DARLINGTON, S.C.: Joey Logano has started his 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff campaign on the right foot after edging Christopher Bell for the pole for Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
With his second pole of the season, Logano sweeps the top starting spot for both races at the historic South Carolina race track in 2022.
“I like winning a lot,” Logano said of his 24th career Cup pole.. “That’s what we come here to do. When you fire off in the playoffs you want to have a good start and this pit stall here is so important.
“It really kind of helped us win the race in the spring. I’m super-proud of this team and continuing the run that we’re on. Got to keep it rolling.”
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell carried the speed from practice in his No. 20 yahoo! Toyota Camry to join Logano on the outside pole in second.
The Chevrolets of William Byron and Tyler Reddick control row three with Kyle Busch rounding outside the top-five in his last Southern 500 carrying the M&M’s sponsorship.
Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric claimed sixth ahead of Kyle Larson, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney and Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell to comprise the top-10.
Sunday’s night race for Wallace will be his first carrying the No. 45 number.
The 23XI Racing team owned by Cup driver Denny Hamlin and NBA mogul Michael Jordan are counting on Wallace’s experience to propel their opportunity to contend for a strong finish in the owner’s Playoff race.
Sidelined driver Kurt Busch clinched a spot for the team in the 10-race Playoff berth with a victory earlier this season at Kansa Speedway.
It will be a fight for some of the Playoff contenders on Sunday with the other challengers scattered throughout the 36-car starting field.
Denny Hamlin qualified 11th with Ross Chastain 12th, last weekend’s winner Austin Dillon in 13th.
Alex Bowman scrapped the wall during his time trials effort and delivered the 16th fastest lap.
Kevin Harvick led the Stewart-Haas Racing Playoff team with the 18th fastest lap with teammate Chase Briscoe on his heels in 19th.
Chase Elliott struggled in qualifying and could only maneuver the 23rd fastest lap.
Pre-qualifying inspection hiccups kept Daniel Suárez from turning a qualifying lap and he will start last in Sunday night’s crown jewel race.
Suárez will also be forced to make a green flag drive-through penalty at the start of the race.
No one failed to qualify for the 500-mile event.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.[table=3984]Failed to Qualify: None
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series
* Must Qualify on Time
# Denotes Rookie
