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Roush on the front row: See the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race starting grid

By Nick Tylwalk

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #6 DoYouKnowJack Ford, waits in the garage area during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 18, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #6 DoYouKnowJack Ford, waits in the garage area during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 18, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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The senior statesman of the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race field will lead the field to green Saturday night at Charlotte.

It’s hard to describe just how unlikely it is that Matt Kenseth is on the pole for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race, but let’s give it a shot. Kenseth qualified for the race last year with a late season win, but he was famously left without a ride at Joe Gibbs Racing after Homestead.

He never said he was retired, though, which was good because Roush Fenway Racing came calling for him a few weeks ago to split time in the No. 6 Ford with Trevor Bayne. Last week at Kansas, Kenseth got his first seat time in his new ride, and it went … well, pretty terribly, as he fell off the lead lap, ended up in an accident and finished 36th.

Yet here he is, starting out front for the NASCAR All-Star Race after barely edging out teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the event’s wild qualifying format that featured unusual, left-side tires-first pit stops by both drivers. It paid off, as Roush Fenway swept the first row.

There are also Ford teammates right behind them as Stewart-Haas Racing’s Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick are in Row 2. Martin Truex Jr. was the top qualifying Toyota and will start fifth, while Austin Dillon was tops among Chevy drivers and will roll off ninth.

No one knows exactly how important starting position will be since this year’s NASCAR All-Star Race features restrictor plates that may bunch the field closer together than normal. Still, Kenseth will no doubt be overjoyed to try to hold onto P1 instead of coming from the back, something he hasn’t experienced in quite some time.

Next: Monster Energy Open starting grid, lineup

Coverage of the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race is scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. on FS1, following the running of the Monster Energy Open which begins at approximately 6:20 p.m. Keep in mind that up to four more drivers can join the 17-car All-Star Race field: the stage winners and race winner from the Open, as well as the winner of the fan vote.

2018 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race starting grid for Charlotte Motor Speedway

  1. Matt Kenseth – No. 6 #DoYouKnowJack Ford
  2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – No. 17 Fastenal Ford
  3. Clint Bowyer – No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Fan Club Ford
  4. Kevin Harvick – No. 4 Jimmy John’s Ford
  5. Martin Truex Jr. – No. 78 5-hour Energy/Bass Pro Shops Toyota
  6. Ryan Blaney – No. 12 Hawk-Carlisle Ford
  7. Kyle Busch – No. 18 M&M’s Red Nose Day Toyota
  8. Brad Keselowski – No. 2 Discount Tire Ford
  9. Austin Dillon – No. 3 Dow Chevrolet
  10. Joey Logano – No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford
  11. Jimmie Johnson – No. 48 Lowe’s for Pros Chevrolet
  12. Jamie McMurray – No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
  13. Ryan Newman – No. 31 Caterpillar/Grainger Chevrolet
  14. Denny Hamlin – No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota
  15. Kurt Busch – No. 41 Monster Energy Ford
  16. Kyle Larson – No. 42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet
  17. Kasey Kahne – No. 95 Dumont Jets Chevrolet
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