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 an entire lot left on the market for it, however nice job to get my automotive good. It was good within the quick run follow as nicely, 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 return, Hamlin stated: “Going by way of the swings of this race race observe — it may undergo so many transitions from Saturday to the start of Sunday and the tip of Sunday. Making an attempt to arrange and arrange your automotive for the tip 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 group did a terrific job of placing a giant ‘ol bandaid on it at this time, and hopefully tomorrow goes to be higher.
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Picture by: Logan Riely / Getty Pictures
Hamlin now has 47 profession poles and 4 this 12 months. He’s looking for a coveted sixtieth profession victory, and successful this race would imply an computerized 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 can be occupied by one other JGR driver, as Ty Gibbs timed in tenth.
2023 Cup Collection champion Ryan Blaney was the one playoff driver to qualify exterior the highest ten, lining up 14th on the grid.
There have been no incidents through the qualifying session. Whereas observe place is vital 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.
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