Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola is set to start the 2018 Monster Energy Open at Charlotte Motor Speedway from the pole position.
After rain caused the qualifying session for the 2018 Monster Energy Open at Charlotte Motor Speedway to be canceled, the starting lineup for the event was set based on driver points in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings.
A total of 17 drivers are already locked into the Monster Energy All-Star Race, which is set to take place after the Monster Energy Open at the four-turn, 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway quad oval in Concord, North Carolina.
The other 21 drivers are set to compete in the Monster Energy Open. It is set to feature three stages. The first and second stages are set to last for 20 laps, and the third and final stage is set to be a 10-lap shootout.
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The three stage winners of the race will qualify for the All-Star Race, as will the winner of the fan vote, bringing the field size of the All-Star Race to 21 drivers to match the field size of the Monster Energy Open.
As a result of qualifying being canceled and the championship standings being used to determine the starting order of the 21 drivers in the Monster Energy Open who have not yet qualified for the All-Star Race, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola is set to start the race from the pole position in his #10 Ford. He currently sits in 10th place in the standings.
The highest starting Toyota driver is set to be Joe Gibbs Racing’s Erik Jones, who is set to start alongside Almirola in second place on the front row in his #20 Toyota. The highest starting Chevrolet driver is set to be Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman, who is set to start in third in his #88 Chevrolet alongside his teammate Chase Elliott in his #9 Chevrolet. Many people believe that Elliott will win the fan vote like he did last year.
Of the 21 drivers in the race, 12 driver Chevrolet cars, five drive Ford cars and four drive Toyota cars.
Here is the starting lineup for the 2018 Monster Energy Open at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
| Rank | Driver | Car, Team, Manufacturer |
| 1 | Aric Almirola | #10, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford |
| 2 | Erik Jones | #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota |
| 3 | Alex Bowman | #88, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet |
| 4 | Chase Elliott | #9, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet |
| 5 | Paul Menard | #21, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford |
| 6 | William Byron | #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet |
| 7 | Daniel Suarez | #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota |
| 8 | Darrell Wallace Jr. | #43, Richard Petty Motorsports, Chevrolet |
| 9 | A.J. Allmendinger | #47, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet |
| 10 | David Ragan | #38, Front Row Motorsports, Ford |
| 11 | Chris Buescher | #37, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet |
| 12 | Michael McDowell | #34, Front Row Motorsports, Ford |
| 13 | Matt DiBenedetto | #32, Go Fas Racing, Ford |
| 14 | Ty Dillon | #13, Germain Racing, Chevrolet |
| 15 | Corey Lajoie | #72, TriStar Motorsports, Chevrolet |
| 16 | Ross Chastain | #15, Premium Motorsports, Chevrolet |
| 17 | Landon Cassill | #00, StarCom Racing, Chevrolet |
| 18 | Gray Gaulding | #23, BK Racing, Toyota |
| 19 | B.J. McLeod | #51, Rick Ware Racing, Chevrolet |
| 20 | Reed Sorenson | #55, Premium Motorsports, Chevrolet |
| 21 | Timmy Hill | #66, MBM Motorsports, Toyota |
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Tune in to the 2018 Monster Energy Open tonight at 6:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, as that is when the live broadcast of the race is set to begin from Charlotte Motor Speedway.