NASCAR Preview: Darlington & Portland Race Weekend
- Sean McKean
- Aug 30
- 7 min read
Written by Gabriel Tsui, Ashleigh McGregor & Krystal Diane
It's a triple-header this weekend but with a split, as the Cup and Truck Series' begin their playoffs in Darlington whilst the Xfinity Series start to wind down their regular season in Portland.
For the Cup and Truck Series', Darlington is one of the more uniquely shaped tracks on the schedule. As a 1.36-mile (2.188-kilometre) oval, the first two turns are banked at 25 degrees whilst Turns 3 and 4 are at 22 degrees. Given each corner's different characteristics, it can be hard to setup your car properly to be fast in each section.
As for the Xfinity Series, they travel to Portland International Raceway, which is a 1.967-mile (3.165-kilometre) road course located in Oregon with 12 distinct corners.
Below are the start times of each race plus lap count:
Trucks: Saturday, 30 August, 12:00 local (17:00 UK) - 147 laps
Xfinity (Portland): Saturday, 30 August, 16:30 local (00:30 UK) - 75 laps
Cup: Sunday, 31 August, 18:00 local (23:00 UK) - 367 laps
Below are the defending winners of each race:
Trucks: No. 45 - Ross Chastain (Niece Motorsports)
Xfinity (Portland): No. 97 - Shane van Gisbergen (Kaulig Racing)
Cup: No. 14 - Chase Briscoe (Stewart-Haas Racing)
Cup Series: Southern 500 Preview
Written by Gabriel Tsui
Welcome to the beginning of the playoffs and also the fourth and final Crown Jewel race of the 2025 season. Sixteen drivers will be fighting for the championship, but of course, only one could prevail. Who could kick off the championship with a bang and secure their spot to the next round of the playoffs?
The drivers will be driving around the track for 367 laps, with 115 laps each in the initial stages, then closing off with 137 laps in the final stage to complete a 501-mile (806-kilometre) marathon.
The weather report indicates there will be clear skies on the weekend, with temperatures hovering around 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit). The race will commence on the Sunday of August 31st, at 18:00 Eastern (15:00 Pacific, 23:00 British).
Race Predictions
After being moved out of the playoffs temporarily, Darlington returns as the playoff opener. Last year, we saw Chase Briscoe beat the buzzer and make the playoffs with Stewart-Haas Racing for one last hurrah.
And not to be tiptoeing around the subject, we predict that Chase Briscoe will once again win the Southern 500, punching his ticket to the Round of 12 while securing more playoff points. The No. 19 driver has been consistently strong throughout the season and has only been barred from more wins through the works of poor, circumstantial luck.
However, we believe he will have better luck and even better performances, as highlighted by his past performances during the playoff season. It is time for Toyota to take back Darlington, and it could definitely be done with Briscoe behind the wheel.
Three things to look out for
SVG surprise incoming?
Shane van Gisbergen has been slowly improving in his oval performances, kicking in three top-20 finishes in the past four oval races. Although some of it could be attributed to circumstantial luck and more, it is undeniable that SVG has found more consistency and is performing up to the standards of the car at ovals.
SVG has much more to overcome in the playoffs, but if he could survive the first round of the playoffs, it is close to a sure fire lock that he can make a deep run into the playoffs, at least surviving until the round of eight.
Bowman sneaks through
It seemed gloomy for Alex Bowman after the Hendricks driver crashed out of Daytona early into the race, but a Ryan Blaney buzzer beater brought Bowman’s season back to life. Now, the No. 48 has an opportunity for a second take at his season. He must find a way to turn around the season, because a 42-race winless streak does not look good for his prospects of keeping his seat, especially considering he has been in Hendrick equipment.
But alas, Bowman has a knack for finding ways to sneak past every possible problem that has come his way. We’ll just find out how he gets out of this situation.
Nine races to Phoenix
As the playoffs begin, we start a countdown to the final time where Phoenix will be hosting the championship race, at least in the near future. This year we see a lot of new faces coming in to challenge for the championship, including Josh Berry and SVG. But a lot of old faces are back to take another shot at the championship, including regular season champion William Byron.
Xfinity Series: Pacific Office Automation 147 Preview
Written by Ashleigh McGregor
The Xfinity Series season has proved to be an exciting rival to the Cup Series, with many thanks going to rookie superstar Connor Zilisch for that. Last week’s race in Daytona provided yet another highlight reel moment. All eyes were on Zilisch for his now cleared return after his freak accident in victory lane at Watkins Glen.
He started the race but at the first caution jumped out of the car. Parker Kligerman took over the No.88 car and drove it to victory. The leaderboard will show Zilisch as the winner, and he is credited with his seventh win of the season.
Daytona also finalised Zilisch’s promotion to the Cup Series next year with Trackhouse Racing, something everyone saw coming.
The final two races of the regular season kicks off this weekend. Portland International Raceway will host the penultimate race and is a special one, as it’s not set to return to the schedule in 2026.
Drivers to watch
Justin Allgaier reclaimed the regular season championship lead. He leads Zilisch by three points.
The final position in the playoffs looks like it is going to go the way of Harrison Burton. Cousin Jeb Burton will be dismayed with this result as he strays further away.
Carson Kvapil, Sheldon Creed and Taylor Gray will be aiming to get the chequered flag to solidify their standings in the playoffs.
Keep an eye on those last few laps during the race. A last minute pass for victory has happened at all the races held at Portland.
Unfortunately for Allgaier, he was the driver who had the win snatched from him the last two times. He will be looking to extend his lead from Zilisch and not let another win slip through his fingers.
Race Weekend Guide
Drivers are racing 147.75 miles over 75 laps. Stages one and two are 25 laps each. Similarly, the final stage will be 25 laps.
Practice is on Saturday August 30th at 15:00 EST (20:00 UK). Qualifying is at 16:05 EST (21:00 UK).
Kickoff for the race is at 19:30 EST (00:30 UK).
Truck Series: Sober or Slammer 200 Preview
Written by Krystal Diane
Forget clean slates, Darlington remembers. The last time the Truck Series visited Darlington, it was carnage. A rain delay, seven cautions, three major contenders crashing and a moonlighting Cup driver in Ross Chastain snatching the win in overtime, Corey Heim’s dominance was derailed in a multi-truck pileup, and Ty Majeski gambled the top lane and lost.
This time around, the field returns with playoff pressure, unfinished business, and a few personal ghosts.
Race Predictions
Corey Heim enters the playoffs not just with momentum but with a warning shot. His seventh win of the season came last race at Richmond, where he didn’t dominate outright but executed flawlessly when it mattered. That blend of late-race timing and controlled aggression has defined his 2025 campaign. It also closes a short-track redemption arc after close calls at Martinsville and North Wilkesboro. He’s not just the favorite because of his stats; he’s peaking when it counts.
Right behind him is Ty Majeski, who may be the most quietly dangerous name in the field. He led 143 of 250 laps at Richmond, swept both stages and only lost the race after a late tangle with his own teammate. That mirrors what happened at Darlington last year, when he led late and picked the wrong lane on an overtime restart. In both cases, Majeski had the truck to win. He just didn’t finish the job. If that frustration fuels him this week, expect him to be right back in the mix.
Layne Riggs doesn’t have the win count or spotlight of the top two, but his third-place effort at Richmond was another sign he’s quietly putting together a season worth watching. Riggs was caught in the Heim-led wreck at Darlington last year, but he returns as a more measured, playoff-tested contender. If chaos strikes, he’s the type to keep the nose clean and survive late (which, at Darlington, is half the battle).
Three things to look out for
Can Heim make this look easy?
Corey Heim isn’t just leading the field into the playoffs. He’s doing it with the composure of a veteran and the stats of a juggernaut. Seven wins, the regular season crown and a short-track victory at Richmond finally checked a box that had eluded him all year. But now the field resets, and Heim’s task isn’t just to keep winning. It’s to not flinch under pressure. A strong result at Darlington would set the tone that this isn’t just his championship to lose, it’s one he’s ready to lock down early.
Majeski and the art of the "almost"
Ty Majeski’s season has been a study in control undone by chaos. He’s led laps, swept stages, and nearly won races like Richmond and last year’s Darlington. But each time, something slips: whether it’s a lane choice, a teammate tangle or just poor timing. Heading into the playoffs, the question isn’t whether Majeski is fast. It’s whether he and the No. 98 team can finally close. And with both his Richmond wreck and Darlington 2024 loss still fresh, all eyes will be on whether this is the week the “almosts” stop stacking up.
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