Hamlin’s Comeback After a Scare
Denny Hamlin emerged from a chaotic qualifying hour to claim the pole for the upcoming NASCAR All‑Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway. The veteran driver spun on his warm‑up lap, but quickly recovered and delivered a two‑lap time of 1:49.298, a run that included a four‑tire pit stop and still managed to outpace his rivals.
His performance marked Hamlin’s second pole in the All‑Star Series, a feat he first achieved in 2015. Despite admitting that qualifying is not his strongest suit, Hamlin said he felt a strong connection to the car and was confident heading into the event.
A Packed Qualifying Session
The session was marked by a series of incidents that shuffled the lineup. Brad Keselowski secured second position, followed by Erik Jones, Ross Chastain and William Byron. Several drivers, including Connor Zilisch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., experienced spins, while Zane Smith, Michael McDowell and Kyle Larson each incurred 10‑second speeding penalties during pit road.
Daniel Suarez’s No. 7 Chevrolet also met misfortune when a right‑front tire detached, sending the car into the wall. Despite the turbulence, the field remained competitive, with the top ten separated by mere hundredths of a second.
The race format will feature two 75‑lap stages followed by a 200‑lap finale, with 26 cars entered. The Joe Gibbs Racing team, which fields Hamlin, was awarded the first pit‑stall selection and a $100,000 bonus for posting the fastest pit‑stop time during practice.