Hurricane Isaias rain cancels Charlotte qualifying, forcing metric-based lineup for Chase doubleheader

Key points

• Qualifying and practice were canceled after NASCAR moved sessions two hours earlier, but rain from Hurricane Isaias persisted.
• The starting grid was set by a metric combining 70% of the previous race finish and 30% of owner standings.
• Kyle Larson starts first, followed by Chase Briscoe, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and Austin Cindric in the top five.
• Denny Hamlin, second in the standings, will start 12th, while Christopher Bell and Ryan Preece start 17th and 24th, respectively.
• The O’Reilly Series race was postponed to Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, following the Cup race at 3 p.m.

Background

This is the fourth time in the last six Chase races that qualifying has been canceled due to weather. Hurricane Isaias, which intensified from a tropical storm earlier in October, brought heavy rain and flood threats to the Carolinas. The event follows the recent passing of two-time champion Kyle Busch, who was honored at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 9.

How outlets are covering it

Motorsport.com and WBTV confirm the cancellation and the use of the metric for the lineup. FOX Sports highlights driver frustration, noting Christopher Bell’s criticism of the metric system and his desire for more effort to hold qualifying despite weather. Hamlin acknowledged the disadvantage of not having a pit opening but noted speed could overcome it, while Larson emphasized the difficulty of maintaining the lead at Charlotte compared to Kansas.

Why it matters

The weather-driven cancellation impacts the Chase standings, as starting position can influence stage points and race outcomes. The recurring use of the metric has sparked debate within the series, with NASCAR expected to re-evaluate the system in the offseason.

What to watch

The Cup race is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m., with the O’Reilly Series following at 8 p.m. FOX Weather predicts rain will clear by noon Sunday. NASCAR plans to review the metric system after the postseason.