Ever since the Daytona Road Course race weekend, NASCAR implemented a new format to decide the grid. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, practice and qualifying sessions were out of the question. Therefore, NASCAR had to make do with randomized draws for a number of race weekends until now.
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This time, the NASCAR officials have come up with a formula based on race finish, owner standings, and fastest lap rank. The first pole-sitter under this format was the championship leader, Kevin Harvick.
However, we may get a new pole-sitter for Dover after Chase Elliott bagged the win at Daytona.
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Likely Dover lineup (math checked w/ @BoziTatarevic) Elliott Hamlin Truex Bowyer Johnson Logano Keselowski Byron Busch Harvick Bowman Buescher Jones DiBenedetto McDowell Reddick Almirola Bell Stenhouse Blaney Custer KyBusch Newman Wallace 13 42 37 96 32 15 38 3 66 27 00 53 77 51
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 17, 2020
Who lines up where for the NASCAR race in Dover?
In light of this, some experts have been trying to predict the grid for the upcoming race at the Dover International Speedway. According to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Chase Elliott is the most likely candidate for pole position.
If this does come to pass, this will be Elliott’s 10th pole position in his Cup Series career.
Behind him will be Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, Clint Bowyer, and Jimmie Johnson in the Top-5. Right on their tails will be Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick completing the Top-10.
Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, Erik Jones, Matt DiBenedetto, and Michael McDowell round out the Top-15. Tyler Reddick, Aric Almirola, Christopher Bell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ryan Blaney, Cole Custer, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, and Bubba Wallace could make up the rest of the grid.
Of course, all this is just speculation, since NASCAR has not released the official grid for this weekend’s race. However, if the prediction is right on the money, Elliott could be in for his 9th career win.
However, Hamlin will not make things easy for him, and there are other racers who will be eager to get a bite of the cherry.
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