NASCAR Sunday Doubleheader: Isaias Disrupts Charlotte Schedule

Hurricane Isaias forced NASCAR to reschedule events, creating a Sunday doubleheader at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The storm's outer bands canceled Saturday's practice and qualifying sessions, postponing the O'Reilly Series race to Sunday evening. The Cup Series starting lineup was determined by NASCAR's formula, known as "the metric." The Cup Series race is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, followed by the O'Reilly Series event at 8 p.m. ET.

The metric uses a formula weighing the previous race's finish at 70% and the team's position in owner points at 30% to set starting grids when qualifying is rained out. This system has become contentious during the 2026 Chase, with four of the first six races experiencing qualifying cancellations. Drivers debate whether NASCAR should prioritize holding qualifying sessions, even if it means adjusting the schedule.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell criticized the current system. "That sucks. Not good," Bell said. "We're the top level of auto racing in America. You're not going to see other top forms of motorsports line a race up without qualifying." He believes NASCAR should make greater efforts to hold qualifying sessions, even if they occur closer to the race start. "I think that we should put more effort into qualifying [at some point]. And I'm OK with the metric of lining up the qualifying order. I just think we need to qualify," he told reporters.

Kyle Larson will start on the pole, with Chase Briscoe beside him. Denny Hamlin, 40 points behind Larson in the standings, will start 12th. Hamlin anticipates a challenging first stage but expressed confidence in his team's ability to overcome the starting position. "It'll be more challenging in the first stage, but I don't think it'll be a challenge to win the race as much," Hamlin said.

Larson credited the metric for a previous front-row start at Kansas that contributed to his success there. He noted that Charlotte Motor Speedway's lower grip and surface characteristics make maintaining a lead more difficult compared to Kansas.

NASCAR is expected to review the metric for setting lineups during the offseason, as changes are not anticipated mid-postseason.