NASCAR lineup at Las Vegas: Starting order for Pennzoil 400 after rain shuts down qualifying

Denny Hamlin captured the checkered flag at the Daytona 500, but the focus of every NASCAR fan quickly shifted to Ryan Newman after he was involved in a scary crash at the end of Monday's race.

The driver known as "Rocket Man" appeared to escape the wreck without any serious injuries, as he walked out of a local hospital Wednesday afternoon under his own power. There is currently no timeline for Newman's return, so Roush Fenway Racing will turn to Ross Chastain in the No. 6 Ford for Sunday's race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

Martin Truex Jr. is in the media center. He says he's continued to talk to Ryan Newman this week and adds: "I feel like he'll be back before anyone thinks he could. He's a tough son of a gun."

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 22, 2020

Truex says he and Newman have been planning fishing trips already again. On seeing him after the hospital, Truex said: "It was good to see how good a shape he was in, and it was a little surprising as well."

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 22, 2020

MORE: NASCAR schedule for all Cup Series races

Unfortunately for Chastain, he wasn't able to hop on the track Saturday ahead of the Pennzoil 400 (3:30 p.m. ET, Fox). A steady stream of rain canceled qualifying, so the starting lineup will be set based on 2019 points, per the NASCAR rulebook. That puts Kyle Busch on the pole, with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. on the outside of the front row.

Because of inspection issues, however, Busch will drop to the rear for the start of the race. Racing to the front could be a huge issue for the reigning series champion, given handling issues that plagued the No. 18 Toyota during Friday’s practice sessions.

Joining Busch at the rear of the field will be Hamlin — another Gibbs teammate — as well as Christopher Bell of Leavine Family Racing. The Toyotas of those three drivers failed pre-qualifying inspection for attempting to manipulate the noses of the cars, which did not fit specifications.

NASCAR levied L1 penalties on the three teams, resulting in the loss of 10 owner and driver points for each.

Kevin Harvick will inherit the pole position when Busch drops to the rear. Hamlin would have started fourth but for his infraction. Bell was slated to start 22nd.

Here's a look at the field for this year's Pennzoil 400.

Material from the NASCAR Wire Service was used in this report.

NASCAR starting lineup at Las Vegas