NASCAR: Full Dover starting lineup if qualifying is rained out

If qualifying for Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway is rained out, here is what the starting lineup will look like.

The NASCAR Cup Series is set for its one and only yearly trip to Dover Motor Speedway this weekend for the Wurth 400, the 11th of 36 races on the 2023 schedule.

The weather forecast for the weekend does not look promising at all. According to The Weather Channel, there is a 77% chance of rain on Saturday, which could put qualifying in jeopardy.

Should qualifying not be able to take place ahead of Sunday afternoon’s 400-lap race around the four-turn, 1-mile (1.609-kilometer) Dover, Delaware oval, the starting lineup would be set via the metric.

The metric, which used to be used to start every starting lineup back when qualifying wasn’t taking place in late 2020 and throughout 2021, is now used to set the qualifying order (but in reverse order).

It takes into account four factors: the driver’s finish in the most recent race (25%), the car owner’s finish in the most recent race (25%), the car owner’s position in the owner standings (35%), and the rank of the driver’s fastest lap in the most recent race (15%).

The first two categories are combined into one big category weighted at 50% for drivers who drive the same cars from race to race.

If NASCAR Cup Series qualifying is canceled at Dover Motor Speedway, here is how the starting lineup will look.

Provisional Starting Lineup
1st – Kyle Busch
2nd – Christopher Bell
3rd – Ryan Blaney
4th – Brad Keselowski
5th – Chris Buescher
6th – Chase Briscoe
7th – Tyler Reddick
8th – William Byron
9th – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
10th – Chase Elliott
11th – Erik Jones
12th – Kevin Harvick
13th – Denny Hamlin
14th – Ross Chastain
15th – Daniel Suarez
16th – Ty Dillon
17th – Martin Truex Jr.
18th – Kyle Larson
19th – Aric Almirola
20th – Austin Cindric
21st – J.J. Yeley
22nd – B.J. McLeod
23rd – Josh Berry
24th – Ty Gibbs
25th – Justin Haley
26th – Joey Logano
27th – Corey LaJoie
28th – Bubba Wallace
29th – A.J. Allmendinger
30th – Ryan Preece
31st – Harrison Burton
32nd – Michael McDowell
33rd – Noah Gragson
34th – Brennan Poole
35th – Todd Gilliland
36th – Austin Dillon

Worse news for NASCAR fans? The forecast for Sunday afternoon is also not pleasant. The Weather Channel indicates that there is a 71% chance of rain.

Last year’s race at Dover Motor Speedway was suspended after several laps were run on Sunday, May 1 and completed on Monday, May 2.

As of now, the Wurth 400 is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 30, with live coverage set to be provided from Dover Motor Speedway by Fox Sports 1 beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET. Start a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss it!