In a thrilling qualifying round at Darlington Raceway, Denny Hamlin wins Southern 500 pole with an impressive 28.694-second lap, earning him the top starting position for the key NASCAR playoff opener. Hamlin’s performance puts him ahead of strong contenders in his 19th playoff appearance, underscoring the high stakes and mounting pressure as NASCAR’s postseason begins.
Hamlin Surges to the Front Row for Joe Gibbs Racing
Denny Hamlin, a veteran in the Cup Series and perennial title challenger, captured the pole position with a powerful lap, ensuring he will start Sunday’s race at the front. The achievement marks his first top qualifying result for the Southern 500 since 2018. Hamlin’s quick lap came amid persistent efforts to find the right setup, as he acknowledged their challenges during practice while working with his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
“We struggled with the balance all through race practice, so we made some good adjustments there to go one lap. I felt like it was really good. This Toyota did everything I needed it to do. It’s awesome to come here and get a pole.”
—Denny Hamlin, driver
His teammate, Chase Briscoe, joined him on the front row after attempting to secure pole positions at all four of the sport’s crown jewel races this year. Briscoe narrowly missed the sweep by just 0.021 seconds, a result that disappointed him after coming so close to a rare achievement.
“That one will sting for a while”
—Chase Briscoe, driver
Playoff Hopefuls Show Their Strength
Josh Berry emerged as the top underdog qualifier, placing his No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford in third position—a strong showing among the playoff competitors. Tyler Reddick, representing 23XI Racing, took fourth, while Kyle Larson led the Hendrick Motorsports lineup with a fifth-place starting spot. The rest of the top ten was filled out by Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, and Austin Cindric. William Byron narrowly missed out, taking 11th, just ahead of Ryan Blaney in 12th and Joey Logano in 14th. Shane van Gisbergen, another notable contender, placed 20th on the grid.
Some of the playoff drivers, including Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman, faced setbacks in qualifying, ending up 21st and 29th respectively. Bowman, in particular, remains last in the current playoff standings, adding further pressure to the upcoming races.
Intense Competition Throughout the Field
Earlier in qualifying, Justin Haley delivered a strong lap for Spire Motorsports, temporarily holding the top spot with 29.060 seconds. Haley, fresh from his best finish of the year at Daytona, ended up as the highest-ranked non-playoff driver in 13th, once again highlighting his competitive spirit against the season’s leading contenders.
The structure of NASCAR’s playoff format has all title hopefuls taking to the track at the end of qualifying. Cindric led the way for those drivers, but Bubba Wallace was the first to dip into the 28-second range before being surpassed by his 23XI Racing teammate, Tyler Reddick. Briscoe then briefly claimed provisional pole with a blistering lap, but Hamlin’s turn out of Turn 4 ultimately secured him the top spot, ensuring his lead for the 2025 Southern 500.
Significance for NASCAR’s Playoff Landscape
This pole victory cements Denny Hamlin’s position as a leading contender in this year’s playoffs and gives Joe Gibbs Racing significant momentum heading into the Southern 500. Starting up front is a major advantage at Darlington, and Hamlin acknowledged that work remains ahead:
“Starting up front is certainly a big advantage. We’ll go back, reset tonight, and we’ll be stronger tomorrow.”
—Denny Hamlin, driver
As fans and teams look forward to the race, the blend of seasoned veterans, rising underdogs like Josh Berry, and heightened playoff tension promises a dramatic contest. The outcome at Darlington will influence standings and strategies for the remainder of NASCAR’s critical playoff season.
