Southern 500 qualifying times from September 1st, 2018 for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Today, they’ll set the grid for the 2018 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. It’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying from Darlington, South Carolina.
View the full 2018 Darlington Raceway starting lineup below.
It’s a crown jewel NASCAR event this weekend. The Southern 500 is billed as a throwback event. In turn, you’ll see many paint schemes from the old days of NASCAR this weekend.
Round 1
Darlington Qualifying
15 min: Top 24 advance
Jeffrey Earnhardt has lopped his Dale Earnhardt throwback late in round one. The crash has brought out the red flag for cleanup with 5 minutes left on the clock.
Chase Elliott and Aric Almirola were both on their first hot lap of this qualifying session. That will be an extra lap and heat cycle on their tires for the duration of qualifying.
Two minutes remain, Clint Bowyer is 26th. He heads out for a second run. It’s quicker, Bowyer will advance.
Jamie McMurray has run 12 laps. McMurray is on his third engine of the weekend. He’s turned qualifying into a practice session.
Darlington Qualifying – Round 1 Results: 1. Kyle Larson; 2. William Byron; 3. Alex Bowman; 4. Chase Elliott; 5. Jimmie Johnson; 6. Kurt Busch; 7. Denny Hamlin; 8. Ryan Newman; 9. Ryan Blaney; 10. Joey Logno; 11. Paul Menard; 12. Kyle Busch;
Round 2
Darlington Qualifying
10 min: Top 12 advance
Kyle Laron was quickest in round one of NASCAR Cup Series qualifying. He’s now 2nd 4 minutes into round 2. However, tire falloff is big at Darlington. How big? Larson is a full 2 mph slower with the extra lap on his tire.
Clint Bowyer is the last car on the track in round two. Keselowski is on the bubble. Bowyer can’t get there, he’s 17th.
Alex Bowman sits at the top of the board. Three of the four Hendrick Motorsports cars currently sits in the top 10. Johnson and others head out for one more run in round two.
Kyle Busch moves up into the top 12. That will bump Keselowski as the flag waves to end the session. Kevin Harvick will not advance.
Alex Bowman holds on to take the fastest lap in round two!
Darlington Qualifying – Round 2 Results: 1.Alex Bowman (28.161); 2. Kyle Larson (28.217); 3. Chase Elliott (28.236); 4. Denny Hamlin; 5. Ryan Newman; 6. Kyle Busch; 7. Erik Jones; 8. Joey Logano; 9. Martin Truex Jr; 10. William Byron; 11. Kurt Busch; 12. Aric Almirola;
Round 3
Darlington Qualifying
5 min: Run for the pole position
Truex is the first car on the race track. Denny Hamlin follows. Hamlin is quickest early in the session.
Nobody can touch him. Hamlin will start the 2018 Southern 500 from the pole position.
The race will begin on Sunday night at 6pm.
View the full NASCAR starting lineup for the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway below.
Darlington Raceway
Starting Lineup
September 2018
Pos | Driver | Time
1. Denny Hamlin
28.332
2. Kyle Larson
28.358
3. Martin Truex Jr
28.392
4. Alex Bowman
28.400
5. Kyle Busch
28.415
6. Ryan Newman
28.453
7. Erik Jones
28.506
8. Joey Logano
28.507
9. Kurt Busch
28.535
10. William Byron
28.550
11. Chase Elliott
28.694
12. Aric Almirola
28.922
13. Brad Keselowski
28.460
14. Paul Menard
28.505
15. Matt Kenseth
28.512
16. Daniel Suarez
28.523
17. Clint Bowyer
28.547
18. Austin Dillon
28.585
19. Chris Buescher
28.621
20. Jimmie Johnson
28.635
21. Ryan Blaney
28.663
22. Kevin Harvick
28.667
23. David Ragan
28.810
24. AJ Allmendinger
28.830
25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
28.439
26. Michael McDowell
28.445
27. Bubba Wallace
28.489
28. Ty Dillon
28.542
29. Kasey Kahne
28.585
30. Matt DiBenedetto
28.622
31. Jamie McMurray
28.819
32. JJ Yaley
28.854
33. Ross Chastain
28.928
34. Corey LaJoie
29.091
35. Landon Cassill
29.330
36. Timmy Hill
30.018
37. BJ McLeod
30.038
38. Derrike Cope
30.662
39. Joey Gase
31.781
40. Jeffrey Earnhardt
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More
Related: Learn about Denny Hamlin’s throwback paint scheme here
Related: 2018 Darlington Raceway TV Schedule
Related: 2018 Darlington Practice Results
