Brad Keselowski Earns Pole: Starting Line-Up for NASCAR Cup Series 2021 Goodyear 400 Darlington Throwback Race

One of the most anticipated weekends of the NASCAR season is finally here. Darlington will host all three series for the throwback races this weekend and Brad Keselowski has earned pole position honors for the NASCAR Cup Series race at the historic track.

Kevin Harvick, who had made a habit of starting in the front in 2020 as NASCAR’s new formula for starting line-ups rewards consistency, is back on the front row in the 2021 season. The 45-year-old finished behind Kansas winner Kyle Busch in second place last weekend.

Busch will himself start on the second row, beside teammate Martin Truex Jr. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron will round off the top-five for the iconic race.

Full starting line-up for the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington

Byron’s teammate Chase Elliott will start in sixth place after another top-five finish last weekend at Kansas. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin‘s brilliant run this season keeps him in seventh place for Darlington, despite two poor results recently at Talladega and Kansas.

Top-15 starting positions in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington:

1 – Brad Keselowski

2 – Kevin Harvick

3 – Kyle Busch

4 – Martin Truex Jr.

5 – William Byron

6 – Chase Elliott

7 – Denny Hamlin

8 – Matt DiBenedetto

9 – Austin Dillon

10 – Tyler Reddick

11 – Chris Buescher

12 – Joey Logano

13 – Michael McDowell

14 – Kyle Larson

15 – Daniel Suarez

The Darlington race, like every year, has some very interesting paint schemes that the drivers will bring to the racetrack.

Looking at some of the best throwback paint schemes

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Kyle Larson is throwing it back to his first-ever race car, which was a go-kart he drove as a kid. His No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will sport the colors of that car, which was sponsored by his family team – Majik Motorsports.

His teammate Chase Elliott will honor former NASCAR Cup champion, the late Alan Kulwicki, with a 1992 paint scheme. Alex Bowman will pay tribute to his crew chief Greg Ives’ racing days.

Bubba Wallace announced that he will run a blue throwback paint scheme honoring Wendell Scott, the first African-American driver to win a NASCAR race. His 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin will honor Julius ‘Slick’ Johnson with his Joe Gibbs Racing scheme.

Kyle Busch is celebrating his long-time sponsor M&M’s 80th anniversary. Ryan Blaney, on the other hand, will run a look similar to his 2010-11 super late model days. Among the more interesting paint schemes is also Joey Logano‘s tribute to motorsports legend Mario Andretti.

Starting on pole, Keselowski will aim to get his second win in 2021 in Sunday’s Goodyear 400.

READ MORE – Where and What Time to Watch the NASCAR Cup Series 2021 Goodyear 400 Darlington Throwback Race?