By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
DOVER, Del. – For the second time in the first three Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup races this year, rain played havoc with Sprint Cup qualifying, forcing cancellation of Friday’s knockout time trials for the first elimination race of the playoffs.
This is the third straight Sprint Cup event at Dover for which qualifying has been cancelled because of rain.
With the field set by the rule book, Brad Keselowski, whose No. 2 Team Penske Ford leads the owners’ standings, will start Sunday’s Citizen Soldier 400 (2 p.m. ET on NBCSN) from the pole. Martin Truex Jr., winner of the first Chase race at Chicagoland Speedway, will take the green flag next to Keselowski on the front row.
Kyle Busch, who spent Friday’s practice in race trim—anticipating the afternoon rain—will start third, followed by Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin.
“We earned it because, obviously, we’ve been having a great season, maybe not with what we’ve done on track today, but with what we’ve done throughout the course of the year in scoring a lot of points and winning races,” Keselowski said.
“But it’s certainly still something to be very proud of, to be this far into the season and be in the points lead. These are the perks you get when you’re in that position. We’ll take it, and of course, being up front gives us a very advantageous pit road selection for this race, which I think is very critical.”
Having all 16 Chase drivers at the front of the field should make for a dramatic show for spectators, Keselowski said, particularly since the Chase field will be cut from 16 drivers to the top 12 after the event.
“I think it makes it more fun to watch, at least at the start, because you’ve got the 12th and 13th-place cars right next to each other (actually on the sixth and seventh rows, respectively),” Keselowski said. “That should be compelling to watch. I won’t get to see it, but you will.”
Coincidentally, the drivers who will start 12th and 13th, Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray, are teammates at Chip Ganassi Racing, with Larson currently five points ahead of McMurray in the standings.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Inclement Weather Lineup – Citizen Soldier 400
1. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 1.
2. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 2.
3. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 3.
4. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 4.
5. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 5.
6. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 6.
7. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 7.
8. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 8.
9. (24) Chase Elliott #, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 9.
10. (19) Carl Edwards, Toyota, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 10.
11. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 11.
12. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 12.
13. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 13.
14. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 14.
15. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 15.
16. (34) Chris Buescher #, Ford, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 16.
17. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 17.
18. (88) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 18.
19. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 19.
20. (21) * Ryan Blaney #, Ford, Open Team – 2016 Owner Point 20.
21. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 21.
22. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 22.
23. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 23.
24. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 24.
25. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 25.
26. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 26.
27. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 27.
28. (15) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 28.
29. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 29.
30. (95) Ty Dillon(i), Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 30.
31. (38) Landon Cassill, Ford, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 31.
32. (23) David Ragan, Toyota, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 32.
33. (7) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 33.
34. (44) Brian Scott #, Ford, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 34.
35. (83) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 35.
36. (98) * Timmy Hill(i), Chevrolet, Open Team – 2016 Owner Point 36.
37. (46) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 37.
38. (32) Jeffrey Earnhardt #, Ford, Charter Team – 2016 Owner Point 38.
39. (55) * Reed Sorenson, Toyota, Open Team – 2016 Owner Point 39.
40. (30) * Josh Wise, Chevrolet, Open Team – 2016 Owner Point 40.
