Friday’s qualifying session for the Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 17th, 2023 was canceled due to rain, meaning the lineup for Saturday’s race was set by formula instead of on-track qualifying speed. As such, three NASCAR Ford F-150 race trucks will start in the top five.
As a reminder, in the event that qualifying cannot be completed for any reason, NASCAR relies on a formula in order to set the lineup. This formula takes into account an individual driver’s performance in the previous weekend’s race with the following metrics:
- Fastest lap time position (15 percent)
- Driver’s final race position (25 percent)
- Owner’s final race position (25 percent)
- Owner points position (35 percent)
Zane Smith, defending Truck Series champion and current points leader, will start on the pole as a result, as he had a strong showing in his No. 38 F-150 in the last Truck Series race and even claimed victory at the rain-shortened season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 17th. The No. 98 F-150 of Ty Majeski will start beside him, followed by the No. 99 F-150 of Ben Rhodes. Christian Eckes, driver of the No. 19 Chevy Silverado RST, and Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 42 Silverado, will start fourth and fifth, respectively. The next-best Blue Oval team, the No. 88 F-150 of Matt Crafton, will start eighth.
NASCAR did not provide a lineup for this weekend’s Truck Series event, but the starting grid can be viewed on its website. The Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which is the third race in the division for the 2023 season, is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 18th, 2023 – weather permitting, of course.
It’s worth noting that Xfinity Series qualifying, which was also scheduled for Saturday, was also canceled due to rain.
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