Harvick earned his 21st career pole and his fourth of the season. He won this race from the pole position in 2014.

“This is one of my favorites to come here,” Harvick said afterward.

The race airs Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

While Harvick has already punched his ticket for the NASCAR playoffs, several other drivers on the bubble need a win there to qualify. Here’s how the Cup Series playoff grid stands heading into the Southern 500: Martin Truex Jr. (four wins, 35 playoff points), Kyle Busch (2, 20), Kyle Larson (3, 18), Jimmie Johnson (3, 16), Brad Keselowski (2, 14), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2, 10), Harvick (1, 8), Ryan Blaney (1, 8), Denny Hamlin (1, 7), Kurt Busch (1, 5), Ryan Newman (1, 5), Kasey Kahne (1, 5), Austin Dillon (1, 5), Chase Elliott (69 points ahead of Clint Bowyer on the cutoff line, 2 playoff points), Matt Kenseth (+61, 3), Jamie McMurray (+58, 0).

Dale Earnhardt Jr., making his last start at Darlington as a full-time driver, will roll off 22nd.

Starting lineup for Monster Energy Cup Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway:

  1. Kevin Harvick2. Martin Truex Jr.3. Kyle Busch4. Kyle Larson5. Jamie McMurray6. Brad Keselowski7. Kurt Busch8. Joey Logano9. Denny Hamlin10. Erik Jones11. Matt Kenseth12. Ryan Blaney13. Austin Dillon14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.15. Aric Almirola16. Clint Bowyer17. Ryan Newman18. Jimmie Johnson19. Daniel Suarez20. Chase Elliott21. Paul Menard22. Dale Earnhardt Jr.23. Kasey Kahne24. Trevor Bayne25. Ty Dillon26. David Ragan27. Chris Buescher28. Matt DiBenedetto29. AJ Allmendinger30. Michael McDowell31. Landon Cassill32. Reed Sorenson33. Danica Patrick34. Cole Whitt35. Corey LaJoie36. Gray Gaulding37. Jeffrey Earnhardt38. Derrike Cope39. Cody Ware

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