Chevrolet fails to qualify a car in the top-10 at Darlington for first time since 1982

This is something bowtie fans don’t want to hear – Chevrolet failed to make the top-10 in qualifying at Darlington for the first time in 41 years. Every single NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington since the Southern 500 in 1982 has featured a Chevrolet of some kind in the top-10 in qualifying.

For the Cook Out Southern 500, Ford and Toyota dominated. There were seven Fords and three Toyotas in the final qualifying round, shutting out the Chevys. Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not appreciate being told that stat after Group B was finished.

Chevrolet at Darlington is almost inevitable. Like night and day, you just know that it is going to come. However, they will have to work hard if they want to get to the front of this race.

Christopher Bell won the pole this afternoon. Kyle Busch was the top Chevy in qualifying and will start P11 while Chase Elliott starts P13. William Byron, who won at Darlington in the spring qualified P23.

Full starting order, via Matt Weaver of Sportsnaut.

Southern 500 starting lineup pic.twitter.com/Omoi5ilUuU

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) September 2, 2023

That 1982 Southern 500 only had a handful of Chevys in the field. It was a Buick/Pontiac/Ford Series back then. Dodge and Chevrolet were few and far between at Darlington that season. Cale Yarborough won his fifth and final Southern 500, a record until Jeff Gordon broke it.

Dave Marcis was the top Chevy in that race and he ended up finishing P10. So, at least there is hope for a top-10 finish this weekend for the bowties. Kyle Petty, Rick Newsom, Bobby Wawak, and Terry Labonte were the other Chevys in the field in that race.

Chevrolet falters at Darlington – Ford, Toyota flourish

While the entire Chevrolet camp came up short at Darlington, the other two manufacturers did very well. Particularly, the Fords. I think that it isn’t a coincidence that Ford is coming on strong late in the season. They have four wins in the last six weeks and now seven of the top-10 qualifiers to start the playoffs.

Kevin Harvick was second in the spring. He was among the top-10 on Saturday. Then you look at a hot car like Chris Buescher who was also among the fastest on the day. What is to stop the RFK Racing driver from dominating further than he already has in the last month?

The qualifying thing isn’t a big deal. It is one of those stats in the sport like “consecutive games with a three-point basket made” in college basketball. It is a fun fact, really cool to think about, but doesn’t ultimately matter.

On Sunday, we very well may see a Chevy rise through the field and win. Do you think Chevrolet can get to victory lane at Darlington?