Key Questions Ahead of the Southern 500 at Darlington

The 77th Southern 500 is set to begin the NASCAR Cup Series Chase on September 6, marking the start of a 10-race postseason featuring 16 drivers competing for the championship.

Ford and Team Penske have shown improved performance recently, with drivers Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney each securing two wins since July, and Ryan Preece winning the regular season finale at Daytona. However, these victories occurred on flatter or drafting tracks, raising questions about Ford's competitiveness on intermediate tracks like Darlington.

While only 16 drivers are in the championship hunt, the remaining competitors will still race vigorously. Previous winner Erik Jones, along with Brad Keselowski and Ross Chastain, could pose challenges despite not being in the playoffs. Additionally, drivers ranked lower in the standings, such as Preece and Cindric, could benefit from a strong performance at Darlington, while a poor result for top contenders might hinder their championship aspirations.