Photo – Will Schneekloth/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin found himself in a familiar spot at Pocono Raceway, grabbing the pole for Sunday’s Pocono 400.
His lap of 49.6 seconds (181.415 mph) was also a new track qualifying record.
“It was really good throughout each session,” Hamlin said. “We just kept getting our car three to four tenths better. We were definitely not a pole-winning car after practice.”
This is Hamlin’s third pole at the Tricky Triangle. His two other poles at Pocono came in his rookie year in 2006, which both resulted in victories.
Kurt Busch will join the No. 11 car on the front row, missing the pole by 0.002 seconds.
“I was really surprised that we had the speed for the pole today,” Busch said. “I think it’s our first attempt at trying something different.”
This is Hamlin’s third pole at the Tricky Triangle. His two other poles at Pocono came in his rookie year in 2006, which both resulted in victories.
Jimmie Johnson’s old track record of 180.654 mph was first broken by Brad Keselowski in the second round until Kurt was the first driver to crack 181 mph. Keselowski was one of three drivers who broke the 181 mph barrier Friday.
Some notable drivers who didn’t advance to the second round of qualifying include Matt Kenseth (26th), Kasey Kahne (27th) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr (28th). Defending June Pocono winner Jimmie Johnson failed to make it to the last round and starts 20th.
Kyle Larson barely got into the second round by qualifying 24th in round one. The rookie will start 14th on Sunday after winning the pole for Saturday’s Pocono ARCA 200 earlier in the day.
Another rookie with a good run was Austin Dillon, who made it to the last round of qualifying and starts 11th in the Pocono 400.
Two-time Cup winner in 2014 Kevin Harvick will start fourth and Kansas winner Jeff Gordon rounds out the top five.
Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brian Vickers and Carl Edwards rounded out the top ten.
Vickers posted the fastest time in the lone practice session and was fastest in the first round of qualifying.
The Sprint Cup Series will have two practices tomorrow, with the Pocono 400 going green on Sunday at 1 p.m ET on TNT.