Bubba Wallace, outside NASCAR playoffs, claims Darlington pole - ESPN

Bubba Wallace got a boost to his playoff hopes heading into Sunday by winning the Southern 500 pole.

Wallace snagged his first pole of 2024 on Saturday by turning a hot lap of 167.146 mph around the famed egg-shaped track of Darlington Raceway to beat Carson Hocevar's speed of 167.010.

Wallace has had a fast No. 23 Toyota this summer, posting top-10 finishes in four of the past five races, but he could use a win to ensure a playoff spot. The 23XI Racing driver said he doesn't feel any more stress than usual but would just like to reach Victory Lane again.

«I think from a bigger picture, I'm stressed about being winless in damn near two seasons,» Wallace said. «Let's say this was Daytona last year or [the] Bristol [elimination] race. I have no stress compared to those last year, and I think that's for the better.»

Wallace, who made the playoffs in 2023, is 17th in the standings entering the regular-season finale. He is 21 points behind Chris Buescher, another 2023 playoff driver. Should there be no new winner Sunday — 13 drivers have qualified for the playoffs through race victories — Buescher, who qualified 10th, stands to be in good position to advance on points.

But Buescher knows that victory Sunday is the surest way to continue his championship chase.

«Been really close in a lot of races, but haven't sealed the deal,» he said. «Didn't expect to be in this position.»

Kyle Busch has experienced a maddening, frustrating season that has left the two-time Cup Series champion on the outside of a 12th straight NASCAR playoff appearance. A win in the Southern 500 is his only option to keep his postseason streak alive.

«Every week, it just kind of seems like, 'OK, what's next?'» Busch said Saturday. «But that's something that