Denny Hamlin wins pole at Phoenix
AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Denny Hamlin said qualifying eighth or better would be a bonus after running more laps on his tires than other drivers.
How's the pole position sound?
Hamlin won the pole for Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway, claiming his third top spot of the season ahead of fellow playoff drivers Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth.
"That's a big surprise," Hamlin said Friday. "I feel great (for Sunday). We've got it in our car. We've just got to get it for 312 laps now.
"Definitely out of the blue. Didn't think we had a pole-winning car by any means."
Other Chasers included Jeff Gordon (seventh), Carl Edwards (13th) and Ryan Newman (20th).
This is the final of three Chase elimination races in the 10-race run to the title. Four of the eight remaining Chase drivers will be eliminated Sunday.
Clay Rogers was the only driver who failed to qualify for the race.
Hamlin turned a lap of 142.113 mph to take the top slot.
Four of the top five drivers have been involved in two post-race incidents during the Chase. After the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Hamlin chased Keselowski through the garage after Keselowski tried to intentionally spin him after the checkered flag. Kenseth attacked Keselowski from behind between the Team Penske haulers after Keselowski hit his car on pit road after the race. Kenseth had removed his seat belt and HANS device.
After the race at Texas Motor Speedway last week, Harvick shoved Keselowski toward Jeff Gordon on pit road to try to get him to engage in a conversation with Gordon. Keselowski's late-race move gave Gordon a flat tire and relegated him to a 29th-place finish.
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PHOTOS: In the driver's seat with Denny Hamlin
SUNDAY'S LINEUP
Lap length: 1 mile
(Car number in parentheses)
1. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 142.113 mph.
2. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 142.079.
3. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 141.995.
4. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 141.794.
5. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 141.794.
6. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 141.771.
7. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 141.665.
8. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 141.321.
9. (55) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 141.287.
10. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 141.188.
11. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 140.889.
12. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 139.746.
13. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 140.488.
14. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 140.411.
15. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 140.356.
16. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 140.285.
17. (15) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 140.192.
18. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 140.187.
19. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 140.16.
20. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 140.127.
21. (9) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 140.045.
22. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 139.969.
23. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 139.958.
24. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 139.746.
25. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 139.697.
26. (33) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 139.432.
27. (51) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 139.394.
28. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 139.34.
29. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 139.195.
30. (7) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 139.104.
31. (95) Michael McDowell, Ford, 138.873.
32. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 138.851.
33. (36) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 138.691.
34. (38) David Gilliland, Ford, 138.307.
35. (34) David Ragan, Ford, 138.281.
36. (98) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 137.942.
37. (23) Alex Bowman, Toyota, Owner Points.
38. (40) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, Owner Points.
39. (37) Mike Bliss, Chevrolet, Owner Points.
40. (26) Cole Whitt, Toyota, Owner Points.
41. (83) J.J. Yeley, Toyota, Owner Points.
42. (32) Joey Gase, Ford, Owner Points.
43. (66) Mike Wallace, Toyota, Owner Points.
Failed to Qualify
44. (75) Clay Rogers, Chevrolet, 137.31.