Photo credit: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Cup New Hampshire lineup after rain cancels qualifying


Chase Elliott will start Sunday's Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway from the pole.

Ryan Blaney will start on the front row next to Elliott after he won last weekend's race at Iowa Speedway. William Byron, Christopher Bell, and Alex Bowman will start Sunday's race inside the top five. Joey Logano will join Bowman on the third row.

MORE: New Hampshire Cup starting lineup

Defending winner Martin Truex Jr., Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, and Josh Berry will all start Sunday's race inside the top 10. Kaz Grala and Ty Dillon will make up the last row.

Rainfall at the 1.058-mile track forced NASCAR to cancel Saturday morning's qualifying session, so the sanctioning body set the lineup with its formula.

The driver's fastest lap in the previous race is 15% of the formula, the driver's finishing position is 25%, the owner's finishing position is 25%, and the owner's points position is 35%.

Elliott is the current points leader. He has one win, seven top-five finishes, and nine top-10s in the first 17 races of the Cup season. He has an eight-point lead over teammate Kyle Larson, who starts 19th in Sunday's race.

Elliott will have an opportunity to maintain his points lead, albeit at a track where he has not been in regular contention for wins. He has two top-five finishes and three top-10s in 10 career Cup starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Elliott's best finish is second behind Bell in 2022's race.

Sunday's race will take place at 2:06 p.m. ET after NASCAR moved up the start time due to potential inclement weather. USA Network will provide coverage for the race with Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte in the NBC Sports booth. Marty Snider, Kim Coon, and Parker Kligerman will serve as pit reporters for the event.