NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Heavy rainfall and an extended lightning hold forced NASCAR to cancel qualifying at North Wilkesboro Speedway. As a result, the starting order will be set by the Rule Book.
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Ryan Blaney, the winner of last weekend's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, will start from the pole position. This will mark his third time starting from the pole this season.
MORE: North Wilkesboro Speedway Starting Lineup
Ty Gibbs will line up on the front row next to Blaney. He finished fourth last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The rest of the top 10 will include Christopher Bell, Carson Hocevar, Tyler Reddick, Erik Jones, Denny Hamlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Chris Buescher, and Chase Elliott.
The rest of the top 20 features drivers who will look to capitalize on track position and gain some early stage points. This includes Joey Logano in 11th, Austin Dillon in 12th, Ross Chastain in 13th, Austin Cindric in 14th, William Byron in 15th, Michael McDowell in 16th, Daniel Suarez in 17th, Todd Gilliland in 18th, John Hunter Nemechek in 19th, and Cole Custer in 20th.
The starting position will be big for Gilliland, one of four remaining drivers in the $1 million In-Season Challenge. In order to advance to the final round at Indianapaolis Motor Speedway, he will need to finish ahead of Elliott.
Chastain, for comparison, will have an early issue. His No. 1 failed pre-race inspection three times. He will have to serve a pass through penalty at the start of the race.
"Great lap," Blaney joked about his qualifying effort, which featured him just watching the rain fall in the garage area.
He continued and said that track position has been difficult to gain in the past trips to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the All-Star Race. He hopes that the continued work by Goodyear will help improve passing opportunities, especially if drivers start to struggle on older tires.
The Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway will take place on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. TNT and truTV will provide coverage for the 450-lap race.
