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Aric Almirola draws the pole for Sunday’s Cup race at New Hampshire

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NASCAR America explains why Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick are still the drivers to beat, evaluates the drivers who can challenge them at New Hampshire, and why fans can expect to see short-track style racing.

Aric Almirola will start first for the third time this season in the NASCAR Cup Series after drawing the pole position in the starting lineup for Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN).

Almirola, who finished third at New Hampshire two years ago, also started first June 27 at Pocono Raceway and July 19 at Texas Motor Speedway. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver’s No. 10 Ford has drawn a top-five starting spot in the last five Cup races set by random draws.

Denny Hamlin, who finished second at New Hampshire last year, will start second in his No. 11 Toyota.

STARTING LINEUP: Where everyone will start in the Cup race at New Hampshire

Here are the next five rows in order: Chase Elliott (the highest-starting Chevrolet in third), Brad Keselowski (fourth), Kyle Busch (fifth), Clint Bowyer (sixth after moving this week into the top 12 starting order draw), defending race winner Kevin Harvick (seventh), Alex Bowman (eighth), Joey Logano (ninth), Kurt Busch (10th), Martin Truex Jr. (11th) and Ryan Blaney (12th)

Other notables in the New Hampshire starting lineup:

Tyler Reddick (13th); Cole Custer (14th) Bubba Wallace (15th); William Byron (16th); Erik Jones (17th); Matt DiBenedetto (19th); Jimmie Johnson (20th); Matt Kenseth (21st); Austin Dillon (23rd).

The New Hampshire Cup starting lineup was ordered Thursday afternoon through a random draw of the following groups:


  • Positions 1-12: Random draw from charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 13-24: Random draw from charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 25-36: Random draw from charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 37-40: Open teams in order of owners points

Click here for the New Hampshire Cup starting lineup for Sunday’s race.

NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire

Race Time: 3 p.m. ET, Sunday

Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway; Loudon, New Hampshire (1.058-mile speedway)

Length: 301 laps (318.46 miles)

Stages: Stage 1 ends Lap 75. Stage 2 ends Lap 185

TV coverage: NBCSN

Radio: Performance Racing Network (also SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Streaming: NBC Sports app (subscription required); goprn.com and SiriusXM for audio (subscription required)

New Hampshire Cup starting lineup: Click here for the starting order Sunday

Next Xfinity race: Aug. 8 at Road America (45 laps, 182.16 miles) noon ET on NBCSN

Next Truck race: Aug. 7 at Michigan (100 laps, 200 miles) 6 p.m. ET on FS1