NASCAR starting lineup at Bristol: Kyle Larson on pole as rain cancels qualifying
Rainy weather Friday afternoon washed out Monster Energy NASCAR Cup qualifying at Bristol, and that's good news for Kyle Larson.
The series points leader will start from the pole Sunday for the Food City 500 as NASCAR lines up the field by owner points. Chase Elliott will start beside him on the front row for the 500-lap race.
Matt Kenseth, who sits a disappointing 22nd in the standings, is in need of a win and it may come at the track where he won the Food City 500 in 2015. Joe Gibbs Racing has won four of the past eight spring races at Bristol and could use another triumph as Toyota sits last in the manufacturing standings entering Sunday's race.
Kenseth has the most top-five finishes (13) and top 10s (20) among active Cup drivers at Bristol, along with four wins. His teammate Martin Truex Jr. led the third-most laps at Bristol with 316.
Yet none of the Toyota drivers is as hot as Larson, who recorded his fifth top-two finish in the last six races at Texas nearly two weeks ago.
Morning showers delayed Friday activities at the track, which will now run three, 55-minute practices Friday for each series competing: K&N Pro Series, Xfinity Series and Cup Series. More rain is expected in the area Saturday and Sunday.
Ryan Blaney
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Here is the starting lineup for the Food City 500 (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, Fox).
Kyle Larson
Chase Elliott
Martin Truex Jr.
Brad Keselowski
Joey Logano
Morning showers delayed Friday activities at the track, which will now run three, 55-minute practices Friday for each series competing: K&N Pro Series, Xfinity Series and Cup Series. More rain is expected in the area Saturday and Sunday.
MORE:
Bristol weather forecast isn't promising for Sunday's scheduled Cup race
| NASCAR at Bristol: Vegas odds, key stats, sleepers, fantasy drivers to watch