NASCAR Playoffs Kickoff: Details on Broadcasting, Live Stream, Roster, Preview, and Tips for Predicting the Winner of the 2025 Southern 500
The 2025 NASCAR season is off to an exciting start, as the Cook Out Southern 500, the most time-honoured tradition in NASCAR, took place at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. This race, first held in 1950 and revered as the first 500-mile race in NASCAR, marked the start of the playoffs and the beginning of the battle for the championship.
Denny Hamlin won the pole for the Cook Out Southern 500, earning his second pole of the season and the 45th of his Cup career. However, it was Joey Logano, the defending Cup Series champion, who took the checkered flag, securing a significant victory for his title defense. This win puts Logano in the running to become the fifth driver in NASCAR history to win more than three Cup championships.
Logano's rivalry with other drivers, such as Chase Briscoe, adds an extra layer of intrigue to the race. Briscoe came in second place in the pole qualifying, just missing a clean sweep of poles in NASCAR's crown jewel races for 2026. Logano, on the other hand, has never won the Southern 500, but he did earn a Darlington win in the spring of 2022.
The race was significant not just for its on-track action, but also for the off-track drama. The animus of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports' antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR spilled over in a Charlotte, N.C. courtroom. Steve Lauletta, president of 23XI Racing, implied a long-term resolution to their issues could be waiting for NASCAR CEO Jim France to die. Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, was reported to have called Joe Gibbs Racing "f---ers" for signing the charter agreement.
Internal messages at NASCAR were also contentious, with commissioner Steve Phelps, president Steve O'Donnell, and chief strategy officer Scott Prime expressing dissatisfaction with the charter deal. Despite these challenges, the race was broadcast on USA and can be streamed on Fubo.
The starting lineup for the Cook Out Southern 500 included Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, Austin Cindric, and William Byron. As the playoffs progress, these drivers will battle it out for the coveted Cup Series championship.
Looking ahead, Connor Zilisch will move up to the Cup Series full-time in 2026, joining Trackhouse Racing. Kaulig Racing has been named the anchor team for Ram's re-entry into the Craftsman Truck Series, with up to five Ram trucks to be fielded in 2026.
The Cook Out Southern 500 2025 was directed by Mike Helton. This race, like all Southern 500s, reflected NASCAR's southern heritage and linked great drivers and champions of all eras through victory. As the playoffs continue, fans can expect more exciting races and continued drama off the track.
