Tyler Reddick secured pole position for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, with Bubba Wallace joining him on the front row. This marks Reddick's 13th career pole and second of the 2026 season, signaling a strong performance by the 23XI Racing team.
The qualifying session, a single-lap attempt for each of the 37 drivers, set the grid for Sunday's 400-mile event. Reddick's pace put him ahead of Wallace, while Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson will start from the second row. The race is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. EST on FS1.
Darlington Raceway, a 1.366-mile intermediate oval, will host the NASCAR Cup Series for the Goodyear 400. This marks the first race at the track using the NASCAR's 750-horsepower short track package. The event is divided into three stages: 90 laps, 95 laps, and 108 laps.
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Race Details and Key Performers
The starting lineup, determined by qualifying speeds, places Reddick at the front, a position that, according to one report, he has yet to secure at this specific track in his career. He has, however, finished in the top-three on four occasions at Darlington.
"His performance during Saturday's qualifying session should give him a good chance."
Notable finishers from qualifying include Brad Keselowski, who will start alongside Elliott and Larson in the top starting positions. Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney have a history of strong starts and finishes at Darlington, with Elliott achieving his fifth top-10 start and Blaney his fifth top-10 finish in his 19 races there.
Drivers to Watch and Previous Results
Tyler Reddick has been a consistent performer this season, reportedly with wins in the first three races prior to this event. His victory at Darlington marks his 12th in 224 Cup Series races.
Denny Hamlin, the defending champion of last year's spring race at Darlington, will start further back in the field.
Several drivers, including Reddick, Michael McDowell, Carson Hocevar, Chase Briscoe, and Ty Gibbs, reportedly brushed the wall during their qualifying runs.
A significant number of drivers, including Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Erik Jones, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, Ty Gibbs, Joey Logano, and Shane van Gisbergen, are set to start 20th or worse.
Track and Race Information
The Goodyear 400 is a 400.24-mile race, covering 293 laps. The track itself features four turns with banking of 25° in turns 1 and 2, and 23° in turns 3 and 4, with 6° on the frontstretch and backstretch. This layout is often described as "egg-shaped."
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| Defending Champion |
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The addition of the 750-horsepower short track package is a notable shift for this event at Darlington.
Background
This marks the 56th edition of the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. The qualifying session employed a traditional format, with each driver making a single-lap attempt to set their starting position, differing from superspeedway races which often include a shootout for the pole. A single team, Garage 66, made its return to fielding the No. 66 Ford for this event, marking their first appearance since the season-opening Daytona 500.
