Image by Thacker/LAT
Hamlin leads JGR 1-2 to take Michigan pole
For the second straight weekend, Joe Gibbs Racing drivers will make up Cup's front row, with Denny Hamlin claiming pole ahead of Kyle Busch in Michigan.
Hamlin was the fastest Cup Series guy throughout Friday, leading practice and all three qualifying rounds. The pole-winning run for the No. 11 team was 202.794 mph. Busch will start second at 202.731 mph.
The pole is the second of the season for Hamlin. A two-time Michigan winner, this is his first pole at the track, and the 28th of his career.
Rounding out the top five were Kevin Harvick (202.100 mph), Erik Jones (201.805 mph), and Austin Dillon (201.748 mph).
Ryan Newman qualified sixth to cap off a strong qualifying effort by Richard Childress Racing with a best time was 201.658 mph. Martin Truex Jr. (201.421 mph), Ryan Blaney (201.309 mph), Joey Logano (201.230 mph), and Alex Bowman (201.185 mph) completed the top five.
Other notables in the field who did not make the final round of qualifying: Kurt Busch 12th; Clint Bowyer 16th; defending race winner Kyle Larson 17th; Brad Keselowski 18th; Jimmie Johnson 19th; Chase Elliott 21st; Trevor Bayne, back in the No. 6 this weekend, 26th; Kasey Kahne 28th.
Daniel Suarez did not complete a lap after hitting the wall in Turn 2 in the first round of qualifying. Suarez said he the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota got loose.
UP NEXT: Practice at 8:35 a.m. ET Saturday.
Kelly Crandall
Kelly has been on the NASCAR beat full-time since 2013, and joined RACER as chief NASCAR writer in 2017. Her work has also appeared in NASCAR.com, the NASCAR Illustrated magazine, and NBC Sports. A corporate communications graduate from Central Penn College, Crandall is a two-time George Cunningham Writer of the Year recipient from the National Motorsports Press Association.
Read Kelly Crandall's articles
Latest News
Comments
Comments are disabled until you accept Social Networking Cookies. Update cookie preferences
If the dialog doesn't appear, ad-blockers are often the cause; try disabling yours or see our Social Features Support.