SPARTA, Ky. -- Due to inclement weather at Kentucky Speedway, Friday's on-track schedule was altered.
That meant the cancellation of Friday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying, so the starting order for Saturday night's race will be set based on owner's points.
So when the green flag flies Saturday, Chase Elliott will lead his Hendrick Motorsports teammates with an eighth-place starting position. Jimmie Johnson will be the next to roll off the grid in ninth.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start the race just outside of the top 10 in 13th, and Kasey Kahne will begin the event in 18th.
Earlier on Friday, Elliott said he's been anticipating this race all season.
“I was looking forward to this race just because you have a repave," he explained. "I’ve come to Kentucky a few times over the past couple of years on the XFINITY side. You hear about the changes and I think you are more just excited to see what that is all about and the changes that it brings."
Johnson will move to a backup car due to damage suffered during a rain-shortened practice earlier Friday. He will maintain his ninth-place starting position per the rulebook if weather permits another practice on Friday and Johnson participates.
The race is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.