Qualifying for the NASCAR All-Star race has been canceled due to rain at Charlotte Motor Speedway, handing pole position to Kurt Busch.
Rain hit the track while qualifying for the Sprint Showdown was under way on Friday and, due to the Camping World Truck Series race being scheduled for later that night, officials decided to call off qualifying for the race.
Unlike points-scoring events, the rules for this weekend's races state that if qualifying is canceled, the starting grid is set based on the draw that determined the running order for the session.
Penske's Busch, who drew the first qualifying spot, will be joined on the front row by Joe Gibbs Racing's Joey Logano, while reigning champion Jimmie Johnson, a two-time winner of the event, will start from seventh, having been fastest in the only practice session of the day.
"Just to have track position early on in the race and to get a good feel for how the car will handle out front, I'm excited about it," said Busch, a former champion looking for his first All-Star win. "Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good. My boat put the best lap down today."
There were only four cars left in line to qualify for the Showdown and Juan Pablo Montoya, who had been fastest in practice, was on provisional pole. However, the event's qualifying was also canceled and the Earnhardt Ganassi driver will instead have to start from 14th on the grid. Roush Fenway's David Ragan will start from pole beside Germain Racing's Max Papis.
The top two finishers in the Sprint Showdown, which consists of two 20-lap segments, will earn their entry into the All-Star race, which gives a million-dollar prize for the winner.
Tonight's All-Star race will consist of four segments. The first will run for 50 laps, including a mandatory green-flag pit stop, followed by two 20-lap segments. The final sprint will be of 10 laps, with only those run under green-flag conditions counting.
18 drivers are already in the field, which will grow to 21 cars with the top two finishers of the Showdown plus the driver who wins the Fan Vote.
All-Star starting lineup:
Pos Driver Car
1. Kurt Busch Dodge
2. Joey Logano Toyota
3. Brad Keselowski Dodge
4. Jamie McMurray Chevrolet
5. Kyle Busch Toyota
6. David Reutimann Toyota
7. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet
8. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet
9. Casey Mears Toyota
10. Ryan Newman Chevrolet
11. Tony Stewart Chevrolet
12. Denny Hamlin Toyota
13. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet
14. Matt Kenseth Ford
15. Mark Martin Chevrolet
16. Kasey Kahne Ford
17. Bobby Labonte Chevrolet
18. Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet
Showdown starting lineup:
Pos Driver Car
1. David Ragan Ford
2. Max Papis Toyota
3. Sam Hornish Jr Dodge
4. Kevin Conway Ford
5. Greg Biffle Ford
6. Reed Sorenson Toyota
7. Bill Elliott Ford
8. AJ Allmendinger Ford
9. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet
10. Robby Gordon Toyota
11. Regan Smith Chevrolet
12. Paul Menard Ford
13. Michael Waltrip Toyota
14. Juan Pablo Montoya Chevrolet
15. Norm Benning Chevrolet
16. Elliott Sadler Ford
17. Jeff Burton Chevrolet
18. Scott Speed Toyota
19. Marcos Ambrose Toyota
20. Martin Truex Jr Toyota
21. Todd Bodine Toyota
22. Robert Richardson Jr Dodge
23. JJ Yeley Dodge
24. Travis Kvapil Ford
25. Joe Nemechek Toyota
26. Carl Edwards Ford
27. Tony Raines Chevrolet
28. Derrike Cope Dodge
29. David Gilliland Ford