Bubba Wallace was fastest in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, winning his third career pole in the 23X1 Racing No. 23 Toyota with a 167.146 mph lap and will lead the field to green for Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500.
His starting position could prove pivotal as he is currently the first driver below the cutoff for the series Playoffs.
“Looking at us coming in, being on the bubble, 21 points out, a ton of pressure, well I think the pressure just switched,” Wallace said after qualifying.
We’re not here to mess around. I showed up with a more open and calm demeanor, free and relaxing demeanor, but at the same time, I don’t want to be messed with.
“So it’s a fine balance you have to walk.”
Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (6 p.m. ET, USA, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).
Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar (167.010 mph) was second quickest, followed by Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe (166.270 mph) and Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson (167.015 mph). Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. (166.236 mph) completed the top five drivers in the qualifying session.
Tyler Reddick (167.004 mph), Ryan Blaney (166.040 mph), William Byron (166.540 mph), Christopher Bell (165.743 mph) and Chris Buescher (165.855 mph) completed the top 10.
Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway is set for Sunday at 6 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on USA with radio coverage provided by MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
