Denny Hamlin earns Las Vegas NASCAR Cup pole in JGR 1-2-3

Joe Gibbs Racing dominated qualifying for the Spherical of 8 playoff opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Denny Hamlin secured pole place with a quick lap of 29.213s, besting teammate Chase Briscoe by 0.036s and teammate Christopher Bell by 0.042s.

“I felt good about it,” Hamlin advised TruTV. “There wasn’t a complete lot left on the market for it, however nice job to get my automotive good. It was good within the quick run apply as properly, however we gotta work on it in the long term for tomorrow. Saturday has actually been our Achilles heel at this race observe, and that is a good way to show that round.”

On what he must contend for the win within the 400-mile race to come back, Hamlin stated: “Going by means of the swings of this race race observe — it’ll undergo so many transitions from Saturday to the start of Sunday and the top of Sunday. Attempting to arrange and arrange your automotive for the top of Sunday, however having to take care of it on Saturday is at all times a problem for us at this race observe. However the staff did an amazing job of placing a giant ‘ol bandaid on it as we speak, and hopefully tomorrow goes to be higher.

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photograph by: Logan Riely / Getty Photos

Hamlin now has 47 profession poles and 4 this 12 months. He’s searching for a coveted sixtieth profession victory, and profitable this race would imply an automated ticket into the championship finale for any one of many eight title finalists.

Behind the JGR trio are three Hendrick drivers, with Chase Elliott fourth, William Byron fifth, and Kyle Larson sixth.

The highest ‘spoilers’ within the lineup are Hamlin’s personal drivers, because the 23XI Racing teammates Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick certified seventh and eighth, respectively.

The ultimate spot inside the highest ten will probably be occupied by one other JGR driver, as Ty Gibbs timed in tenth.

2023 Cup Sequence champion Ryan Blaney was the one playoff driver to qualify outdoors the highest ten, lining up 14th on the grid.

There have been no incidents through the qualifying session. Whereas observe place is important and ten of the final eleven LVMS winners began inside the highest ten, the pole-sitter really hasn’t gained this race since Kyle Busch in 2009 — the one time it has occurred.

1

11
 
Toyota
1

 
184.849

2

19
 
Toyota
1

0.036
184.622

3

20
 
Toyota
1

0.006
184.584

4

9
 
Chevrolet
1

0.004
184.559

5

24
 
Chevrolet
1

0.045
184.275

6

5
 
Chevrolet
1

0.024
184.124

7

23
 
Toyota
1

0.073
183.667

8

45
 
Toyota
1

0.012
183.592

9

22
 
Ford
1

0.008
183.542

10

54
 
Toyota
1

0.033
183.337

11

17
 
Ford
1

0.083
182.822

12

48
 
Chevrolet
1

0.003
182.803

13

88
 
Chevrolet
1

0.046
182.519

14

12
 
Ford
1

0.006
182.482

15

1
 
Chevrolet
1

0.002
182.469

16

60
 
Ford
1

0.032
182.272

17

99
 
Chevrolet
1

0.019
182.156

18

71
 
Chevrolet
1

0.002
182.143

19

43
 
Toyota
1

0.032
181.947

20

16
 
Chevrolet
1

0.011
181.879

21

41
 
Ford
1

0.003
181.861

22

77
 
Chevrolet
1

0.010
181.800

23

38
 
Ford
1

0.017
181.696

24

47
 
Chevrolet
1

0.045
181.421

25

3
 
Chevrolet
1

0.014
181.336

26

42
 
Toyota
1

0.063
180.953

27

7
 
Chevrolet
1

0.004
180.929

28

4
 
Ford
1

0.016
180.832

29

J. Berry Wooden Brothers Racing

21
 
Ford
1

0.047
180.548

30

34
 
Ford
1

0.113
179.868

31

2
 
Ford
1

0.067
179.468

32

8
 
Chevrolet
1

0.001
179.462

33

35
 
Toyota
1

0.057
179.122

34

6
 
Ford
1

0.063
178.749

35

10
 
Chevrolet
1

0.111
178.094

36

51
 
Ford
1

0.306
176.315

37

44
 
Chevrolet
1

0.034
176.120

38

78
 
Chevrolet
1

0.983
170.648

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