Denny Hamlin takes 2nd straight pole to open NASCAR playoffs

MADISON, Ill. — Denny Hamlin remained excellent in qualifying in the course of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, capturing the pole place Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway.

It’s the forty sixth profession pole and third this season for the Joe Gibbs Racing star, who additionally certified first for final week’s playoff opener at Darlington Raceway.

“We made some great adjustments from where we were in practice,” mentioned Hamlin, who turned a 139.190 mph lap in his No. 11 Toyota. “That’s what they did so well last week for qualifying. Now we’ve got great track position and just got to maintain it, and we’ll be in good shape.”

Kyle Larson will begin second alongside Hamlin, incomes his first top-10 qualifying effort on the 1.25-mile oval east of St. Louis.

Chase Briscoe certified third, adopted by Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Austin Cindric as playoff drivers took the highest 9 beginning spots for Sunday’s 300-mile race on the observe often known as Gateway.

It was a notable departure from how the playoffs started at Darlington. Only 4 championship-eligible drivers completed within the high 10 of the Southern 500, a document low for a playoff opener.

Among the disappointments was Larson, whose nineteenth at Darlington continued a five-race drought with no top-five end.

“I think our team needs it more than anything,” the 2021 Cup champion mentioned. “We haven’t been able to celebrate a whole lot, so we will definitely celebrate a front row starting spot at Gateway. It’s been a rough, inconsistent couple of months, so even just qualifying good feels really nice.”

Alex Bowman, who has completed no larger than thirteenth at Gateway, certified twenty fifth as the one playoff driver who will begin outdoors the highest 20. Bowman is tied with Josh Berry (who certified twelfth) for final within the factors standings among the many 16 playoff drivers.