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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