Nascar Race Today

CONCORD, N.C. -- At least the start will be good for Hendrick Motorsports fans Saturday night in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

All four of the Hendrick cars will start in the top-six, including Jeff Gordon from the pole.

-- Gordon first in qualifying | BOA 500 qualifying results | Beloved drivers | Charlotte picks | Odds

Here's a look at the lineup for the only night race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the fifth event of the 10-race Chase:

1. Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet -- Has points leader Matt Kenseth still in his sight, which is better than what most other Chase drivers can say. Better yet, he'll have everyone in his mirror at the start of the race Saturday night.

2. Kevin Harvick, Richard Childress Racing No. 29 Chevrolet -- Big win last week got him back, a little, in championship contention. Needs to prove this week that will be the norm the rest of the year instead of a rarity. Qualifying was a good start.

3. Greg Biffle, Roush Fenway Racing No. 16 Ford -- He's been looking for something positive. Best starting spot in last 26 races would rank as something positive.

4. Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet -- Considers himself lucky to salvage a strong finish last week as engine went sour in waning laps. Says it was in the valve train and believes issue has been resolved.

5. Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet -- Has his big "5 Kahne" charity run Sunday. Probably a hilly up-and-down course to go along with his year. And maybe kinda ironic that the No. 5 is starting fifth.

6. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet -- Solid qualifying on his 39th birthday as he prepares for his 500th start at the same track where he made his first. That would make a good storyline for a win, wouldn't it? Then again, any Earnhardt Jr. win is a good storyline.

7. Ryan Newman, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 39 Chevrolet -- Team might feel out on an island as Martin struggles and Patrick learns. Not sure how much different that was than when Stewart was there.

8. Juan Pablo Montoya, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet -- Can't accuse him of giving up on NASCAR after that qualifying lap.

9. Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota -- Will have a better weekend this weekend than last, when he wrecked three times. At least he better hope so.

10. Kurt Busch, Furniture Row Racing No. 78 Chevrolet -- Seventh in the standings thanks to gritty performances. Expect another one Saturday night.

11. Aric Almirola, Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford -- Stoked after 10th-place finish last week at Kansas. Would be really stoked if he could post first back-to-back top-10s since April.

12. Joey Logano, Penske Racing No. 22 Ford -- Has finished third and fourth in past two races. And he's 10th in points. That's gotta stink.

13. Paul Menard, Richard Childress Racing No. 27 Chevrolet -- Had a strong day at Kansas last week with a seventh, his eighth top-10 of the season.

14. Clint Bowyer, Michael Waltrip Racing No. 15 Toyota -- Bowyer admitted he kind of lost his mind a little when he, in frustration, ran into Almirola postrace. Hoping to get the finish he believes he deserves this week.

15. Carl Edwards, Roush Fenway Racing No. 99 Ford -- His fifth last week was just his third top-five in last 14 races.

16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 Ford -- Announced Thursday that Zest will be back as a primary sponsor for handful of races next year. He's got to like the smell of that deal.

17. Martin Truex Jr., Michael Waltrip Racing No. 56 Toyota -- Still no update on his 2014 plans but has other concerns this weekend as his best finish ever at Charlotte was seventh and his average finish is 18.1 at the track.

18. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota -- Best part of Charlotte weekend is it was the first weekend of pro basketball exhibition games so he has something to distract him.

19. Brian Scott, Circle Sport Racing No. 33 Chevrolet -- Scott making his Cup debut in this RCR-prepared car. He hopes to do 5-7 Cup races next year while returning to an RCR Nationwide car.

20. Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota -- Dude now has his own Citizen watch that is for sale to general public. Only way world gets better for him would be a second Cup championship. That's quite possible.

21. Kyle Larson, Phoenix Racing No. 51 Chevrolet -- Both Larson and Scott posted great qualifying results considering they're making their Sprint Cup debuts.

22. Mark Martin, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 Chevrolet -- Can he have just one or two good races before Stewart gets healthy? Martin won't be in the car next week at Talladega (driver's choice) as Austin Dillon will take over the wheel.

23. Brad Keselowski, Penske Racing No. 2 Ford -- He doesn't know what intentional wrecking is so he had to ask at the prerace drivers meeting? He must be new to the sport and didn't grow up around it.

24. Bobby Labonte, JTG Daugherty Racing No. 47 Toyota -- Still looking for 2014 ride probably hoping this won't be his last race at Charlotte.

25. Jamie McMurray, Earnhardt-Ganass Racing No. 1 Chevrolet -- McMurray right now the "best of the rest" at 14th in the series standings. Wouldn't be surprised if he stays there.

26. Jeff Burton, Richard Childress Racing No. 31 Chevrolet -- Says he has something close to lined up for next season but leaving the destination a mystery. Apparently not Swan Racing, Phoenix Racing nor Wood Brothers.

27. Brian Vickers, Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 Toyota -- Actually gets a weekend off next week as Michael Waltrip gets in the car for Talladega. After that qualifying run, Vickers might wish he'd get an extra day off Saturday night.

28. Casey Mears, Germain Racing No. 13 Ford -- Has been 23rd in the standings the past two weeks, his best since the eighth week of the season.

29. Marcos Ambrose, Richard Petty Motorsports No. 9 Ford -- Was ninth at Kansas last week. Was 10th last time at Charlotte. Things looking up? Maybe until his qualifying lap.

30. David Ragan, Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Ford -- Has to be excited for next week at Talladega, where he won the last time Cup raced there.

31. Cole Whitt, Swan Racing No. 30 Toyota -- Hoping to make the most out of the chance in this car.

32. Landon Cassill, Mike Hillman Racing No. 40 Chevrolet -- With Brian Scott in the No. 33 car this weekend, Cassill gets in the No. 40 car this week.

33. Josh Wise, Front Row Motorsports No. 35 Ford -- Best starting spot in last five weeks, for what it's worth.

34. David Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports No. 38 Ford -- The three Front Row cars were 30th, 33rd and 34th in qualifying. They appear equal.

35. Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 Chevrolet -- Here's something to take to the bank: Her race Saturday night should be longer than last Sunday.

36. David Reutimann, BK Racing No. 83 Toyota -- Not been a great season but this qualifying a little worse than normal for him.

37. Michael McDowell, Phil Parsons Racing No. 98 Ford -- Likely will be a short night for this team, that has start-and-parked for most of the year.

38. Joe Nemechek, Nemco-JRR Motorsports No. 87 Toyota -- His real race is Friday night in the Nationwide Series.

39. Dave Blaney, Tommy Baldwin Racing No. 7 Chevrolet -- His big pink-ribbon decal on hood among those for breast cancer awareness his weekend.

40. Timmy Hill, FAS Lane Racing No. 32 Ford -- Hill was the top rookie in the race at Kansas. What's even bigger is he finished on the lead lap. Solid run for newcomer.

41. Travis Kvapil, BK Racing No. 93 Toyota -- Probably not all that concerned about the qualifying lap after his arrest on domestic violence charges two days earlier. Said he was embarrassed by his arrest and thanked team for sticking behind him.

42. JJ Yeley, Tommy Baldwin Racing No. 36 Chevrolet -- Wife and daughter decked out in pink racing suits Thursday as wife was competing in charity race. They win the cute award for the weekend.

43. Blake Koch, Leavine Family Racing No. 95 Ford -- He had never been in a Cup car until Thursday. So it will be a learning experience Saturday in his first career Cup race.