Chase Elliott is set to lead the line for the opening race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Darlington Raceway.
The new starting lineup is determined by taking into account the finishing position from the previous race (50%), the team’s position in the owner standings (35%) and the drivers fastest lap from the previous race (15%).
However, the 16 drivers to make the playoffs will occupy the first 16 positions.
Elliot’s second-place finish in the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway is good enough to put him in pole position in the first race of the 2020 Cup Series Playoffs.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin will join him in the front row. Daytona winner Byron will start in the second row alongside Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman.
Below is an l unofficial starting lineup for the race at Darlington Raceway.
1st – Chase Elliott
2nd – Denny Hamlin
3rd – William Byron
4th – Alex Bowman
5th – Brad Keselowski
6th – Martin Truex Jr.
7th – Ryan Blaney
8th – Kevin Harvick
9th – Clint Bowyer
10th – Aric Almirola
11th – Matt DiBenedetto
12th – Austin Dillon
13th – Joey Logano
14th – Cole Custer
15th – Kyle Busch
16th – Kurt Busch
Not in the playoffs
17th – Bubba Wallace
18th – John Hunter Nemechek
19th – Michael McDowell
20th – Chris Buescher
21st – Christopher Bell
22nd – Jimmie Johnson
23rd – Brennan Poole
24th – Tyler Reddick
25th – Ty Dillon
26th – Matt Kenseth
27th – Corey LaJoie
28th – Daniel Suarez
29th – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
30th – Erik Jones
31st – Ryan Newman
32nd – Quin Houff
33rd – Timmy Hill
34th – Ryan Preece
35th – J.J Yeley
36th – Josh Bilicki
37th – Reed Sorenson
38th – Joey Gase
39th – James Davison