NASCAR Dover 2015: Lineup, starting grid for AAA 400

Matt Kenseth has the pole position for the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, the third race of the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup and the first elimination race of the NASCAR playoffs.

Qualifying was rained out on Friday so the drivers will start in order of Chase for the Sprint Cup points, which gives Kenseth the top spot after he won last week in New Hampshire. Denny Hamlin, who won two weeks ago at Chicagoland and, like Kenseth, has already qualified for the next round, starts in second position.

The 16-driver championship field will be trimmed by four after Sunday’s race at Dover.

That Sunday is an elimination race means desperation for those in the bottom quarter of the 16-driver championship field, and should make for an exciting race in Dover.

Kevin Harvick, who won two races and finished second 10 times during the regular season, has to win the race on Sunday or will be eliminated. Harvick said earlier in the week, “You swing for the fence and hope that you make a spectacular moment.”

Kyle Busch, a four-time winner during the regular season, doesn’t need a win on Sunday to advance but does need to finish strong. He will start 13th.

Jeff Gordon, who won the AAA 400 in 2014 as well as in 1995 and 1996, will start in 10th position on Sunday.

NBCSN will provide pre-race coverage at 2 p.m. ET, with race coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. and the green flag at approximately 2:45 p.m. Rick Allen will call the race alongside analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte, with pit reporters Marty Snider, Mike Massaro, Kelli Stavast and Dave Burns.