The Dawsonville, Georgia, native will lead the field to the green flag for the third time this season and to start the 2020 Cup Playoffs at Darlington Raceway.
The seven-time Cup Series champion will not contend for a record-setting eighth title in his final season in NASCAR after missing the Playoffs following a late wreck at Daytona.
The driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet from Charlotte survived a chaotic night and a long regular season to grab his first Cup career win and a spot in the 2020 Playoffs.
A pair of former Xfinity champions turned current Cup veterans are set to crack the top 15 in consecutive starts in NASCAR's premier series at the World Center of Racing.
This weekend the NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series head to Daytona International Speedway in Florida while the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series travel to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Illinois.
The veteran from South Bend, Indiana, is set to reach a significant milestone start across NASCAR's three major division series at the World Center of Racing.