NASCAR 2023: Starting lineup for Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway

After an action-filled Coke Zero Sugar 400, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series has arrived at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, for Sunday (September 3)’s Cook Out Southern 500. The 500-mile event will be broadcast live on USA Network and can be streamed on NBC Sports at 6 pm ET.

The 27th race of the 2023 NASCAR season and the first race of the 2023 season will be contested on a 1.366-mile-long egg-shaped oval track. A total of 36 Cup drivers will compete over 367 laps to secure a chance at driving down Victory Lane.

In Saturday's (September 2) qualifying race, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christoher Bell won his third NASCAR Cup Series pole of the season after posting a lap with a time of 29.065 and a speed of 169.193 mph. It marked the seventh pole of his Cup career.

His teammate Denny Hamlin will start second on the grid after recording a lap of 169.042 mph.

The pair will be followed by Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski in the top five. Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell, and Aric Almirola complete the top 10 in the starting lineup for the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

Erik Jones, the defending champion of the event, qualified 20th for the first playoff race of the 2023 season.

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2023 NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup at Darlington Raceway

Here is the starting order of the 36 Cup Series drivers at Darlington Raceway:

1. #20 - Christopher Bell
2. #11 - Denny Hamlin
3. #45 - Tyler Reddick
4. #12 - Ryan Blaney
5. #6 - Brad Keselowski
6. #22 - Joey Logano
7. #4 - Kevin Harvick
8. #17 - Chris Buescher
9. #34 - Michael McDowell
10. #10 - Aric Almirola
11. #8 - Kyle Busch
12. #14 - Chase Briscoe
13. #9 - Chase Elliott
14. #2 - Austin Cindric
15. #42 - Carson Hocevar
16. #16 - AJ Allmendinger
17. #54 - Ty Gibbs (R)
18. #5 - Kyle Larson
19. #23 - Bubba Wallace
20. #43 - Erik Jones
21. #99 - Daniel Suarez
22. #7 - Corey LaJoie
23. #24 - William Byron
24. #48 - Alex Bowman
25. #47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
26. #77 - Ty Dillon
27. #1 - Ross Chastain
28. #3 - Austin Dillon
29. #31 - Justin Haley
30. #38 - Todd Gilliland
31. #19 - Martin Truex Jr.
32. #21 - Harrison Burton
33. #15 - JJ Yeley
34. #41 - Ryan Preece
35. #51 - Ryan Newman
36. #78 - BJ McLeod

Catch all NASCAR Cup Series teams and drivers at Darlington Raceway for Cook Out Southern 500 live on Sunday.