Hamlin takes another Pocono pole
Denny Hamlin continued his run of Pocono success by taking pole position for the Pennsylvania 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at the 2.5-mile oval
When the Nextel Cup last visited Pocono in June, Hamlin secured both the pole and the win. When he also set the fastest time in Friday morning's practice session for this weekend's round, the rookie became a clear favourite to repeat his previous Pocono performance.
Hamlin did that in some style in the afternoon qualifying session. Having drawn one of the final spots in the qualifying order, he proceeded to lap in 52.995 seconds and beat provisional polesitter Ryan Newman by 0.128 seconds.
Kasey Kahne, who held pole for some time until being usurped by Newman, claimed third. Brian Vickers and Jeff Gordon were both pleased to complete the top five, while Jeff Burton felt he could have been more aggressive on the way to sixth.
Points leader Jimmie Johnson starts 15th.
Qualifying times:
Pos Driver Make Speed Time 1. Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 169.827 52.995 2. Ryan Newman Dodge 169.418 53.123 + 0.128 3. Kasey Kahne Dodge 169.345 53.146 + 0.151 4. Brian Vickers Chevrolet 169.310 53.157 + 0.162 5. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 169.265 53.171 + 0.176 6. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 168.970 53.264 + 0.269 7. Kurt Busch Dodge 168.833 53.307 + 0.312 8. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 168.656 53.363 + 0.368 9. Scott Riggs Dodge 168.580 53.387 + 0.392 10. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 168.297 53.477 + 0.482 11. Matt Kenseth Ford 168.284 53.481 + 0.486 12. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 168.218 53.502 + 0.507 13. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 168.001 53.571 + 0.576 14. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 167.992 53.574 + 0.579 15. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 167.876 53.611 + 0.616 16. Carl Edwards Ford 167.754 53.650 + 0.655 17. Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 167.645 53.685 + 0.690 18. Ken Schrader Ford 167.592 53.702 + 0.707 19. Tony Raines Chevrolet 167.386 53.768 + 0.773 20. Greg Biffle Ford 167.352 53.779 + 0.784 21. J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 167.106 53.858 + 0.863 22. Jeremy Mayfield Dodge 167.072 53.869 + 0.874 23. Reed Sorenson Dodge 166.895 53.926 + 0.931 24. Dave Blaney Dodge 166.880 53.931 + 0.936 25. Elliott Sadler Ford 166.756 53.971 + 0.976 26. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 166.682 53.995 + 1.000 27. Bobby Labonte Dodge 166.664 54.001 + 1.006 28. Jamie McMurray Ford 166.562 54.034 + 1.039 29. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 166.553 54.037 + 1.042 30. Mark Martin Ford 166.236 54.140 + 1.145 31. Casey Mears Dodge 166.171 54.161 + 1.166 32. Jeff Green Chevrolet 166.076 54.192 + 1.197 33. Kyle Petty Dodge 165.997 54.218 + 1.223 34. Kevin Lepage Dodge 165.981 54.223 + 1.228 35. Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 165.941 54.236 + 1.241 36. Stephen Leicht Ford 165.932 54.239 + 1.244 37. Terry Labonte Chevrolet 165.902 54.249 + 1.254 38. Chad Chaffin Dodge 165.856 54.264 + 1.269 39. Dale Jarrett Ford 165.432 54.403 + 1.408 40. Michael Waltrip Dodge 165.271 54.456 + 1.461 41. Travis Kvapil Chevrolet 165.077 54.520 + 1.525 42. Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 164.483 54.717 + 1.722 43. David Stremme Dodge 164.180 54.818 + 1.823 Did not qualify: 44. Jimmy Spencer Chevrolet 164.165 54.823 + 1.828 45. Derrike Cope Dodge 163.672 54.988 + 1.993 46. Stanton Barrett Dodge 162.654 55.332 + 2.337 47. Greg Sacks Chevrolet 161.062 55.879 + 2.884
Share Or Save This Story
Payback, fistfights and wall-rides: NASCAR's most shocking playoff moments
NASCAR hands Hamlin points penalties for engine violation
Bubba Wallace: Richmond NASCAR chaos is "the system’s fault"
Rossi faces key decision: Who will replace di Giannantonio at VR46?
Red Bull reacts to Verstappen’s criticism – why ‘I told you’ moments are needed
Mini miracles as remarkable podium stories play out at Snetterton
Why Russell doesn’t want to see the 2026 F1 rules changed
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments