Pole Position Amid Rain Delays
Ryan Blaney will lead the field for the NASCAR Cup Series event at North Wilkesboro Speedway after a sudden rainstorm washed out the scheduled qualifying session. The weather forced officials to rely on a points‑based formula to set the starting order, and Blaney’s strong finish in the previous race and his team’s standing in the owner rankings propelled him to the pole.
NASCAR's Revised Grid Formula
Under the current system, NASCAR blends owner points with a driver’s most recent race performance to calculate a composite score that determines the lineup when traditional qualifying cannot be held. The approach strips away the complex weighting of past seasons, focusing instead on a driver’s body of work and the latest results.
Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske entry sits third in the owner standings, a position that, combined with his victory at EchoPark Speedway, gave him enough points to edge ahead of competitors.
Veterans Set to Follow
Veteran Denny Hamlin, the points leader, will start seventh, while his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs, sitting second in the driver standings with a score of 4.0, will line up directly behind Blaney.
The race will be streamed live on TNT beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET, marking the semifinal round of the second annual In‑Season Challenge, a mid‑season tournament that adds extra stakes to each stage.
Fans can expect a tightly contested battle as the revised grid reshapes strategies, with teams hoping to capitalize on the fresh start.