NASCAR Richmond lineup: starting order, pole for Saturday’s playoff race without qualifying

The starting lineup for Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway was established by the statistical formula that NASCAR is using for the majority of Cup races in 2021.

Drivers’ starting positions for the Federated Auto Parts 400, the second race of the Cup Series playoffs (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN5, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), were based on four factors:

• Final position of the driver from the previous race (25 percent)
• Final position of car owner from previous race (25 percent)
• Team Owner’s Point Rating (35 percent)
• Fastest lap of the previous race (15 percent)

NASCAR is qualifying for just eight of the Cup’s 36 points races in the 2021 season. Seven of those races have already been raced; the only remaining qualifying race is the season-ending Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway in November.

Below is the starting lineup, which was established without qualifying, for Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Richmond Raceway’s 0.75-mile D-shaped oval.

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Who won the pole for the NASCAR race at Richmond?

NASCAR assigned Kyle Larson the number one spot in Richmond’s lineup based on their formula. Larson leads the playoff points standings and is coming off second place last weekend at Darlington.

The winner of that race, Denny Hamiln, will line up next to Larson in the front row. Hamlin secured a place in the round of 16 with his first win of the season at the Cook Out Southern 500.

MORE: Busch, Elliott Crashes in Darlington Race

Under NASCAR playoff rules, the top 16 on Saturday’s field went to the 16 playoff drivers, but the starting order was based on the mathematical formula NASCAR has used for most of its races this season.

The four drivers below the Round of 12 cutoff line entering Saturday’s race will start toward the back of the playoff group. Alex Bowman will start 12, William Byron will start 14, Kyle Busch will start 15 and Michael McDowell will start 16.

MORE: NASCAR Playoffs Explained

Defending series champion Chase Elliott will start at 13th after an accident forced him out of the Darlington race. Elliott enters Saturday’s race tenth in the playoff standings.

NASCAR Cup playoff standings

Denny Hamlin became the first driver to reach a second round this year when he won at Darlington. Second driver Kyle Larson increased his lead in playoff points and four playoff drivers suffered big knocks in qualifying after crashing on the track that is “too hard to tame.”

X-Clinched berth in round of 16.

NASCAR starting lineup at Richmond

NASCAR used a mathematical formula to establish the starting lineup for Saturday’s playoff race at Richmond Raceway, Federated Auto Parts 400. 37 cars were entered for the race. Playoff drivers are indicated with a “P-” next to their names.