NASCAR Darlington: Brad Keselowski takes Sprint Cup pole

Penske racer Keslowski posted a lap of 27.492s in the final five-minute shootout to head Kurt Busch by 0.199s and score his first pole position of the campaign.

Last year's winner Kevin Harvick will start third, ahead of Joey Logano, who narrowly beat him to victory last time out at Bristol.

Jeff Gordon, making his final start at Darlington on his farewell campaign, was fifth quickest from Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr.

Ryan Blaney beat Kyle Busch, running a backup car after a practice crash, to qualify ninth, while Aric Almirola and Paul Menard rounded out the top 12.

Carl Edwards qualified 13th, the best of the Chase contenders to be eliminated in round two, joined by Joe Gibbs Racing team-mate Matt Kenseth in 14th respectively.

Jimmie Johnson, a three-time winner at Darlington, narrowly progressed through the opening part of qualifying before dropping out in round two in 19th.

Matt DiBenedetto managed 25th for BK Racing, missing out on a spot in the second part of qualifying to Johnson, but edging out Chase contender Dale Earnhardt Jr in 26th.

Michael Waltrip Racing's Clint Bowyer, who holds the final provisional spot in the Chase, qualified down in 28th.

Danica Patrick was left down in 30th after she hit the wall in the opening phase of qualifying, and she will start from the back after opting to race a backup car.

QUALIFYING RESULT