’s Tire Chevrolet. Darlington (Raceway) has owned me, and I’ve worked hard trying to study this place. Our Black’s Tire Chevy was awesome all night. Trent Owens (crew chief) did a phenomenal job on the adjustments. We just kept fighting all race long. I’m constantly trying to learn around this place. My pit crew were absolutely phenomenal and that’s what got us near the front, and then we could just hold the track position. I’m just so proud of everyone on this team. It was a well-executed night all around. It just feels good to get around this place decent and come out with a strong finish.”

William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Finished: 21st

“We just struggled all night. I thought the short run was a struggle. I was hoping we’d be able to pay on the backend and have some long run pace, but we would just fall off a cliff. A lot of the time, the pit cycles would kind of save us where we could just pit right when we started to struggle, but the last run was really long. As good as we normally are here, it’s definitely a bummer. Appreciate All-Pro Auto Reconditioning, Chevrolet and everyone on this No. 24 team. We’ve definitely got some work to do. We’ll go to Gateway and try to be better there.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Finished: 33rd

“Not the day we were hoping for with our Delaware Life Chevrolet; we had some decent pace during Stage Two, but just couldn’t put it all together and fell a lap down. After that we had an issue with one of our tires and just didn’t have enough race left to earn those laps back. We have some things to look into so we can figure out exactly what happened, but just not our day here in Darlington.”

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Finished: 32nd

“It was a tough day for the No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet team. Our car was very different from yesterday. Stephen (Doran, crew chief) didn’t give up on tuning on it, but we just couldn’t make it better. We tried something different with strategy, but got a caution at the wrong time and couldn’t rebound from it.”

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Briscoe leads a record-breaking night for Toyota

DARLINGTON, S.C. (August 31, 2025) – Chase Briscoe led 309 of 367 laps and scored a dominating victory in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday evening. It is Briscoe’s second win of the season, second straight in this race and 199th NASCAR Cup Series victory for Toyota.

It was a dominating race for Team Toyota as Toyota drivers finished in six of the top seven positions for the first time in our history – Briscoe, Tyler Reddick (second), Erik Jones (third), John Hunter Nemechek (fourth), Bubba Wallace (sixth) and Denny Hamlin (seventh). The fourth-place finish was also a career-best result for Nemechek.

With Joe Gibbs Racing’s Briscoe, 23XI Racing’s Reddick and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s Jones sweeping the podium finishers, it is the first time in Toyota’s history that they have placed three different organizations in the top three finishing positions. With Nemechek in fourth, it is the third top-four sweep in Toyota’s Cup Series history (2017 Watkins Glen, 2017 Bristol 2).

Toyota GAZOO Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Darlington Raceway
Race 27 of 36 – 501.32 miles, 367 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, CHASE BRISCOE
2nd, TYLER REDDICK
3rd, ERIK JONES
4th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
5th, AJ Allmendinger*
6th, BUBBA WALLACE
7th, DENNY HAMLIN
22nd, TY GIBBS
28th, RILEY HERBST
29th, CHRISTOPHER BELL
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

CHASE BRISCOE, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 1st

How about that domination?

“There at the end, that was way harder than it needed to be. Man, just what an incredible Bass Pro Shops Toyota. As a fan, I have watched Martin (Truex Jr.) dominate a lot of races, and it was fun to finally be behind the wheel of it. It is so cool to win two Southern 500s in a row. This is my favorite race of the year because of the race fans. You come here and it is sold out. The atmosphere is unlike anything else. Great way to start our Playoffs and man, that was a lot of fun.”

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Pinnacle Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

What more did you need?

“The one time we got ahead of him there, we were just a little too tight. He was able to get back by us. I think for our Pinnacle Financial Partners Camry, we were better than he was on long runs. He could fire off a whole lot better. I think that was the difference tonight. I could get close. Yeah, I know we had a long run there, but it just unfortunately seemed like the last run the balance wasn’t quite as good as it has been the rest of the night on the long run. All-in-all, a really solid night for points in the Playoffs. Really want to win here. It’s frustrating to finish second, going for it, like I did last spring, doing the wrong thing, ending our day and finishing 36th. I wish I could have been just a little bit closer. When I dove off in there, I was already sideways. I learned from last spring that that doesn’t work. Yeah, a good solid day, but hopefully one day we’ll win here at Darlington.”

ERIK JONES, No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Finishing Position: 3rd

What more did you need at the end there?

“Probably to come off in the lead leaving pit road. We were all kind of going the same speed. I felt like we were probably a little bit better than both of them. I couldn’t get the run. I thought I had the 45 (Tyler Reddick) there with maybe four or five to go. There was a little hole on the top. He squeezed up and filled it. Racing for the win. Yeah, it’s hard to be that close. Would have liked to have had another one. We were right there all day, good speed with the Dollar Tree Camry. We just need more of that. Hopefully we keep these cars rolling and get one soon.”

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 42 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Camry XSE, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Finishing Position: 4th

Are you happy with that finish?
“I wish we more laps. The more that I ran, the better that I was. I hated to see that caution there at the end, because I felt like we were in a really good spot, long run speed wise with the green flag cycle coming and everything else. Just not a lot of short run speed but we made the most of it. Proud of the effort from everyone at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. We continue to get better. It is pretty cool to have 42 and 43 (Erik Jones) to finish in third and fourth at the Southern 500. I know I’m proud of the drive for myself. I’m proud of the effort. I’m proud of Travis (Mack, crew chief), and everyone that has been putting a lot into our Pye Barker Toyotas and making them faster. It feels good to come home fourth. I think that is my career-best finish in the Cup Series. Hats off to Pye Barker, everyone that has supported me through my career. Thank you to Jimmie (co-owner, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB) and Toyota for taking a chance on me to kind of revamp my career and getting me back to the Cup Series.”

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 U.S. Air Force Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 6th

What was the finish like?

“I was doing my best to not over drive the corners the last couple of laps. I could see the 45 (Tyler Reddick) really challenging the 19 (Chase Briscoe), so all-in-all good day for our team. Great Playoff start. Just solid execution. We had a couple of mistakes on pit road. We had a couple mistakes overall, but we were able to rebound really well. Our U.S. Air Force Toyota Camry was solid. Hats off to Toyota – I let AJ (Allmendinger), old man, get in front of me – otherwise we would have had the top six.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 7th

What kind of factored in to you getting this result?

“It was just a bad pit stop. We went from being in the top-two or three there, to being the last car on the lead lap. At that point, not to be debby downer but I knew that our Southern 500 was over. Just way too difficult to pass here at Darlington, so at that point, shifted goals to try to figure out how to get back into the top-10 before the end of the day, and we accomplished that. Just having some poise. Being good on the long run, getting some good restarts and doing our job.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

NASCAR PR WEEKLY REPORT
August 31, 2025
CREATED BY: Campbell Marketing & Communications (Dan Zacharias)
RACE WEEKEND: Darlington and Portland

NASCAR CUP SERIES RACE RECAP

• Chris Buescher was Ford’s top finisher in Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
• Austin Cindric had the best result among Ford’s four playoff drivers in 12th place.
• Ryan Blaney was 18th, Joey Logano 20th and Josh Berry 38th.
• Two races remain in the Round of 16 before four drivers will be eliminated.

DARLINGTON, SC. | August 31, 2025 – Darlington Raceway is recognized as one of the toughest tracks on the NASCAR circuit and that proved to be the case for a number of teams as the Cup Series playoff season got underway with the Cook Out Southern 500.

Those issues included Ford’s four championship contenders as Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Josh Berry all struggled at times.

The start of the race proved to be an omen of what was to come as Berry got loose and hit the wall in turn two of the very first lap. He was forced to the garage, where his team took the entire first stage to make repairs. Berry eventually re-entered the race on lap 119, but finished 38th.

Ryan Blaney was the next one to encounter an issue when he got hit from behind on lap 209 and was sent skidding down the backstretch while running 13th. That damaged his splitter and forced him to restart 31st, but even though he recovered, a caution just as he was pitting sent him to the back to 25th with 48 laps to go. Blaney ended up 18th.

Austin Cindric didn’t encounter any major issues on the track and ended up Ford’s highest playoff finisher in 12th place. He got off to an especially strong start, scoring three points in the first stage after finishing eighth, but battled to maintain track position from that point on.

Defending series champion Joey Logano struggled with handling throughout the night and finished 20th .

Chris Buescher was Ford’s highest finisher on the night as he ran 10th.

With two races remaining in the first round, Blaney is Ford’s highest driver in the standings as he sits seventh, 22 points above the cut line. Cindric is ninth (+12) while Logano (-3) and Berry (-19) are currently 13th and 16th, respectively.

The second race in the Round of 16 for the Cup Series is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 7 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NCS RACE TOP-10 OFFICIAL FINISHERS

1st – Chase Briscoe
2nd – Tyler Reddick
3rd – Erik Jones
4th – John Hunter Nemechek
5th – AJ Allmendinger
6th – Bubba Wallace
7th – Denny Hamlin
8th – Kyle Busch
9th – Carson Hocevar}
10th – Chris Buescher

REMAINING FORD FINISHERS

12th – Austin Cindric
13th – Zane Smith
14th – Noah Gragson
15th – Brad Keselowski
16th – Ryan Preece
18th – Ryan Blaney
20th – Joey Logano
24th – Cole Custer
26th – Todd Gilliland
35th – Timmy Hill
37th – Cody Ware
38th – Josh Berry

NASCAR Xfinity Series (August 30 – Portland)

Harrison Burton recovered from mid-race spin to finish a Ford-best 12th in Portland.
Sam Mayer, who finished fourth and fifth in the first two stages, got involved in a late-race incident and ended up 16th.
Mayer is the only Ford driver who has clinched a spot in the 12-driver playoff field.
Sheldon Creed is 10th, 65 points above the cut line, but only 34 points ahead of Harrison Burton in 12th. Burton is 31 points ahead of his cousin, Jeb, for the final berth.
The Xfinity Series regular season concludes on Saturday, September 6 at World Wide Technology Raceway (7:30 p.m., CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (August 30 – Darlington)

Ty Majeski bounced back from a flat tire early to lead Ford with a fourth-place finish in the playoff opener at Darlington Raceway.
Layne Riggs won the pole and was leading with 20 laps to go when he hit the wall going into turn one and suffered a flat tire. He ended up finishing 17th.
Riggs led a race-high 71 laps and won Stage 2 while Smith led the first 10 circuits.
Jake Garcia finished 10th and Chandler Smith 30th after he hit the wall during the opening stage.
Riggs is second in the playoff standings (+38 above the cut line). Majeski is sixth (+16) while Garcia is eight (+2) and Smith is ninth (-2) with two races remaining in the Round of 10.
The series is off next week and returns to action on Thursday, Sept. 11 at Bristol Motor Speedway (8 p.m., FS1, NRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

TOP WEEKLY PR ACTIVITIES

Produced two–page Darlington/Portland advance and emailed to media.
Attended Cup Series Playoff Media Day and produced 13 pages of Notes and Quotes. Emailed Notes and Quotes to media list.
Transcribed and produced two pages of Notes and Quotes on Josh Berry and emailed to media.
Produced two pages of Notes and Quotes on Truck qualifying including one page on pole-winner Layne Riggs. Emailed to media.
Produced two pages of Notes and Quotes on Cup qualifying.
Produced two pages of Notes and Quotes on Truck Series race.
Produced two pages of Notes and Quotes on Cup Series race.
Updated Ford Performance social media sites with the latest information before, during, and after all three races.