CONCORD, N.C. – YellaWood 500 winner Denny Hamlin will lead the field to green Sunday when the NASCAR Cup Series returns to action Sunday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. The NASCAR matrix factors in a driver’s lap speed ranking from the previous race, the last race finish for both driver and owner and the car’s current rank in the owner standings. Lap speed is weighted at 15 percent, previous race finish at 25 percent for the driver and owner results and owner points position at 35 percent to calculate the final metric score. Driver and owner playoff-eligible entries are ranked at the front of the field based on their metric scores from lowest to highest, with all non-playoff entries lined up behind the playoff cars in similar fashion. After Sunday’s race, the lowest four drivers on the playoff grid will be eliminated from championship contention.

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