It’s Thursday, so that means the upcoming race for the NASCAR Cup Series has had its starting lineup set. See, we’re not qualifying for the rest of the season. In fact, since we’ve returned on May 17 at the Darlington Raceway, the Cup drivers/teams have only qualified once and that was for the Coca-Cola 600 back on May 24.

Other than that, NASCAR has used a blind draw or an invert. That’s it. With this weekend’s doubleheader format at the Michigan International Speedway being the second time we’ve ever done this, it will run just like the previous one that NASCAR did in late June at the Pocono Raceway.

Saturday’s race was set off the draw based on owners points still. Positions 1-12 in owners points will start in the top 6 Rows. Spots 13-24 in owners points will start in Rows 7-12. Drivers 25 on with charters, will start in spots 25-36. The final four available positions will be for the open cars.

Sunday’s race will be an invert of the top 20 finishers from Saturday. 20th place gets the pole, 19th place will start second, with the winner of the race coming from 20th on Sunday and second place from 19th and everything in between.

Finishers 21 and back on Saturday will start in those positions on Sunday.

So, for Saturday, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin will share the front row. This will be Logano’s fourth front row starting spot in the last six races. Two of those are now poles. This will be the second straight race Hamlin has started second.

Kevin Harvick rolls off third in his No. 4 Ford as Aric Almirola has now earne dhis sixth straight top five starting spot and comes from fourth.

Brad Keselowski rounds out the top five.

Key Stat

The last three Michigan winners have come from the top three starting spots. Coincidentally enough, the last three Michigan winners will start there too. Furthermore, the last nine have come from the top 12. That bodes well for the qualifying draw for the top of the owners standings who will all start in the top 12. But, what about an invert for Sunday?

FireKeepers Casino 400 Starting Lineup

Row 1: Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin

Row 2: Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola

Row 3: Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman

Row 4: Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott

Row 5: Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch

Row 6: Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr.

Row 7: Ryan Newman, Tyler Reddick R

Row 8: Matt DiBenedetto, Cole Custer R

Row 9: Jimmie Johnson, Austin Dillon

Row 10: William Byron, Matt Kenseth

Row 11: Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher

Row 12: Erik Jones, Bubba Wallace

Row 13: Quin Houff R, JJ Yeley

Row 14: Brennan Poole R, James Davison

Row 15: Christopher Bell R, Reed Sorenson

Row 16: John Hunter Nemechek R, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Row 17: Garrett Smithley, Ty Dillon

Row 18: Ryan Preece, Corey LaJoie

Row 19: Daniel Suarez, Timmy Hill

Row 20: Timmy Hill, Joey Gase