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AAA Texas 500 starting grid, lineup from Texas Motor Speedway

By Nick Tylwalk

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 05: The car of Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, is seen prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 5, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 05: The car of Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, is seen prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 5, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Almost all the playoff drivers are in good starting spots for Texas, with the exception of one who’s had a rough last week or so.

So close and yet so far. That could describe the way that a first NASCAR Cup Series victory slipped through the fingers of Chase Elliott at Martinsville, and could just as easily describe his chances of competing for a championship as the scene shifts to the AAA Texas 500.

Elliott looked like he had the best car late last week, but he was bumped and spun by fellow playoff competitor Denny Hamlin, ending his bid for a victory that eventually went to Kyle Busch. As a consequence, Elliott now finds himself in dire straits instead of being locked into the Championship 4 for Homestead. And even worse, he’ll start today’s race in Texas near the back of the field in 34th.

The other seven drivers still alive for the Cup Series title are all starting in the top 10, led by Hamlin in second. Kurt Busch, who made the playoffs but was eliminated early on, starts from the pole.

Rookies Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez aren’t in pursuit of the championship but would both like to grab their first victories at the top level of NASCAR as well, and both are in good position to do that as they start inside the top six. Jones won the XFINITY Series race on Saturday, so you have to figure he’s feeling good about Texas.

Take a look at how the whole field will roll off, courtesy of NASCAR.com:

2017 AAA Texas 500 grid, starting lineup

(p) – indicates driver still alive in the 2017 NASCAR Playoffs

  1. Kurt Busch
  2. Denny Hamlin (p)
  3. Kevin Harvick (p)
  4. Erik Jones
  5. Kyle Busch (p)
  6. Daniel Suarez
  7. Martin Truex Jr. (p)
  8. Ryan Blaney (p)
  9. Jimmie Johnson (p)
  10. Brad Keselowski (p)
  11. Kyle Larson
  12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
  13. Jamie McMurray
  14. Danica Patrick
  15. Austin Dillon
  16. A.J. Allmendinger
  17. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
  18. Aric Almirola
  19. Kasey Kahne
  20. Clint Bowyer
  21. Paul Menard
  22. Landon Cassill
  23. Michael McDowell
  24. David Ragan
  25. Ryan Newman
  26. Chris Buescher
  27. Ty Dillon
  28. Matt DiBenedetto
  29. Cole Whitt
  30. Joey Gase
  31. Ray Black Jr.
  32. Jeffrey Earnhardt
  33. David Starr
  34. Chase Elliott (p)
  35. Matt Kenseth
  36. Joey Logano
  37. Trevor Bayne
  38. Reed Sorensen
  39. Corey LaJoie
  40. Gray Gaulding
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