DARLINGTON, S.C. — Sunday’s Southern 500 will mark the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ return to Labor Day weekend at Darlington Raceway.
Here are the particulars (all times are ET):
START: Terry Labonte, the 2003 Southern 500 winner, will give the command for drivers to start their engines at 7:12 p.m. ET. The green flag is scheduled for 7:20 p.m.
DISTANCE: The race is scheduled for 367 laps (500 miles) around the 1.366-mile track.
PRERACE SCHEDULE: The Sprint Cup garage opens at 1 p.m. The drivers meeting is at 5 p.m. Driver introductions are at 6:25 p.m.
NATIONAL ANTHEM: It will be performed by Tanya Tucker at 7:06 p.m.
TV/RADIO: NBC will broadcast the race (and streaming available at http://stream.nbcsports.com/liveextra). The prerace will be on NBCSN, starting with NASCAR America at 5 p.m. and a Countdown to Green special at 6 p.m. NBC coverage begins with Countdown to Green at 7 p.m. Motor Racing Network will broadcast the race on radio and at MRN.com. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry MRN’s broadcast.
FORECAST: The wunderground.com site predicts 74 degrees at race time with a 39% chance of rain.
LAST TIME: Kevin Harvick started from the pole position and scored his first victory at Darlington, passing Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the lead in the second attempt at a green-white-checkered finish.
STARTING LINEUP: