NASCAR at Watkins Glen starting lineup: Cup Series returns with Sunday's Go Bowling at The Glen

NASCAR is (almost) back. After a two-weekend hiatus during the Tokyo Olympics, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the track Sunday at Watkins Glen International in New York for the Go Bowling at The Glen (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN).

The Watkins Glen race is the first of four in August, leading up to the regular-season finale with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway at the end of the month. From there, the top-16 drivers will compete in the 10-race playoffs this fall for a shot at the Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway in November.

Denny Hamlin is at the top of the Cup Series regular-season standings, despite still racing for his first win of 2021, while Kyle Larson is projected to have the top playoff spot.

But Brad Keselowski is starting on the pole at Watkins Glen with his teammates up front with him.

However, because of the challenges related to racing during the COVID-19 pandemic, most race weekends will not include practice or qualifying sessions. So in the absence of qualifying, NASCAR determines the starting lineup with a formula based on these factors:

• 25 percent: Driver’s finishing position from the previous race
• 25 percent: Car owner’s finishing position from the previous race
• 35 percent: Team owner points ranking
• 15 percent: Fastest lap from the previous race

Here’s a look at the starting lineup for the NASCAR Cup Series’ Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on Sunday.