Pole Position Drama
NASCAR took an unusual step to determine the starting lineup for the Cup Series All‑Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, opting for a single‑car knockout session that combined a full qualifying lap, a pit‑stop challenge and a final sprint back to the checkered flag.
Denny Hamlin emerged fastest, posting a time of 1 minute, 49.298 seconds that secured the pole. The veteran driver, who already belongs to the 19‑car field locked into the final segment, will lead the grid alongside Brad Keselowski, while Erik Jones will line up third, the highest‑ranked driver not already assured of a spot in the last stage.
The starting grid will feature 36 entries, representing a who’s‑who of modern NASCAR talent. Names such as Ross Chastain, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs, Austin Cindric, Kyle Busch, Alex Bowman, Noah Gragson, Tyler Reddick, Ty Dillon, Chase Briscoe, Cody Ware, Zane Smith, Ryan Preece, Connor Zilisch, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, John Hunter Nemechek, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., A.J. Allmendinger, Daniel Suarez and many others are set to compete.
The event will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time this Sunday, May 17, giving fans a chance to see the high‑stakes spectacle unfold on the 1‑mile concrete oval in Delaware.