Dover starting lineup: Qualifying washout put Chase drivers up front

For NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup competitors, keeping an eye on their main rivals will be easy in Sunday's opening laps at Dover International Speedway. Qualifying was rained out on Friday, setting the field based on owner points.

That puts the Chase drivers at the front of the pack to open Sunday's Citizen Soldier 400 (2:15 p.m. ET, NBCSN). Points leader Brad Keselowski and Furniture Row Racing's Martin Truex Jr. will make up the front row for the race.

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This was the third consecutive qualifying rainout at Dover, and the eighth in 93 races at the track. 

UPDATE: Kyle Larson, needing a good race to stay in the Chase, was down three laps early after his car had a power problem. Kevin Harvick, a winner a week earlier, also had early trouble.

"It's great and my team guys were the first to tell me that we earned it because we obviously have been having a great season, maybe not with what we had done on track today, but with what we had done throughout the course of the year and scoring a lot of points and winning races," Keselowski said. "So it's certainly still something to be very proud of to be this far into the season and being the points lead, so these are the perks you get when you're in that position. We'll take it. Of course, being up front gives us a very advantageous pit road selection for this race, which I think is very critical, so we've got a lot to smile about and be happy, but also a lot of work left to do."

Truex is locked into the Round of 12, while Keselowski is fighting for his spot in the next round. Kevin Harvick, who along with Truex has a win in this three-race segment, is also locked into the next round.

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Jamie McMurray, Austin Dillon, Tony Stewart and Chris Buescher are in the bottom four entering the race. Each needs a win to guarantee his spot in the field, regardless of what the competition does. Each can also make the field if others falter significantly in Sunday's race.

In the words of Luke Bryan, "Rain is a good thing!" P1 starting spot for @keselowski at the @MonsterMile on Sunday! #TheChase #NASCAR

— Team Keselowski (@TKeselowski) September 30, 2016

What impact will being able to keep an eye on the competition have on the Chase drivers early?

"That should be compelling to watch," Keselowski said. "I won't get to see it, but you will. That will be fun to watch. Other than that, those things have a way of working their way out — the good teams and the best cars on that particular day, or the worst ones will find their way to the back. But at the start, it will certainly be very compelling."

Weather permitting, tomorrow's #NASCAR #Sprint Cup practices are scheduled for 10:30-11:25 a.m. on @CNBC and 1:30-2:20 p.m. ET on @NBCSN

— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) September 30, 2016

Here is the full starting lineup.