NASCAR Cup Series playoff field set and Palou ties record with 4th straight IndyCar championship

Updated Sep. 1, 2026 2:45 p.m. ET

Associated Press

All Times Eastern

NASCAR CUP SERIES

The Chase

Cook Out Southern 500

Site: Darlington, South Carolina.

Track: Darlington Raceway.

Race distance: 367 laps, 501.32 miles.

Schedule: Saturday, practice, 4 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 5:05 p.m.; Sunday, race, 5 p.m. (USA).

Last year: Chase Briscoe dominated most of the race and held off a late surge from Tyler Reddick to secure a spot in the Round of 12.

Last race: Ryan Preece secured his first career playoff berth by successfully avoiding a last-lap crash, earning him a walk-off victory.

Next race: September 13, Madison, Illinois.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR O'REILLY AUTO PARTS SERIES

The Chase

Fleetio 200

Site: Darlington, South Carolina.

Track: Darlington Raceway.

Race distance: 147 laps, 200 miles.

Schedule: Saturday, practice, 1:30 p.m., qualifying, 2:35 p.m., race, 7:30 p.m. (CW).

Last year: The series did not race at Darlington in the fall last season after NASCAR removed the event from the 2025 schedule.

Last race: Ryan Sieg took the lead in a dramatic overtime finish to earn his first career series victory in the regular-season finale.

Next race: September 12, Madison, Illinois.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

Last race: Layne Riggs earned his sixth victory of the season and 11th of his career by winning the regular-season finale at New Hampshire.

Next race: September 17, Bristol, Tennessee.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

FORMULA 1

Pirelli Gran Premio d’Italia 2026

Site: Monza, Italy.

Track: Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

Race distance: 53 laps, 190.5 miles.

Schedule: Friday, practice, 6:30 a.m., practice, 10 a.m.; Saturday, practice, 6:30 a.m., qualifying, 10 a.m.; Sunday, race, 9 a.m. (APPLE TV).

Last year: Pole-sitter Max Verstappen earned his third victory of the season in a record-setting race that produced multiple Formula 1 speed records.

Last race: Lando Norris won at Zandvoort from pole, overcoming changing weather, an early red flag and a tight strategic battle with Kimi Antonelli for his second straight victory.

Next race: September 13, Madrid.

Online: http://www.formula1.com

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey

Site: Monterey, Calif.

Track: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Race distance: 95 laps, 212.61 miles.

Schedule: Friday, practice, 5 p.m.; Saturday, practice, 1 p.m., qualifying, 4:30 p.m., final practice, 8 p.m.; Sunday, race, 2:30 p.m. (FOX).

Last year: Starting from the pole, Alex Palou dominated the race leading 84 laps to secure his eighth win of the season.

Last race: Pato O’Ward swept both races of the Wisconsin doubleheader, becoming the first IndyCar driver since Rick Mears in 1981 to win twice in one day, while Alex Palou secured his record-tying fourth consecutive and fifth career series championship.

Online: http://www.indycar.com