The 2026 North Wilkesboro Starting Lineup was set by NASCAR’s metric formula after a rain‑induced cancellation of qualifying.
Metric Calculation Determines Grid Order
When an afternoon storm knocked out the Cup Series qualifying session at North Wilkesboro, the field will now be set through a weighted average of each driver’s position in the owner standings (30%) and their finish in the most recent race (70%).
Front Row and Middle of the Pack
Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Penske Ford secures the pole, while Ty Gibbs will occupy the adjacent spot in the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Christopher Bell rounds out the front five in third, followed by Carson Hocevar in fourth and Tyler Reddick in fifth.
Top Ten Breakdown
- 1 – Ryan Blaney (Penske Ford)
- 2 – Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Toyota)
- 3 – Christopher Bell (Carson Hocevar’s team)
- 4 – Carson Hocevar (Team)
- 5 – Tyler Reddick (Team)
- 6 – Erik Jones (Team)
- 7 – Denny Hamlin (Team)
- 8 – Shane van Gisbergen (Team)
- 9 – Chris Buescher (Team)
- 10 – Chase Elliott (Team)
Key Drivers in the Midfield
Brad Keselowski will be 23rd, Bubba Wallace 26th, Kyle Larson 27th, and Chase Briscoe 30th, marking their positions deep within the field.
Implications for the Race Day
The cancellation of a traditional qualifying session forces teams to rely on the metric, creating a grid that blends season performance with recent results. For fans, the absence of a high‑speed showdown means the focus will shift to the race’s competitive order as set above.
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