Weather Cancels Bristol Qualifying, Larson Gets Pole
Weather Cancels Bristol Qualifying, Larson Gets Pole
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Key Points
1
NASCAR’s performance-based grid formula weights an owner’s most recent race finish at 70% and current owner points at 30%, which favored Larson after his Gateway victory.
2
Larson has a strong recent record at Bristol, with three wins, three runner-up finishes and nine top-five results in his last 14 starts at the track.
3
Non-Chase drivers Alex Bowman and Ross Chastain will start sixth and seventh, while Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon and Bubba Wallace round out the next three positions in eighth through 10th.
4
Ty Gibbs will run a special M&M’s paint scheme honoring Kyle Busch, who won eight Cup Series races at Bristol.
5
Daniel Suárez, scheduled to start 28th, is awaiting the birth of his first child; JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier will be on standby if Suárez cannot compete.
Kyle Larson earned the pole position for Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway after lightning and rain wiped out Friday's practice and qualifying sessions. NASCAR used its performance-based grid formula to set the starting order, which heavily favored Larson following his victory last weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway Motorsport. Larson sits nine points behind points leader Denny Hamlin in the Chase standings and holds a strong record at Bristol with three wins and nine top-five finishes in his last 14 starts.
Grid Formula Rewards Larson's Gateway Win
NASCAR's performance-based formula weighs an owner's most recent race finish at 70% and current owner points at 30%, according to Motorsport. Larson's victory last week at Gateway pushed him to the top of the grid. Joey Logano, a 40-time Cup Series winner, starts second, while points leader Denny Hamlin starts third. William Byron and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.
Title Contenders Struggle With Poor Starting Spots
Several Chase competitors face uphill battles from difficult grid positions. Chase Briscoe starts 26th, Chase Elliott 27th, Daniel Suárez 28th, and Ryan Blaney 29th Motorsport. Christopher Bell fares better in 12th. The staggered grid means these title hopefuls must gain multiple positions to compete for the win on the tight, fast Bristol oval.
Supporting Cast Fills Middle Grid Positions
Non-Chase drivers Alex Bowman and Ross Chastain start sixth and seventh, respectively. Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, and Bubba Wallace occupy eighth through tenth positions Motorsport. The order reflects recent performance metrics that shaped the full 36-car field for Saturday night's race at the half-mile track.
Ty Gibbs Honors Kyle Busch's Bristol Legacy
Ty Gibbs will run a special M&M's paint scheme honoring Kyle Busch, who won eight Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway Motorsport. Daniel Suárez, scheduled to start 28th, awaits the birth of his first child and may not compete. JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier will stand by as a backup driver in case Suárez cannot participate in Saturday's race.
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