This is something bowtie fans don’t want to hear – Chevrolet failed to make the top-10 in qualifying at Darlington for the first time in 41 years. Every single NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington since the Southern 500 in 1982 has featured a Chevrolet of some kind in the top-10 in qualifying.
For the Cook Out Southern 500, Ford and Toyota dominated. There were seven Fords and three Toyotas in the final qualifying round, shutting out the Chevys. Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not appreciate being told that stat after Group B was finished.
Chevrolet at Darlington is almost inevitable. Like night and day, you just know that it is going to come. However, they will have to work hard if they want to get to the front of this race.
Christopher Bell won the pole this afternoon. Kyle Busch was the top Chevy in qualifying and will start P11 while Chase Elliott starts P13. William Byron, who won at Darlington in the spring qualified P23.
Full starting order, via Matt Weaver of Sportsnaut.