NASCAR Cup Series drivers will have to wait until the third race of the season to have their second qualifying session of the year.
Rain at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., led to multiple cancellations Saturday. It washed out practice and qualifying for the Xfinity and Cup series and then the Xfinity race.
With qualifying rained out, NASCAR was forced to turn to its mathematical formula to determine the starting order for both races. NASCAR takes into account four factors, which are assigned varying percentages: owners points position (35 percent), owner's final position in the previous race (25 percent), driver's final race position (25 percent) and fastest lap time position (15 percent).
MORE: Weather updates for Pala Casino 400
The schedule was further affected by the weather conditions Saturday evening. The Xfinity race, the Production Alliance Group 300, was rained out and rescheduled for Sunday evening. It will be run after the Cup Series' Pala Casino 400, which is still scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday (3:47 p.m. ET green flag).
Here's what you need to know about the lineup for Sunday's Cup Series race.
Who won the Pala Casino 400 pole for 2023?
Since qualifying was cancelled due to rain, no one "won" the pole officially. Under NASCAR's formula, Christopher Bell will start the race as the leader on the front row. Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will start second next to Bell.
MORE: Watch the Pala Casino 400 live with fuboTV (free trial)
Bell' has four pole wins in his Cup Series career. They all came in the 2022 season, most recently at the YellaWood 500, where he placed 17th. He also had the pole position at the AdventHealth 400 (fifth), GEICO 500 (22nd) and Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube (10th).
Pala Casino 400 starting lineup 2023
| Starting pos. | Driver | Car No. | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2. | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 3. | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske |
| 4. | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 5. | Chris Buescher | 17 | RFK Racing |
| 6. | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | Kaulig Racing |
| 7. | Daniel Suárez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 8. | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 9. | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske |
| 10. | Kevin Harvick | 4 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 11. | Cody Ware | 51 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 12. | Corey LaJoie | 7 | Spire Motorsports |
| 13. | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 14. | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 15. | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 16. | Brad Keselowski | 6 | RFK Racing |
| 17. | Aric Almirola | 10 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 18. | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing |
| 19. | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske |
| 20. | Noah Gragson | 42 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 21. | Kyle Busch | 8 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 22. | JJ Yeley | 15 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 23. | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 24. | Harrison Burton | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 25. | Todd Gilliland | 38 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 26. | Michael McDowell | 34 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 27. | Ryan Preece | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 28. | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 29 | Justin Haley | 31 | Kaulig Racing |
| 30. | BJ McLeod | 78 | Live Fast Motorsports |
| 31. | Chase Briscoe | 14 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 32. | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 33. | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 34. | Erik Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 35. | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing |
| 36. | Ty Dillon | 77 | Spire Motorsports |
