Starting Lineup

NASCAR Cup Series: Starting Lineup Set for Mobil 1 301

Sarah Talker

The Magic Mile at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s race to set the Cup Series Mobil 1 301 starting lineup delivered drama from the very first practice session. When the dust settled after qualifying, it was Joey Logano sitting pretty on the pole position for Sunday’s crucial Round of 12 opener. The Team Penske driver didn’t just edge out the competition. He demolished it, posting the only lap over 130 mph with a blistering 130.622 mph average that left everyone else scrambling for answers.

This isn’t just any regular-season race where drivers can afford to play it safe and collect points. This is playoff racing at its finest, where careers can change in the span of 301 laps around one of NASCAR’s most challenging flat tracks. The starting lineup for Sunday’s Mobil 1 301 reads like a who’s who of championship contenders, with emotions running as high as the stakes themselves.

Starting Lineup Features Championship Hopefuls

Ryan Blaney, Logano’s teammate at Team Penske, secured the outside pole with a 129.865 mph lap that would have been pole-worthy at most tracks on most weekends. But this weekend belongs to Logano, the three-time champion who seems to find another gear when October arrives and the playoffs heat up. You can feel the confidence radiating from the No. 22 team, and that’s a dangerous thing for the rest of the field.

The starting lineup tells the story of just how tight this playoff field really is. Josh Berry, making his playoff debut, qualified third in the Wood Brothers Racing Ford, proving that first-year playoff jitters are nonexistent. Tyler Reddick starts fourth, followed by William Byron in P5, who are two drivers that know they need to capitalize on every opportunity in this Round of 12.

What’s fascinating about this starting lineup is how it perfectly captures the unpredictable nature of playoff racing. Carson Hocevar, the young gun from Spire Motorsports, qualified sixth and will start ahead of proven veterans like Alex Bowman and Ross Chastain. That’s the beauty and brutality of single-car qualifying, and one perfect lap can change everything.

Playoff Drivers Face Mixed Fortunes in Starting Lineup

The emotional rollercoaster of playoff racing was on full display during qualifying. While some championship contenders nailed their laps, others found themselves in precarious positions for Sunday’s race. Kyle Larson, the defending race winner at several tracks this season, could only manage P16 in the starting lineup, which is a position that has his team scrambling to find speed before Sunday.

Christopher Bell, who has dominated at New Hampshire with two wins in the last three races, starts 19th after a qualifying run that left the Joe Gibbs Racing team scratching their heads. You could see the frustration on Bell’s face as he climbed out of the No. 20 Toyota, knowing that track position at New Hampshire is absolutely critical.

Chase Elliott’s P27 starting position has to be particularly gut-wrenching for Hendrick Motorsports. The popular driver has struggled with consistency this playoff season, and starting deep in the field at a track where passing can be challenging adds another layer of pressure to an already intense situation.

Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Cup Series Starting Lineup

  • 1. Joey Logano, No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
  • 2. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
  • 3. Josh Berry, No. 21 (Wood Brothers Racing, Ford)
  • 4. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
  • 5. William Byron, No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 6. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 7.  Alex Bowman, No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 8. Ross Chastain, No. 1 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 9. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 10. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 11. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 12. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 13. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 14. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
  • 15. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
  • 16. Kyle Larson, No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 17. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
  • 18. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 19. Christopher Bell, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 20. Zane Smith, No. 38 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
  • 21. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 22. Austin Cindric, No. 2 (Team Penske, Ford)
  • 23. Ryan Preece, No. 60 (RFK Racing, Ford)
  • 24. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 25. Riley Herbst, No. 34 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
  • 26. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
  • 27. Chase Elliott, No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 28. Austin Dillon, No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 29. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
  • 30. Ty Dillon, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 31. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
  • 32. Daniel Suárez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 33. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
  • 34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 (HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 35. Cody Ware, No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
  • 36. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)

Historical Context Adds Drama to Starting Lineup

New Hampshire Motor Speedway hasn’t hosted a playoff race in eight years, which makes Sunday’s starting lineup even more intriguing. The track has seen winners like Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Aric Almirola in recent years – drivers who are either retired or no longer competing at the Cup Series level.

This creates an opportunity for a new generation of drivers to make their mark on playoff history at the Magic Mile. The starting lineup reflects how much the sport has evolved during New Hampshire’s absence from the playoff schedule. Young drivers like Carson Hocevar and Shane van Gisbergen are now legitimate contenders, while established stars continue to battle for championship glory.

Track Position Crucial in Starting Lineup Strategy

New Hampshire Motor Speedway doesn’t forgive mistakes, and the starting lineup reflects just how important those first few laps will be Sunday. The drivers starting up front have a massive advantage, but those buried in the field face an uphill battle that could define their playoff fate. The emotion surrounding this starting lineup runs deep because everyone understands what’s at stake.

Four drivers will be eliminated after the next three races, and starting position at New Hampshire can make the difference between advancing and going home. Sunday’s green flag drops at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network, and this starting lineup has set up what promises to be an intense battle for playoff survival at the Magic Mile.

 

Sarah is a writer with a passion for delivering interesting yet informative news stories about motorsports including NASCAR, IMSA, F1, and IndyCar. She has covered the Daytona 500 and the Wurth 400 live and is highly passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise across the motorsports industry.

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