Bubba Wallace will start from the pole for the first time this season after posting the fastest qualifying lap at Darlington Raceway.
Wallace, who hit the wall twice during the first round, captured the pole with a lap of 29.421 seconds. This is his third career pole win, and it sets him up as he tries to win his way into the playoffs after entering the weekend 21 points below the cutline.
Carson Hocevar qualified second with a lap of 29.445 seconds. This is his best career starting position, surpassing this season's Daytona 500 when he lined up ninth.
MORE: Wallace wins pole, full Darlington starting lineup
Chase Briscoe (29.576 seconds), Kyle Larson (29.444 seconds), Martin Truex Jr. (29.582 seconds), Tyler Reddick (29.446 seconds), Ryan Blaney (29.617 seconds), William Byron (29.528 seconds), Christopher Bell (29.670 seconds), and Chris Buescher (29.650 seconds) all secured starting spots inside the top 10.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the only driver who failed to post a qualifying lap Saturday afternoon at Darlington Raceway. He spun after clipping the outside wall during practice.
Stenhouse slid through Turn 4 and then hit the inside SAFER barrier with the nose of the No. 47 Chevrolet. He will have to line up 36th after the JTG Daugherty Racing crew makes repairs to his stock car.
Wallace is not the only driver inside the top 10 trying to win his way into the playoffs. Hocevar, Briscoe, Truex, and Buescher are all winless entering the regular-season finale. Truex and Buescher are both above the cutline. Wallace, Briscoe, and Hocevar are below.
Ross Chastain, who enters the weekend 27 points below the cutline, qualified 22nd with a lap of 29.806 seconds. Ty Gibbs qualified 13th with a lap of 29.472 seconds. Gibbs enters the weekend above the cutline and in pursuit of his first career playoff appearance.
The green flag for Sunday night's Southern 500 will wave at 6:05 p.m. ET. The command to fire engines will be at 5:55 p.m. ET. USA Network will provide coverage for the pivotal race with Leigh Diffey, Steve Letarte, and Jeff Burton in the booth.