Kyle Larson Awarded Charlotte Pole After Rain Cancels Qualifying; Crew Member Ejected
Persistent rain at Charlotte Motor Speedway forced the cancellation of NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, awarding Kyle Larson the pole position on metric math as technical inspection penalties hit the paddock.
CONCORD, N.C. — Kyle Larson will lead the field to the green flag for Sunday’s Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway after persistent Saturday afternoon rain forced NASCAR officials to cancel single-car qualifying.
Per the NASCAR rulebook, the starting lineup for the 32nd race of the 2026 Cup Series season was set using the performance metric formula, which factors in previous race finish, team owner points rank, and fastest lap rankings. As a result, Hendrick Motorsports’ Larson secured the top starting spot alongside fellow championship contender Corey Day.
"It’s not how you want to gain track position, but at a 1.5-mile track like Charlotte where clean air is paramount, starting upfront is huge," Larson noted following the schedule change.
The rain cancellation capped off a hectic morning in the inspection bay. While primary contenders cleared initial chassis checks, NASCAR officials issued a penalty during post-practice technical inspection, ejecting a crew member from a competing entry due to unapproved body surface modifications ahead of Sunday’s 400-mile playoff event.
With track activity halted for the afternoon, teams now shift their focus to final race-day pit strategy as Charlotte hosts its first autumn Cup Series oval playoff event since 2017.