The NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup is set for Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway, and Denny Hamlin will lead the field to green.
Hamlin won the pole for the Great American Getaway 400 presented by VisitPA.com, putting the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota on the front row at one of his best tracks. Kyle Larson will start second, giving Sunday’s race a heavyweight front row at the Tricky Triangle.
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Pocono qualifying matters. The 2.5-mile track is unlike anything else on the NASCAR schedule, with three distinct corners and long straightaways that force teams to compromise on setup. Clean air, track position and strategy can all swing the race quickly.
Sunday’s race is also scheduled to begin earlier than originally planned. NASCAR moved the start time to 1 p.m. ET due to potential weather concerns later in the afternoon.
Pocono Cup Series Starting Lineup
Denny Hamlin Starts Up Front at One of His Best Tracks
Hamlin has long been one of the drivers to beat at Pocono, and Saturday’s qualifying run gave him another strong starting point at the Pennsylvania track.
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Starting first gives Hamlin an immediate chance to control the opening stage, but Larson will line up alongside him with plenty of speed of his own. Behind them, Suárez, Gibbs, Briscoe and Buescher all qualified inside the top six, setting up an intriguing mix of contenders near the front.
Several playoff-caliber drivers will have more work to do. Christopher Bell starts 22nd, Chase Elliott starts 23rd, Ross Chastain starts 24th and Bubba Wallace starts 38th.
Weather Could Still Shape Sunday’s Race
The lineup is only part of the story entering race day.
NASCAR moved Sunday’s start time up to 1 p.m. ET because of potential rain and thunderstorms later in the day. That gives officials a larger window to complete the 160-lap race, but teams will still have to manage strategy carefully if weather becomes a factor.
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At Pocono, races can already come down to fuel mileage, pit timing and track position. With weather now part of the equation, Sunday’s race could become even more unpredictable.
