NASCAR: Kentucky starting lineup

Kyle Busch drew the pole position for Sunday’s Quaker State 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway, his first of the 2020 season.

For the ninth time in 13 races since the NASCAR Cup Series returned to action following the 10-week hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a random group-based draw was set the starting lineup for a race.

For the first time, it was Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch who drew the pole position. He is set to lead the field to the green flag in his #18 Toyota in this Sunday’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, the 17th of 36 races on the recently updated 2020 schedule.

Set to start alongside Busch on the front row in this 267-lap race around the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) oval in Sparta, Kentucky is Team Penske’s Joey Logano in his #22 Ford.

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Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola are set to share the second row in third and fourth place in their #4 Ford and #10 Ford, respectively.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman drew the top starting position among the Chevrolet drivers and is set to start in fifth place in his #88 Chevrolet alongside Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski in sixth in his #2 Ford. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kurt Busch, Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. and Wood Brothers Racing’s Matt DiBenedetto are set to round out the top 10 in seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th in their #1 Chevrolet, #9 Chevrolet, #19 Toyota and #21 Ford, respectively.

Based on the random draw format, 12 drivers had a chance to take the pole position for this race. The two drivers who had a chance to take the pole position but were unable to draw within the top 10 were Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, who are set to start in 11th and 12th place in their #12 Ford and #11 Toyota, respectively.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson drew the 20th starting position in his first race back after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He was cleared to return to action earlier today after testing negative for the virus on Monday and Tuesday.

The #48 team had been in the top 12 in the owner standings before his one-race absence, but they dropped to 15th place with Justin Allgaier’s 37th place finish behind the wheel of the #48 Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this past Sunday following a pileup in the pits. This finish earned the team just one point.

Here is the full starting lineup for the 2020 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.

Starting Lineup
1st – Kyle Busch
2nd – Joey Logano
3rd – Kevin Harvick
4th – Aric Almirola
5th – Alex Bowman
6th – Brad Keselowski
7th – Kurt Busch
8th – Chase Elliott
9th – Martin Truex Jr.
10th – Matt DiBenedetto
11th – Ryan Blaney
12th – Denny Hamlin
13th – Chris Buescher
14th – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
15th – Clint Bowyer
16th – Erik Jones
17th – Matt Kenseth
18th – Bubba Wallace
19th – Austin Dillon
20th – Jimmie Johnson
21st – William Byron
22nd – John Hunter Nemechek
23rd – Ryan Newman
24th – Tyler Reddick
25th – Garrett Smithley
26th – Josh Bilicki
27th – Corey LaJoie
28th – Quin Houff
29th – Cole Custer
30th – Michael McDowell
31st – Brennan Poole
32nd – Ryan Preece
33rd – Ty Dillon
34th – Christopher Bell
35th – Joey Gase
36th – J.J. Yeley
37th – Daniel Suarez
38th – Timmy Hill

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Tune in to Fox Sports 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, July 12 for the live broadcast of the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.

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NASCAR: Kentucky starting lineup – Kyle Busch on pole

By Asher Fair | Jul 8, 2020

Kyle Busch drew the pole position for Sunday’s Quaker State 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway, his first of the 2020 season.