The NASCAR Cup Series Darlington starting lineup is set as teams prepare for a major round at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, with Denny Hamlin capturing the pole position for the 2025 Southern 500 after a fast qualifying lap. Hamlin posted a notable time of 28.694 seconds at an average speed of 171.381 mph, positioning himself at the front for this key event in the series.
Hamlin Secures the Top Spot in Intense Qualifying
Drivers and crews gathered at the historic 1.366-mile Darlington Raceway for practice sessions and then qualifying, which determined the highly anticipated starting grid. Hamlin’s strong performance places him ahead of a competitive lineup. He is followed by Chase Briscoe and Josh Berry, both delivering fast laps and eager for a strong race day.
The full field of drivers showcased their talent, with Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, and Bubba Wallace rounding out the front starters. Notably, Wallace joins Hamlin in representing formidable speed at Darlington, aiming to capitalize on favorable starting positions. Notable entities such as William Byron, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano will look to make moves from mid-pack, promising dynamic action during the Southern 500.
Complete NASCAR Cup Series Darlington Staring Order
Here is the official lineup for the Southern 500, reflecting qualifying results and lap times:
1. Denny Hamlin – 28.694
2. Chase Briscoe – 28.715
3. Josh Berry – 28.829
4. Tyler Reddick – 28.848
5. Kyle Larson – 28.925
6. Ross Chastain – 28.933
7. Christopher Bell – 28.962
8. Bubba Wallace – 28.985
9. Austin Dillon – 29.004
10. Austin Cindric – 29.023
11. William Byron – 29.025
12. Ryan Blaney – 29.032
13. Justin Haley – 29.060
14. Joey Logano – 29.080
15. Chris Buescher – 29.082
16. Ty Gibbs – 29.127
17. Daniel Suarez – 29.172
18. Cole Custer – 29.196
19. Erik Jones – 29.216
20. Shane van Gisbergen – 29.223
21. Chase Elliott – 29.226
22. AJ Allmendinger – 29.234
23. Kyle Busch – 29.235
24. Zane Smith – 29.245
25. Carson Hocevar – 29.249
26. Michael McDowell – 29.249
27. Ryan Preece – 29.254
28. Todd Gilliland – 29.263
29. Alex Bowman – 29.269
30. John Hunter Nemechek – 29.327
31. Ty Dillon – 29.338
32. Brad Keselowski – 29.401
33. Riley Herbst – 29.445
34. Noah Gragson – 29.511
35. Ricky Stenhouse Jr – 29.663
36. Cody Ware – 997
37. Derek Kraus – 30.451
38. Timmy Hill – 31.025
A Second Grid Reflects Practice Order
Following additional practice sessions, the drivers posted another set of lap times, offering further insights into their performance ahead of the race:
1. Michael McDowell – 29.007
2. Justin Haley – 29.123
3. Ty Gibbs – 29.124
4. Carson Hocevar – 29.203
5. Noah Gragson – 29.248
6. Todd Gilliland – 29.271
7. AJ Allmendinger – 29.332
8. Bubba Wallace – 29.404
9. Kyle Busch – 29.411
10. John Hunter Nemechek – 29.464
11. Ty Dillon – 29.499
12. Riley Herbst – 29.523
13. Ross Chastain – 29.565
14. Erik Jones – 29.621
15. Daniel Suarez – 29.642
16. William Byron – 29.655
17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr – 29.658
18. Chase Briscoe – 29.671
19. Denny Hamlin – 29.729
20. Zane Smith – 29.740
21. Austin Cindric – 29.759
22. Tyler Reddick – 29.794
23. Kyle Larson – 29.847
24. Austin Dillon – 29.855
25. Cody Ware – 29.863
26. Christopher Bell – 29.885
27. Joey Logano – 29.906
28. Ryan Blaney – 29.909
29. Chris Buescher – 29.963
30. Ryan Preece – 29.968
31. Alex Bowman – 29.990
32. Shane van Gisbergen – 30.015
33. Josh Berry – 30.018
34. Chase Elliott – 30.022
35. Brad Keselowski – 30.096
36. Cole Custer – 30.139
37. Derek Kraus – 30.768
38. Timmy Hill – 31.640
Looking Ahead to the Southern 500 at Darlington
With Denny Hamlin in the pole position, competitors such as Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, and Bubba Wallace are prepared to challenge for an early lead at the Darlington Raceway, where the Southern 500 marks a pivotal point in the NASCAR Cup Series season. Strong performances from key drivers like William Byron, Ross Chastain, and Michael McDowell set the stage for an intense and passionate contest. The South Carolina crowd will witness some of the sport’s best as teams leverage both speed and strategy at one of NASCAR’s storied tracks.
