NASCAR Homestead: Denny Hamlin on pole, Kyle Busch best in Chase

Reigning champion Kevin Harvick was the only remaining Chase participant who failed to reach the pole shootout, even though he had set the pace in round one, while Jeff Gordon was nearly eliminated at the first hurdle but ended up qualifying fifth.

Gordon's final weekend of racing had got off to a bad start as he languished down in 30th in practice and was in the midfield after his first round one run.

The Hendrick Chevrolet was rapidly pushed down the order and was outside the round two cut-off in 25th going into the final minutes.

Gordon hauled himself into round two with a second attempt, ending the opening segment 18th fastest, while Harvick led the way with a lap a comfortable tenth of a second clear of the field.

But their fortunes switched in round two. Harvick's first lap was underwhelming, and when Gordon - who had held back in the pits at first - leapt up to sixth place, Harvick was knocked out.

Unable to improve on a second attempt, the Stewart-Haas driver will start 13th.

None of the title combatants looked a realistic threat for pole in the final session. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota man Busch was soon established in third, beaten by his team-mate Hamlin and Penske driver Joey Logano.

Gordon left it until the last minute of round three to run, claiming fifth behind Ryan Newman.

On the day his Wood Brothers team announced it would return to a full-season programme for 2016, rookie Ryan Blaney put his Ford sixth ahead of Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Austin Dillon.

Underdog title contender Martin Truex Jr was 11th in the Furniture Row team's Chevrolet, sharing row six with Jimmie Johnson.

On his return from suspension after his Martinsville collision with Logano, Matt Kenseth qualified 19th for JGR.

Further back, Tony Stewart's struggles continued and he ended the last qualifying session of his penultimate season with an "embarrassing" 35th place.

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