Overview
- Tyler Reddick claimed the pole at 169.152 mph, his second of 2026, with 23XI teammate Bubba Wallace alongside on the front row.
- Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson start on row two with Brad Keselowski fifth, followed by Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Austin Dillon in the top 10.
- NASCAR is using the short-track rules at Darlington featuring a 3-inch spoiler, a trimmed diffuser, roughly 20% less downforce, and about 750 horsepower.
- Practice and qualifying offered limited read on tire fall-off, and Reddick said pit timing plus tire management will likely shape the race.
- Denny Hamlin cautioned the event could get "out of control" with severe wear and predicted up to four seconds of fall-off, as Reddick looks to build on three early-season wins and a sizable points lead.