Martin Truex Jr. takes the pole as part of a 1-2-3 lucky draw for Joe Gibbs Racing
Talladega Superspeedway has a history of being NASCAR's most unpredictable track. Literally any one of the 40 drivers in the field can push to the front at any moment, regardless of equipment, experience or circumstances. So it's only fitting that setting the starting lineup for this race would be a random draw.
Instead of resorting to on-track qualifying on the first weekend fans are allowed at the track, NASCAR chose to keep the draw system in place. It's a decision meant to limit on-track time for the teams as they try and mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19 inside the garage area. On Friday, it was announced two employees from Stewart-Haas Racing had tested positive for the virus in their Kannapolis, North Carolina, race shop, reinforcing the need for such a policy.
Under this system, all drivers are split up according to their team's position in owner points. These smaller groups then have their starting spot randomly selected for Sunday's race.
Positions 1-12 were drawn among teams ranked 1st through 12th in the owner standings.
Positions 13-24 were drawn among teams ranked 13th through 24th in the owner standings.
Positions 25-36 were drawn among charter teams only (guaranteed spots on the grid) ranked 25th through 36th in owner points.
Positions 37-40 were set by owner points among the four “open” teams who must race in on speed every time out.
Only 40 teams were entered for 40 spots on the grid, leaving no one who failed to qualify. Martin Truex Jr. took the pole as part of a 1-2-3 lucky draw for Joe Gibbs Racing.
1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Kyle Busch
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Kevin Harvick
6. Brad Keselowski
7. Kurt Busch
8. Alex Bowman
9. Joey Logano
10. Clint Bowyer
11. Chase Elliott
12. Ryan Blaney
13. Matt Kenseth
14. Ryan Newman
15. Aric Almirola
16. Tyler Reddick (R)
17. Austin Dillon
18. Erik Jones
19. William Byron
20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
21. Chris Buescher
22. John Hunter Nemechek (R)
23. Matt DiBenedetto
24. Bubba Wallace
25. Corey Lajoie
26. Michael McDowell
27. Brennan Poole (R)
28. Cole Custer (R)
29. Gray Gaulding (i)
30. BJ McLeod
31. Ryan Preece
32. Quin Houff (R)
33. Ty Dillon
34. JJ Yeley (i)
35. Christopher Bell (R)
36. Joey Gase (i)
37. Daniel Suarez
38. Timmy Hill (i)
39. Brendan Gaughan
40. Garrett Smithley (i)
(R) – Rookie
(i) – Ineligible to collect Cup Series points
QUALIFYING NOTES
- Joe Gibbs Racing has their first 1-2-3 qualifying effort of the 2020 season. Martin Truex Jr., starting first, earned his first pole since moving to JGR in 2019. Denny Hamlin (2nd) has his second straight front row starting spot while reigning series champion Kyle Busch is third.
- Jimmie Johnson (4th) has his best starting spot since May’s Coca-Cola 600.
- Tyler Reddick (16th) drew the highest qualifying spot of any rookie in the field.
- Gray Gaulding (29th) jumps back in the No. 27 for Rick Ware Racing, replacing JJ Yeley. He last ran the car at Bristol three weeks ago.
- BJ McLeod (30th) was named the driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet midweek. Australian and Indy 500 veteran James Davison was set to make his oval-track debut in the series. However, NASCAR chose not to approve him for Talladega with no practice or qualifying before the event.
- JJ Yeley (34th) moves into the No. 53 car for Rick Ware Racing this weekend. Most of the time, that car is driven by Garrett Smithley but he moves to BJ McLeod’s self-owned team, the No. 78, instead and will start 40th.
- Brendan Gaughan (39th) will make his second start of the season. Gaughan is running just the superspeedway races with Beard Motorsports and their No. 62 this season.
NASCAR RACE BREAKDOWN
Race: GEICO 500
Track: Talladega Superspeedway (Lincoln, Ala.)
Date: Sunday, June 21
Time: 3:25 p.m. ET
TV: FOX, 3:00 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 188 laps (500 miles)
Stage 1: 60 Laps
Stage 2: 60 Laps
Final Stage: 68 Laps
PRE-RACE PREVIEW
