NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying Canceled at Dover Due to Rain
Rain interrupted the NASCAR Cup Series weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, resulting in the cancellation of both practice and qualifying sessions. This unforeseen weather condition introduced additional uncertainties for teams, particularly with the debut of a new, untested Goodyear tire.
Given the cancellation of qualifying, the starting lineup was established using a metric system that factors in various performance metrics: 15% from the fastest lap time in the prior race, 25% from the driver’s finishing position, 25% from the owner’s final race position, and 35% from the owner’s points ranking.
As a result, Chase Elliott secured the pole position for the race, with Chase Briscoe on the front row beside him. The top five was completed by Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and William Byron.
Shane van Gisbergen, last week’s Sonoma winner, will start sixth. He expressed his preference for practice time, acknowledging the steep learning curve he faces on oval tracks. Michael McDowell will start seventh, followed by Joey Logano in eighth, Ty Gibbs in ninth, and Kyle Busch rounding out the top ten.
Noteworthy positions deeper in the grid include defending champion Denny Hamlin starting in 13th, Ross Chastain in 19th, Kyle Larson in 25th, and Ryan Blaney in 31st.
The unpredictable conditions and the introduction of a new tire will make for an intriguing race as teams strategize to adapt.
