NASCAR Sprint Showdown 2016 lineup: Starting grid for Friday’s race

The 2016 NASCAR season has descended upon North Carolina for an extended stay, beginning Friday night with the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway. There are five spots up for grabs for Saturday night’s All-Star Race.

Those with spots already in the All-Star race include past All-Star winners, plus drivers with wins in points races in 2015 and 2016.

With the 50-lap Sprint Showdown on Friday night, three drivers will claim spots by virtue of winning one of the three segments, with lengths of 20, 20 and 10 laps. The other two Saturday spots will be determined by fan vote.

Chase Elliott, with four top-five finishes in his last six races led by a third-place finish last week at Dover, has the pole position for Friday’s race. Qualifying was rained out, with the order set by owners points.

Others in the field include Danica Patrick, starting in ninth position on Friday night, and Austin Dillon, who is 10th in the points standings. Dillon starts in second position on Friday.

Fox Sports 1 will televise the Sprint Showdown from Charlotte at 7 p.m. ET, with host Chris Myers and analysts Jeff Gordon, Michael Waltrip and Darrell Waltrip, plus Jamie Little and Matt Yocum on the coverage as well.