NASCAR All-Star Race 2015 lineup: Starting grid features Denny Hamlin on the pole

Denny Hamlin and Greg Biffle will start on the front row Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway when the green flag flies at the 2015 NASCAR All-Star Race. Hamlin’s first lap speed and his pit crew’s time on a mandatory four-tire change led all 20 teams in the field, giving him a 145.648 mph speed in qualifying.

Biffle, who had to drive his way into the race Friday night in the Sprint Showdown, finished second in qualifying Friday with a speed of 144.643.

Qualifying for the All-Star Race was unique. Cars were on the track one at a time, and were required to take three laps before pitting for a four-tire stop before returning to the track for one last lap. Unlike in a race, pit row did not have a speed limit, allowing drivers to test their accuracy in landing in their pit box after entering pit row at speeds of about 150 mph before their crews had a test of their own. Hamlin actually overshot his box slightly, but had the presence of mind to put the car in reverse before he even came to a stop and quickly corrected the mistake.

Brad Keselowski (144.349) and Clint Bowyer (144.246), who also earned his way into the race via the Sprint Showdown, will start on row two. Danica Patrick, who earned her way into the the All-Star Race via the fan vote, had the sixth-best speed at 143.499. What was remarkable for Patrick, Bowyer and Biffle was that none of the three were able to practice entering pit row at speed, because they had not pre-qualified for the All-Star Race. Patrick, however, will be forced to drop to the back of the pack to begin the race because of an engine change Friday night.

Defending Sprint Cup champ Kevin Harvick will also start in the back.

The race itself will feature different rules, too, as it is strictly an exhibition. Four 25-lap segments will be held, with average finishing order across those four segments determining what order cars can enter pit row for a mandatory four-tire stop. Whatever order the cars leave pit row is how they’ll line up for the final 10-lap sprint to the finish.

Drivers could get into the race via winning a regular-season race in 2014 or 2015, by being a defending Sprint Cup Champion, by being a former All-Star Race winner or via the Sprint Showdown and fan vote.

Coverage for the All-Star Race begins at 8:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 1, with the green flag scheduled to fly at 9:16 p.m.

TV coverage: 8:30 p.m.

Green flag: 9:16 p.m.

TV: Fox Sports 1