Cup Series Starting Lineup for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas

Sarah Talker

The Nevada heat radiating from the asphalt on the grid at Las Vegas Motor Speedway isn’t the only thing burning bright this weekend. The starting lineup set for this afternoon is sure to deliver high-octane and over-the-top drama as the championship four fight unfolds. Denny Hamlin just put on a clinic at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, laying down a blistering 29.213-second lap that earned him the pole position for Sunday’s Cup Series race. You can feel the electricity in the air when a driver hits that perfect lap, and Hamlin absolutely nailed it when it mattered most.

Qualifying Drama Unfolds on the 1.5-Mile Track

Man, qualifying sessions like the one that unfolded on Saturday afternoon remind you why this sport is so enthralling. Ross Chastain gave everyone a heart attack when he kissed the wall during practice, scraping up his right rear quarter panel. But that’s racing for you, these drivers push their machines to the absolute limit, knowing that one wrong move can cost them everything. Chastain shook it off like the professional he is and still managed to lock himself into the 15th starting position with a respectable 29.594-second lap time.

The intensity during those qualifying runs was something else. You could see it in every driver’s body language as they climbed out of their cars.Some walked away with that swagger that comes from a job well done, while others had that look of frustration that every racer knows too well. That’s the beauty and the heartbreak of this sport wrapped up in one afternoon.

Complete Starting Lineup for Sunday’s Nevada Showdown

Here’s how the field will line up when the green flag waves on this afternoon and there’s no doubt that his starting lineup is loaded with talent from front to back:

Row 1: Denny Hamlin (29.213s) and Chase Briscoe (29.249s)= These two veterans know how to handle the pressure of leading the field to green.

Row 2: Christopher Bell (29.255s) and Chase Elliott (29.259s) – Bell’s been fast all season, and Elliott’s got that championship pedigree that makes him dangerous anywhere.

Row 3: William Byron (29.304s) and Kyle Larson (29.328s) – Byron’s been incredibly consistent this year, while Larson brings that raw speed that can take your breath away.

Row 4: Bubba Wallace (29.401s) and Tyler Reddick (29.413s) – Wallace has shown flashes of brilliance this season, and Reddick’s always a threat to steal a win.

Row 5: Joey Logano (29.421s) and Ty Gibbs (29.454s) – Logano’s playoff experience is invaluable, and Gibbs continues to impress in his Cup Series career.

The rest of the starting lineup reads like a who’s who of NASCAR talent: Chris Buescher, Alex Bowman, Shane van Gisbergen, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece, Daniel Suarez, Michael McDowell, Erik Jones, and AJ Allmendinger all earned spots in the top 20. That’s a lot of firepower packed into those first ten rows.

South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Cup Series: Starting Lineup

(i) indicates drivers who are ineligible for earning playoff or championship points 

  • 1. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 2. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 3. Christopher Bell, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 4. Chase Elliott, No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 5. William Byron,  No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 6. Kyle Larson, No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 7. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
  • 8. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
  • 9. Joey Logano,  No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
  • 10. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 11. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
  • 12. Alex Bowman, No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 13. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 14. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
  • 15. Ross Chastain, No. 1 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 16. Ryan Preece, No. 60  (RFK Racing, Ford)
  • 17. Daniel Suárez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 18. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 19. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
  • 20. AJ Allmendinger,  No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 21. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
  • 22. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 23. Zane Smith, No. 38  (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
  • 24. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 (HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 25. Austin Dillon, No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 26. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
  • 27. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 28. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
  • 29. Josh Berry, No. 21 (Wood Brothers Racing, Ford)
  • 30. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
  • 31. Austin Cindric, No. 2 (Team Penske, Ford)
  • 32. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 33. Riley Herbst, No. 35 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
  • 34. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
  • 35. Ty Dillon, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 36. Cody Ware, No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
  • 37. JJ Yeley (i), No. 44 (NY Racing Team, Chevrolet)
  • 38. Katherine Legge, No. 78 (Live Fast Motorsports, Chevrolet)

Mid-Pack Battles Set the Stage for Race Drama

Don’t sleep on the drivers further back in today’s starting lineup, such as  Cole Custer, Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., all of whom have the speed to work their way forward on Sunday. Stenhouse especially has that wild card factor that can shake up any race. Austin Dillon, John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Haley, and Noah Gragson round out the drivers with realistic shots at moving up significantly during the race.

The back half of the starting lineup includes some interesting storylines. Josh Berry, Todd Gilliland, Austin Cindric, and Kyle Busch will all be looking to gain ground early. Brad Keselowski, starting 34th, has the experience to navigate traffic and work his way forward. Riley Herbst and Ty Dillon will need strong strategy calls from their crews to have a shot at a good finish.

Pole Position Pressure and Expectations for Today’s Starting Lineup

Starting from the pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is both a blessing and a challenge. Hamlin gains the advantage of clean air and track position, but in doing so, he also becomes the hunted rather than the hunter. The 1.5-mile layout of Las Vegas tends to produce some fantastic racing, with multiple grooves allowing drivers to run side-by-side for extended periods.

The starting lineup shows just how competitive this Cup Series field has become. The gap between Hamlin’s pole-winning time and Katherine Legge’s 38th-place qualifying run was just over two seconds. In NASCAR terms, that’s incredibly tight competition, and it sets up what should be an absolutely thrilling 400 miles of racing on Sunday.

Ahead of The Green Flag

Weather conditions look favorable for race day, which means we should see the cars performing at their absolute peak. The desert track surface at Las Vegas tends to evolve throughout a long green flag run, rewarding drivers who can adapt their driving style as the race progresses. This starting lineup has all the ingredients for a memorable race: championship contenders, hungry young drivers, and seasoned veterans all mixed together in a 36-car field that’s ready to put on a show for the fans in the grandstands and watching at home.

 

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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