Denny Hamlin Secures Pole Position for Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono

LONG POND — Denny Hamlin, a seasoned competitor in NASCAR, showcased his enduring talent at Pocono Raceway, where he first raced in 2006, achieving both pole position and victory in his initial outings. Two decades later, Hamlin continues to excel, claiming the pole for The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA this past Saturday.

Driving his No. 11 Toyota, Hamlin clocked a lap time of 54.686 seconds, reaching a speed of 164.576 mph on the 2.5-mile track. Reflecting on the qualifying session, he noted, “I didn’t like the prospects because the track got so hot... there was just a moment there in the middle that there was so much clouds, and the track temp dropped.” Despite some challenges, he managed to navigate the course effectively, stating, “this might be good enough,” after a strong performance in the early turns.

This marks Hamlin's fourth pole position of the current season and his sixth at Pocono, breaking a tie with both Ken Schrader and Bill Elliott for the most poles at the venue. Additionally, this achievement brings his career total to 51 poles, placing him in a tie for ninth in NASCAR history alongside Ryan Newman.

Hamlin praised his competitors, particularly highlighting the skills of the driver who qualified behind him. “He just was able to execute one lap just so much better than everyone else,” he remarked. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson secured the second spot with a speed of 173.067 mph in his No. 5 Chevrolet, followed closely by Daniel Suarez, Ty Gibbs, and defending champion Chase Briscoe in the subsequent positions.

Hamlin is currently riding a wave of success, having won the last two races at Nashville and Michigan. The race on Sunday, originally set for 3 p.m., has been moved to 1 p.m. due to potential weather disruptions. Hamlin mentioned the implications of an earlier start, noting that passing opportunities may diminish as the race progresses into cooler conditions.