The 2022 Cook Out Southern 500, the 73rd running of the event, was a NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on September 4, 2022, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Contested over 367 laps on the egg-shaped oval, it was the 27th race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, the first race of the 2022 NASCAR playoffs, and the first race of the Round of 16.
Erik Jones won, the first race win for Petty GMS Motorsports, in dramatic fashion after inheriting the lead from Kyle Busch, whose Toyota's engine failed on Lap 344 as the field was preparing for the restart.
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.
Surface Issues Darlington Raceway was last repaved following the May 2007 meeting (from 2005 to 2019, there was only one meeting; the second meeting was reinstated in 2020), and from 2008 to 2019, there was one night race. In 2020, a day race returned to the schedule, and instead of two races (one Xfinity and one Cup) during the entire year, the track hosted six races (three Cup, two Xfinity, and one Truck). The circuit kept repairing the circuit with patches during each summer before the annual Cup race in September. The circuit's narrow Turn 2 rapidly deteriorated with cracks in the tarmac allowing water to seep in the circuit. In July 2021, the circuit repaved a six hundred foot section at the entrance of Turn 2 and ending at the exit of the turn to repair the tarmac and resolve the issue for safety and to reduce the threat of weepers and surface issues in that section of the circuit.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 16 Daniel Hemric (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Harrison Burton (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Ty Gibbs (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 38 Todd Gilliland (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 42 Ty Dillon Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 45 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 77 Landon Cassill (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team ChevroletOfficial entry list
Practice Austin Cindric was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 29.324 seconds and a speed of .
Practice results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 29.324 167.699 2 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.536 166.495 3 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 29.538 166.484Official practice results
Qualifying For the first time since 2003, the lineal Southern 500 held time trials.
Joey Logano scored the pole for the race with a time of 29.181 and a speed of .
Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 29.146 29.181 2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28.976 29.190 3 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.990 29.239 4 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.141 29.297 5 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 29.082 29.323 6 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 29.204 29.336 7 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.148 29.350 8 45 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 29.195 29.435 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 29.260 29.447 10 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 29.132 29.467 11 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 29.189 — 12 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 29.227 — 13 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.371 — 14 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 29.391 — 15 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 29.412 — 16 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.452 — 17 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 29.457 — 18 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 29.476 — 19 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 29.511 — 20 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 29.522 — 21 23 Ty Gibbs (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 29.582 — 22 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 29.603 — 23 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.646 — 24 16 Daniel Hemric (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 29.647 — 25 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 29.660 — 26 77 Landon Cassill (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 29.676 — 27 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 29.686 — 28 21 Harrison Burton (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 29.686 — 29 42 Ty Dillon Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 29.753 — 30 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 29.801 — 31 38 Todd Gilliland (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 29.834 — 32 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 29.859 — 33 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 29.863 — 34 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 29.893 — 35 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 30.104 — 36 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 0.000 — Official qualifying results
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 115
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 102 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 84 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 75 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 66 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 57 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 48 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 39 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 210 45 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 115
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 102 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 84 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 75 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 66 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 57 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 39 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 210 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 137
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 15 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 367 452 11 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 367 443 4 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 367 384 1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 367 405 2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 367 446 10 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 367 327 25 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 367 308 3 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 367 459 8 45 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 367 2910 16 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 367 3111 22 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 367 2612 7 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 367 2513 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 367 3414 30 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 367 2315 21 23 Ty Gibbs (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 367 016 6 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 367 2117 13 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 367 2018 36 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 367 2219 14 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 366 1820 12 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 366 2221 28 21 Harrison Burton (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 366 1622 29 42 Ty Dillon Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 366 1523 24 16 Daniel Hemric (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 365 024 34 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 365 1325 26 77 Landon Cassill (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 365 026 27 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 365 1127 19 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 363 1028 31 38 Todd Gilliland (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 363 929 35 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 361 030 5 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 345 2531 17 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 336 2132 32 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 331 533 18 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 274 434 33 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 236 035 20 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 164 236 23 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 113 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 21 among 11 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 9 for 58 Red flags: 0 Time of race: 4 hours, 9 minutes and 49 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television USA covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, two–time Darlington winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. called Stages 1 and 3 of the race from the broadcast booth. Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty called Stage 2 of the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon, Parker Kligerman and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
USABooth announcersPit reporters Lap-by-lap: Rick AllenColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve LetarteColor-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Throwback commentator: Dale JarrettThrowback commentator: Kyle Petty Dave BurnsKim CoonParker KligermanMarty Snider
Radio MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
MRN RadioBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Alex HaydenAnnouncer: Jeff StriegleAnnouncer: Rusty Wallace Turns 1 & 2: Dave MoodyTurns 3 & 4: Mike Bagley Steve PostDillon WelchChris WilnerJason Toy
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 1 Joey Logano 2,065 3 2 William Byron 2,059 (–6) 3 3 Denny Hamlin 2,057 (–8) 6 4 Christopher Bell 2,055 (–10) 3 5 Tyler Reddick 2,050 (–15) 1 6 Ryan Blaney 2,047 (–18) 3 7 Kyle Larson 2,044 (–21) 5 8 Ross Chastain 2,042 (–23) 8 9 Chase Elliott 2,041 (–24) 5 10 Alex Bowman 2,037 (–28) 11 Kyle Busch 2,035 (–30) 1 12 Daniel Suárez 2,029 (–36) 1 13 Austin Cindric 2,027 (–38) 2 14 Austin Dillon 2,025 (–40) 3 15 Chase Briscoe 2,019 (–46) 7 16 Kevin Harvick 2,016 (–49)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Chevrolet 999 2 Ford 919 (–80) 3 Toyota 893 (–106)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
Notes
References