The NASCAR Cup Series’ second playoff elimination race is almost here, and after the checkered flag flies Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, four more drivers will be dropped from the playoff field.
Charlotte’s half-oval, half-road course Roval will host the third and final race in the playoffs Round of 12 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, and things could get wild.
Entering the race, Denny Hamlin is the only driver locked into the Round of 8, thanks to his victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway a couple weeks ago. And because Bubba Wallace won at Talladega Superspeedway on Monday instead of a title contender, no playoff driver was able to clinch his spot in the next round.
Kevin Harvick, Christopher Bell, William Byron and Alex Bowman are the four drivers below the top-8 cutoff line going into the Charlotte Roval race, and they can advance still either with a win or with some serious on-track help.
NASCAR playoffs guide: Everything you need to know about the postseason format
But Hamlin — who’s at the top of the driver standings — will start at the Roval on the pole.
However, because of the challenges related to racing during the COVID-19 pandemic, most race weekends this season do not include practice or qualifying sessions. That goes for playoff races too, and the playoff drivers will start at the front of the field.
So without qualifying, NASCAR determines the starting lineup with a formula based on these factors:
- 25 percent: Driver’s finishing position from the previous race
- 25 percent: Car owner’s finishing position from the previous race
- 35 percent: Team owner points ranking
- 15 percent: Fastest lap from the previous race
Here’s a look at the starting lineup for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte.
1. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
2. Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
© AP Photo/Butch Dill
3. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
© Chris Graythen/Getty Images
4. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
5. Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
© James Gilbert/Getty Images
6. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
© Logan Riely/Getty Images
7. Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
© James Gilbert/Getty Images
8. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
© James Gilbert/Getty Images
9. Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
© Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
10. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
11. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
© Sean Gardner/Getty Images
12. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
© Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
13. Kurt Busch, No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
© Sean Gardner/Getty Images
14. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
15. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
© Chris Graythen/Getty Images
16. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
17. Erik Jones, No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
© AP Photo/Chris O’Meara
18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
© AP Photo/Chris O’Meara
19. Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
© Chris Graythen/Getty Images
20. Anthony Alfredo, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
21. Aric Almirola, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
© Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
22. Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
23. Cole Custer, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
© James Gilbert/Getty Images
24. Ryan Newman, No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
© James Gilbert/Getty Images
25. Daniel Suárez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
26. Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
27. Ross Chastain, No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
28. Quin Houff, No. 00 StarCom Racing Chevrolet
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
29. Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
30. Matt DiBenedetto, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
31. Ryan Preece, No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
32. Cody Ware, No. 51 Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
© James Gilbert/Getty Images
33. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
© James Gilbert/Getty Images
34. Garrett Smithley, No. 53 Rick Ware Racing Ford
© Sean Gardner/Getty Images
35. Scott Heckert, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Ford
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
36. Joey Hand, No. 52 Rick Ware Racing Ford
© James Gilbert/Getty Images
37. Josh Bilicki, No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
© Chris Graythen/Getty Images
38. Justin Haley, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
© Chris Graythen/Getty Images
39. Timmy Hill, No. 66 Motorsports Business Management Ford
© Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
