NASCAR Atlanta Qualifying Canceled; Metric System Sets Starting Grid
Qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta was called off on Saturday morning due to adverse weather conditions, including rain showers and lightning. As a result, the starting lineup for the race has been determined by NASCAR's updated metric system.
This system, slated for official implementation in 2026, calculates the starting grid by averaging a car's position in the owner standings (30%) with its finish in the most recent race (70%).
Tyler Reddick, the current championship leader and Daytona 500 winner, will start from pole position in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota. He will be joined on the front row by Joey Logano, driving the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, who clinched a Duel race victory and finished third in the Daytona 500.
Top Performers Secure Strong Starting Positions
Following the front row, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is set to start third, marking a strong start for the No. 47 car. He is closely followed by Chase Elliott in fourth, with Brad Keselowski rounding out the top five.
The remainder of the top ten includes:
- Tyler Reddick
- Joey Logano
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Chase Elliott
- Brad Keselowski
- Zane Smith
- Chris Buescher
- Riley Herbst
- Bubba Wallace
- Josh Berry
Notable Drivers Start Outside the Top 20
Several prominent drivers will be challenged to work their way through the field, starting outside the top 20. These include Ross Chastain (21st), Ryan Blaney (22nd), and Ryan Preece (26th).
Further back, fan-favorite Shane van Gisbergen will start 28th, while veteran Denny Hamlin is in 29th. Austin Cindric begins from 30th, with Connor Zilisch just behind him in 31st. Rounding out the notable deeper starters are Christopher Bell (32nd), Chase Briscoe (34th), and Alex Bowman (36th).