Overview

• Denny Hamlin topped Darlington qualifying with a 28.694-second lap at 171.381 mph, edging teammate Chase Briscoe to secure a Joe Gibbs Racing sweep of the front row.
• Playoff drivers filled the top 10 starters, led by Josh Berry in third, Tyler Reddick fourth and Kyle Larson fifth, while William Byron starts 11th, Ryan Blaney 12th, Joey Logano 16th, Shane van Gisbergen 20th, Chase Elliott 21st and Alex Bowman 29th.
• Hamlin enters the Round of 16 with four wins, 29 playoff bonus points and a 23-point cushion above the cut line.
• Calling the postseason “another chance to roll the dice,” Hamlin said the 23XI/Front Row antitrust case set for a December trial will not distract his championship push.
• Debate over the format continued, with Rick Hendrick favoring the previous system and broadcaster Parker Kligerman predicting Hamlin will reach the Championship 4.