Kevin Harvick will start first after Richmond qualifying rained out

RICHMOND, Virginia – It was a good idea to post the fastest practice speed during Friday practice, Kevin Harvick. It means you’re starting first for Sunday’s race at Richmond.

Rain wiped out Friday’s scheduled qualifying session meaning that the field will be set based off the speeds during Friday’s practice session (which was also cut short by the storms). Harvick had the fastest lap at just over 129 MPH, so he gets to start first.

Joey Logano will start second while Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin will round out the top five. It’s the first time since the Daytona 500 that more than 40 cars have attempted the race, meaning a car did not qualify. That car is the No. 98 of Cole Whitt, which was the slowest non-charter car during practice.

In an ironic twist, Premium Motorsports, Whitt’s team, leased its charter to HScott Motorsports’ No. 46 of Michael Annett before the season. Annett crashed his car during practice and didn’t post a practice speed. If the No. 98 had its charter, it would be in the race and Annett would be out of luck.

Here’s the starting order for Sunday’s race:

1. Kevin Harvick
2. Joey Logano
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Carl Edwards
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Brad Keselowski
7. Kurt Busch
8. Kasey Kahne
9. Kyle Busch
10. AJ Allmendinger
11. Austin Dillon
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
13. Matt Kenseth
14. Ryan Newman
15. Kyle Larson
16. Trevor Bayne
17. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
18. Tony Stewart
19. Greg Biffle
20. Brian Scott
21. Danica Patrick
22. Martin Truex Jr.
23. Chase Elliott
24. Aric Almirola
25. Casey Mears
26. Paul Menard
27. Jamie McMurray
28. Landon Cassill
29. Ryan Blaney
30. David Ragan
31. Josh Wise
32. Michael McDowell
33. Chris Buescher
34. Regan Smith
35. Reed Sorenson
36. Matt DiBenedetto
37. Ryan Ellis
38. Jeffrey Earnhardt
39. Clint Bowyer
40. Michael Annett