The 2019 Bojangles' Southern 500, the 70th running of the event was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 1–2, 2019, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Contested over 367 laps on the egg-shaped oval, it was the 25th race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
Report
Background
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.
Entry list (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points. (R) denotes rookie driver.
Driver Team Manufacturer Sponsor or Throwback 00 Landon Cassill (i) StarCom Racing Chevrolet StarCom Fiber – Sterling Marlin's 2001 Coors Light scheme. 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Chevrolet Accessories – Busch's personal 1969 Chevrolet Camaro inspired car 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford Miller – Rusty Wallace's 1996 car scheme 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet American Ethanol E15 – Scheme pays homage to grandfather and team owner Richard Childress' “Black Gold” car from the late 1970s. 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Busch Beer/Big Buck Hunter 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford Oscar Mayer/Velveeta – Mark Martin's 1993 Mountain Dew Southern 500 car 8 Daniel Hemric (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar Inc. – Scheme inspired by the design of Caterpillar Inc. from its launch in 1925 until 1931 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts – Father Bill Elliott's 1981 Southern 500 car where he claimed his first Cup pole. 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Smithfield Foods – Tony Stewart's 2002 championship The Home Depot car 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota FedEx – Darrell Waltrip's 1991-95 Western Auto car 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford Menards/Pennzoil – Michael Waltrip's 1991-95 car scheme 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet GEICO 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 – Tony Stewart's 2011 championship Office Depot/Mobil 1 car 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet Rim Ryderz 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford Dog's Most Wanted 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Snickers – Bobby Hillin Jr.'s 1990 car scheme 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Bass Pro Shops – Truex's 2004 Xfinity Series car he drove for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Chance 2 Motorsports. 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Sport Clips – Jones' ASA Late Model Series scheme from his rookie season 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford Ford Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center – Team owner Glen Wood's 1957 Darlington inspired car 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford Shell Pennzoil – Kevin Harvick's 2007 Daytona 500 inspired car 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Hendrick Autoguard/City Chevrolet – Days of Thunder protagonist Cole Trickle's #46 inspired car 27 Joe Nemechek (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet Low T Center – Nemechek's first Cup race since March 2015 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Driver throwback instead of a car throwback. 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford Keen Parts/CorvetteParts.net – Dale Jarrett's 1990-91 Xfinity Series Nestlé Crunch car 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford Dockside Logistics – Jimmy Means' powder blue Alka-Seltzer scheme from the late 1980s and early 1990s. 36 Matt Tifft (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford Tifft Family – Tifft's car is based on a Dirt Late Model car his father owned, which was driven by David Hilliker. 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet Kroger Fast Lane to Flavor 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford Shriners Hospitals for Children – David Pearson’s 1969 championship inspired car 41 Daniel Suárez Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Haas Automation – Tony Stewart's 2005 championship The Home Depot car 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Clover – Ricky Craven's 1995-96 Kodiak car 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet Victory Junction 15th Anniversary – Adam Petty's 1999 Spree car. 47 Ryan Preece (R) JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet Kroger – Grandfather Ron Bouchard's 1984 Hawaiian Punch car. 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Ally – Johnson's 1995 Trophy truck scheme 51 B. J. McLeod (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet Jacob Companies – Stroker Ace inspired car 52 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet Jacob Companies – Bill Blair's 1953 inspired car 54 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet ARQE.app – Lennie Pond's 1976 Pepsi scheme 66 Joey Gase (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota Page Construction 77 Reed Sorenson Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Motor Racing Network – Scheme honors the 50th anniversary of the Motor Racing Network and the 11 radio affiliates that have broadcast NASCAR races since its inception in 1970. 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Axalta Coating Systems – Tim Richmond's 1986-1987 Folgers car. 95 Matt DiBenedetto Leavine Family Racing Toyota IMSA GTO – Tribute to the turbo-charged GTO Celicas that won the driver’s championship in the IMSA GTU (under three-liter) category in 1987 with Chris Cord.Official entry list
Practice
First practice Kurt Busch was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 28.714 seconds and a speed of .
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 28.714 171.261 2 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.808 170.703 3 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 28.916 170.065Official first practice results
Final practice Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 29.125 seconds and a speed of .
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 29.125 168.845 2 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 29.139 168.764 3 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.188 168.480Official final practice results
Qualifying William Byron scored the pole for the race with a time of 28.510 and a speed of .
Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 124 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.510 22 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 28.576 342 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 28.617 41 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 28.630 541 Daniel Suárez Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 28.704 648 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.724 722 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 28.756 89 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.766 911 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28.787 1012 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 28.801 114 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 28.812 1237 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 28.829 1314 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 28.831 143 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.841 1520 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28.848 1688 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.855 1721 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 28.872 188 Daniel Hemric (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.892 1995 Matt DiBenedetto Leavine Family Racing Toyota 28.905 2047 Ryan Preece (R) JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 28.910 2117 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 28.931 2219 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28.956 2334 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 29.017 246 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 29.019 2500 Landon Cassill (i) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 29.087 2638 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 29.097 2732 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 29.103 2843 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 29.163 2913 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 29.173 3010 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 29.229 3115 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 29.239 3236 Matt Tifft (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 29.272 3318 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 29.385 3477 Reed Sorenson Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 29.764 3552 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 29.796 3651 B. J. McLeod (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 30.070 3727 Joe Nemechek (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 30.260 3854 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 30.568 3966 Joey Gase (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 30.888Official qualifying results
Race
Stage results
Stage One Laps: 100
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 102 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 93 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 84 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 75 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 66 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 48 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 39 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 210 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 100
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 102 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 93 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 84 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 75 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 66 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 57 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 210 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1Official stage two results
Final stage results
Stage Three Laps: 167
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 15 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 367 482 3 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 367 493 33 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 367 514 11 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 367 345 2 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 367 386 13 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 367 367 4 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 367 498 19 95 Matt DiBenedetto Leavine Family Racing Toyota 367 299 17 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 367 2810 14 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 367 2711 5 41 Daniel Suárez Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 367 2612 12 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 367 2513 10 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 366 2414 7 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 366 2615 22 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 366 2416 6 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 366 3417 30 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 366 2018 16 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 365 1919 8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 365 2320 29 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 365 1721 1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 365 1922 20 47 Ryan Preece (R) JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 365 1523 24 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 365 1424 28 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 365 1325 25 00 Landon Cassill (i) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 364 026 26 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 363 1127 32 36 Matt Tifft (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 362 1028 31 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 361 029 9 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 356 2230 34 77 Reed Sorenson Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 355 731 37 27 Joe Nemechek (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 354 032 35 52 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 352 033 21 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 351 434 39 66 Joey Gase (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 349 035 38 54 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing CHevrolet 344 036 27 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 330 137 18 8 Daniel Hemric (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 274 138 23 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 274 139 36 51 B. J. McLeod (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 194 0Official race results
Race statistics