NASCAR starting positions for the Playoff opener at Darlington Raceway
This weekend, NASCAR unloads in Darlington, South Carolina. The 1.366-mile oval of Darlington Raceway hosts the Playoff opener for the NASCAR Cup Series.
View the Darlington starting lineup for the NASCAR Cup Series below.
Darlington: NASCAR Menu
TV Schedule | Entry Lists | Xfinity Lineup | Xfinity Race | Truck Lineup | Truck Race | Cup Lineup | Cup Race
The starting grid is already set. Ryan Blaney starts from the pole position while Denny Hamlin completes the front row.
How they set the Cup lineup for Darlington Raceway
There’s no qualifying or practice sessions this weekend. Instead, the field has been set via a weighted system with multiple factors at play.
NASCAR’s metrics formula for 2021:
–Playoffs: Playoff drivers line up first.
–25 percent: Driver’s finishing position from the previous race.
–25 percent: Car owner’s finishing position from the previous race.
–35 percent: Team owner points ranking.
–15 percent: Fastest lap from the previous race.
NASCAR Cup Series
Starting Lineup
September 5, 2021
Darlington Raceway
Start Pos | Car No | Driver | Team | Sponsor
1. #12 Ryan Blaney
Team Penske
Menards / Richmond
2. #11 Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing
Offerpad
3. #1 Kurt Busch
Chip Ganassi Racing
Monster Energy
4. #9 Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports
NAPA Auto Parts / Children’s
5. #48 Alex Bowman
Hendrick Motorsports
Ally
6. #5 Kyle Larson
Hendrick Motorsports
HendrickCars.com
7. #8 Tyler Reddick
Richard Childress Racing
TBA
8. #10 Aric Almirola
Stewart-Haas Racing
Smithfield
9. #4 Kevin Harvick
Stewart-Haas Racing
Busch Light Fan Design
10. #19 Martin Truex Jr
Joe Gibbs Racing
Bass Pro
11. #22 Joey Logano
Team Penske
Shell Pennzoil
12. #18 Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing
M&M’s
13. #20 Christopher Bell
Joe Gibbs Racing
SportClips Haircuts
14. #24 William Byron
Hendrick Motorsports
Axalta
15. #34 Michael McDowell
Front Row Motorsports
Love’s Travel Stops
16. #2 Brad Keselowski
Team Penske
Discount Tire
17. #23 Bubba Wallace
23XI Racing
Door Dash
18. #37 Ryan Preece
JTG Daugherty Racing
Kroger / Hershey’s S’Mores
19. #6 Ryan Newman
Roush Fenway Racing
Oscar Mayer Bologna
20. #77 Justin Haley
Spire Motorsports
Bon Secours
21. #3 Austin Dillon
Richard Childress Racing
Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Off-Road
22. #43 Erik Jones
Richard Petty Motorsports
Petty’s Garage
23. #42 Ross Chastain
Chip Ganassi Racing
McDoanld’s
24. #14 Chase Briscoe
Stewart-Haas Racing
HighPoint.com
25. #7 Corey LaJoie
Spire Motorsports
Schulter Systems
26. #99 Daniel Suarez
Trackhouse Racing
Good Sam
27. #78 BJ McLeod
Live Fast Motorsports
CovetteParts.net
28. #52 Josh Bilicki
Rick Ware Racing
Junction Fuels Throwback
29. #47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr
JTG Daugherty Racing
Kroger/Little Hug
30. #21 Matt DiBenedetto
Wood Brothers Racing
Motorcraft
31. #41 Cole Custer
Stewart-Haas Racing
HaasTooling.com
32. #38 Anthony Alfredo
Front Row Motorsports
Chicago Pneumatic Compressors
33. #51 Cody Ware
Petty Ware Racing
Nurtec ODT
34. #17 Chris Buescher
Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Performance
35. #15 Joey Gase
Rick Ware Racing
RWR
36. #53 James Davison
Rick Ware Racing
TBA
37. #00 Quin Houff
Starcom Racing
Units
