NASCAR Dover 2014: Lineup, starting grid for AAA 400

Given that there’s a guaranteed ticket to the “Challenger” round of the Chase on the line, Kevin Harvick couldn’t have picked a better time to grab his seventh pole of the season than at Dover International Speedway for this Sunday’s AAA 400.

Directly behind Harvick will be Kyle Busch, with Denny Hamlin -- who is one of four drivers (Greg Biffle, Aric Almirola and Kurt Busch) currently sitting on the first Chase chopping block -- in third. Although he would obviously prefer a win, Hamlin knows that being just six points out for the 12th in final spot in the Chase means that winning isn’t everything, explaining to the Associated Press, “I believe if I run top five, I’ll put myself in, a lot of things can happen. A lot of people that had bad luck last week are going to have a rebound week. We just hope to be on the better side of all those guys when it unfolds.”

And Hamlin is fully aware of the significance of the positions him finds himself in on Sunday, both at Dover and in the standings for the Sprint Cup title, telling AP, “We’ve got to get past this weekend with a shot to win the title. If not, you become somewhat irrelevant.”

He, along with the 14 other Chase drivers who have not clinched one of the ten remaining spots, will be trying to remain relevant, and as only the top seven have any reason to feel secure, it seems as though “relevancy” (and not “rubbing”) is racing.

AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway coverage (all times Eastern):

TV: ESPN -- 1 p.m.

Green flag: Approximately 2:15 p.m.

Online: NASCAR.com RaceView (subscription required)

Radio: Motor Racing Network -- SiriusXM channel 90

AAA 400 starting lineup