MENCS: Denny Hamlin Earns Bank of America 500 Pole

Denny Hamlin will start on the pole at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Hamlin, driving the No. 11 FedEx Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, led the final session of qualifying by posting a 28.184, 191.598 mph. The driver from Virginia captured his 25th career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series pole.

Hamlin comes into the 30th race of the season looking to score his third win of the year. He holds 12 top five and 16 top 10 finishes as the Round of 12 begins.

Hamlin’s teammate, Matt Kenseth, will start the Bank of America 500 in the runner-up position. Kenseth posted a 28.200, 191.489 mph. in the final round of knockout qualifying. The driver from Wisconsin sat 12th in round one and fourth in round two.

Kenseth goes into Charlotte Motor Speedway with eight top five and 14 top 10 finishes through 29 races this season.

Kevin Harvick will round out the top three starters on Sunday at Charlotte. Harvick posted a 28.214, 191.394 mph. in his No. 4 Jimmy John’s Ford. Harvick led the first two rounds of knockout qualifying before earning the third-place starting spot.

The California native comes into Charlotte Motor Speedway looking for his second win of the season. Harvick holds nine top five and 17 top 10 finishes.


The top four drivers are all Playoff drivers. Clint Bowyer, the driver of the No. 14 Haas Automation Ford, will be the highest non-Playoff driver in fifth.

Dangerous Playoff driver Martin Truex Jr. did not make the final round of qualifying and will start 17th on the leaderboard. The New Jersey native sat 23rd at the end of the opening round.

See where your favorite Playoff driver will start:

Playoff Drivers:

POS

CAR

DRIVER

1

11

Denny Hamlin

2

20

Matt Kenseth

3

4

Kevin Harvick

4

18

Kyle Busch

6

2

Brad Keselowski

7

24

Chase Elliott

10

42

Kyle Larson

15

21

Ryan Blaney

17

78

Martin Truex Jr.

18

1

Jamie McMurray

25

48

Jimmie Johnson


Three drivers did not post times in the first round of qualifying. Erik Jones, driver of the No. 77 Toyota, had issues getting through inspection and wasn’t able to make a lap. Brett Moffitt and and Corey LaJoie did not turn a lap in qualifying or practice on Friday.

There were no DNQs.

Brett Winningham
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