NASCAR Monster Energy Open starting grid, lineup

With rain eliminating qualifying, drivers will line up based on points for the Monster Energy Open and try to race their way into the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race.

Mother Nature has messed with the NASCAR schedule on multiple occasions so far this season, and she’s not leaving Charlotte Motor Speedway alone for All-Star weekend either.

Qualifying for the Monster Energy Open, which takes place right before the All-Star Race on Saturday night and offers a way for several additional drivers to make the field, was supposed to take place Friday at 6:05 p.m. However, rain in the Charlotte area led to qualifying getting canceled, meaning everyone in the Open will line up by points instead.

That’s good news for Aric Almirola, who will now start the Monster Energy Open from the pole, and Erik Jones, who will start beside him in Row 1. They figure to have an excellent chance at claiming the first stage of the race, which would automatically advance them to the All-Star Race itself.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Alex Bowman (third), Chase Elliott (fourth) and William Byron (sixth) are all up toward the front as well, and could easily hook up and work together if necessary. That’s a real consideration this year thanks to the addition of restrictor plates, which could give the Charlotte night races this weekend a superspeedway feel.

Next: 5 biggest storyline at the NASCAR All-Star break

Coverage of the Monster Energy Open (weather permitting!) is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. ET on FS1, with the green flag at approximately 6:20 p.m. Here’s a look at the entire 21-car lineup:

2018 Monster Energy Open starting grid for Charlotte Motor Speedway

1. Aric Almirola – No. 10 Smithfield/Waffle House Ford
2. Erik Jones – No. 20 Sport Clips Toyota
3. Alex Bowman – No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet
4. Chase Elliott – No. 9 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet
5. Paul Menard – No. 21 Menards/Knauf Ford
6. William Byron – No. 24 Hertz Chevrolet
7. Daniel Suarez – No. 19 Arris Toyota
8. Bubba Wallace – No. 43 World Wide Technology Chevrolet
9. AJ Allmendinger – No. 47 Kroger Click List Chevrolet
10. David Ragan – No. 38 TBD Ford
11. Chris Buescher – No. 37 Clorox Chevrolet
12. Michael McDowell – No. 34 Dockside Logistics Ford
13. Matt DiBenedetto – No. 32 Zynga Poker Ford
14. Ty Dillon – No. 13 Geico Military Chevrolet
15. Corey LaJoie – No. 72 TBD Chevrolet
16. Ross Chastain – No. 15 Internetwork Engineering Chevrolet
17. Landon Cassill – No. 00 Dairi-o Chevrolet
18. Gray Gaulding – No. 23 TBD Toyota
19. BJ McLeod – No. 51 Prefund Capital Chevrolet
20. Reed Sorensen – No. 55 TBD Toyota
21. Timmy Hill – No. 66 Sentinal One Toyota