Kyle Larson, arguably the favorite for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship, will be forced to start from the rear of the field in Saturday Night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway, after his No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro failed pre-race technical inspection twice, ahead of the start of the series’ second race in the first round of the playoffs.
NASCAR’s performance-based formula – which calculates the starting lineup in each event without practice and qualifying — placed him on the pole for Saturday’s event at Richmond, after recording a runner-up finish at Darlington Raceway and sitting atop the NASCAR Cup Series points. The loss of track position is becoming a trend for the Hendrick Motorsports team, losing the pole position for the second time in the last three races, after falling to the rear at Daytona.
Kyle Larson, who was supposed to start from the pole tonight at Richmond, failed prerace tech twice and will have to drop to the rear. Hamlin, on outside, and Truex, on inside, will be front row at start of Cup race. Tech is still continuing as cars go through second time. pic.twitter.com/HojxnGfpWl
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 11, 2021
As a result, Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin will be starting on the front row for tonight’s 400-lapper, as the organization looks to continue their hot streak in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and defeat the seemingly dominant forces of Hendrick Motorsports this season, in pursuit of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
At this time, no other drivers have failed technical inspection.
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