The Track Too Tough to Tame awaits Denny Hamlin and the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series field on Labor Day Sunday, as we run down the entire starting grid.
The Bojangles’ Southern 500 is one of the most eagerly anticipated stops on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, not only because it pits drivers against one of the most notoriously tricky tracks around, but also because the race is filled with tradition thanks to its positioning as NASCAR Throwback Weekend. Denny Hamlin will try to make that especially meaningful for him as he starts Sunday evening from the pole.
Hamlin just barely beat out Kyle Larson for that honor, leading four Toyotas in the top seven spots. Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch were two of the others, and will roll off third and fifth, respectively. Fellow Big 3 member Kevin Harvick wasn’t quite as fast in qualifying, and will begin his evening 22nd in his No. 4 Busch Beer Throwback Ford.
Chevrolet also took half of the first three rows, with Alex Bowman starting fourth and Ryan Newman sixth. The quickest qualifying lap turned in by a Ford was by Joey Logano, who starts eighth, just ahead of Kurt Busch.
Coverage of the Bojangles’ Southern 500 is scheduled to begin on NBCSN at 6:00 p.m. ET, with the green flag expected at approximately 6:15 p.m.
2018 Bojangles’ Southern 500 starting grid for Darlington Raceway
- Denny Hamlin – No. 11 FedEx Throwback Toyota
- Kyle Larson – No. 42 DC Solar Chevrolet
- Martin Truex Jr. – No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour Energy Toyota
- Alex Bowman – No. 88 LLumar Chevrolet
- Kyle Busch – No. 18 Skittle 1998 Retro Toyota
- Ryan Newman – No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet
- Erik Jones – No. 20 Sport Clips Throwback Toyota
- Joey Logano – No. 22 Pennzoil Ford
- Kurt Busch – No. 41 Haas Automation Ford
- William Byron – No. 24 Axalta Throwback Chevrolet
- Chase Elliott – No. 9 NAPA Throwback Chevrolet
- Aric Almirola – No. 10 Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes Ford
- Brad Keselowski – No. 2 Miller Genuine Draft Ford
- Paul Menard – No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
- Matt Kenseth – No. 6 Oscar Mayer Ford
- Daniel Suarez – No. 19 ARRIS Toyota
- Clint Bowyer – No. 14 Carolina Ford Dealers Ford
- Austin Dillon – No. 3 American Ethanol e15 Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher – No. 37 Bush’s Best Since 1908 Chevrolet
- Jimmie Johnson – No. 48 Lowe’s Throwback Chevrolet
- Ryan Blaney – No. 21 Menards/Duracell Ford
- Kevin Harvick – No. 4 Busch Beer Throwback Ford
- David Ragan – No. 38 Citgard 700 Ford
- AJ Allmendinger – No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – No. 17 John Deere Ford
- Michael McDowell – No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford
- Bubba Wallace – No. 43 STP Chevrolet
- Ty Dillon – No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet
- Kasey Kahne – No. 95 Dumont Jets Chevrolet
- Matt DiBenedetto – No. 32 Keen parts/CorvetteParts.net Ford
- Jamie McMurray – No. 1 McDonald’s 50 Years of Big Mac Chevrolet
- JJ Yeley – No. 52 Trading View Chevrolet
- Ross Chastain – No. 15 Chevrolet
- Corey LaJoie – No. 72 BCT The Blockchain Terminal Chevrolet
- Landon Cassill – No. 00 StarCom Fiber Chevrolet
- Timmy Hill – No. 66 Rewards.com Toyota
- BJ McLeod – No. 51 Jacob Companies Chevrolet
- Derrike Cope – No. 99 Bojangles’ Chevrolet
- Joey Gase – No. 23 Agri-Supply/Sparks Toyota
- Jeffrey Earnhardt – No. 96 Xtreme Concepts Toyota