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KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – SEPTEMBER 28: Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, lead the field to start the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Severe weather forced NASCAR to cancel all on-track activity Friday at Kansas Speedway, wiping out practice and qualifying for the Kansas Lottery 300. Officials made the call after rain, lightning, and a tornado watch created unsafe conditions around the track.
With no laps completed, NASCAR used its rule book to set the starting lineup for Saturday’s race. The field for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will be determined by a performance metric formula. That system combines a driver’s finish from the previous race with current points standings. All 37 cars passed inspection, so the lineup stands as set heading into race day.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Grid Set by Metrics
Carson Kvapil will start on the pole in the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. He earns the top spot through NASCAR’s metric formula, which rewards recent performance and consistency. Starting next to him on the front row is William Byron in the No. 88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.
Justin Allgaier lines up third in the No. 7 Chevrolet. Sheldon Creed will start fourth in the No. 00 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing. The rest of the top 10 includes Brent Crews, Corey Day, William Sawalich, Parker Retzlaff, Jesse Love, and Taylor Gray.
The lineup includes a mix of full-time drivers and select entries from the NASCAR Cup Series competing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. With no qualifying session, positions reflect recent results rather than single-lap speed. NASCAR confirmed the grid after all cars cleared pre-race inspection without issues.
Starting Lineup for Saturday’s race: https://t.co/Fu7hOzqvy6 pic.twitter.com/lnBI4qgupi
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) April 17, 2026
No Track Time Shifts Focus to Preparation
Teams in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will enter the race without practice laps, which limits real-time adjustments before the green flag. Crews will rely on data from earlier races this season and simulator work to guide their setups. Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile track known for long, fast corners that reward balance and tire management over a full run.
The weather delay adds another challenge for NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series teams during the spring schedule. Teams arrived with baseline setups, but they will now make changes during the race based on track conditions. Chevrolet entries make up a large part of the field, continuing a trend seen throughout the season.
Kvapil’s pole position marks an important opportunity as he continues to gain experience at this level. Byron brings added experience from the Cup competition, which could play a role in the early stages. Allgaier and Creed also enter the race with strong recent form, as evidenced by their starting positions.
The Kansas Lottery 300 is set for 7 p.m. ET on The CW, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Although Friday’s track activity was canceled, NASCAR confirmed the race will proceed as scheduled, weather permitting. With the lineup already locked in, teams now shift focus to race execution as the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series gets underway.
Dogli Wilberforce is a writer covering NASCAR, Formula 1, and the IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. He has also written for Sportsnaut, FanSided, Total Apex Sports, and Last Word on Sports. Wilberforce focuses on the NASCAR Cup Series, breaking down news, driver stories, and key moments with a clear, fast, and engaging style. His work connects headlines to context, helping readers understand what matters most in the sport. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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