In his 19th NASCAR playoff appearance, Denny Hamlin claimed the Southern 500 pole position with a lap time of 28.694 seconds, earning the front row alongside his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe. Briscoe, who had already won poles at the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, and Brickyard 400, narrowly missed sweeping all four crown jewel race poles this year by just 0.021 seconds.
Adjustments Lead to Hamlin’s Fastest Lap
Hamlin reflected on his qualifying run, noting the challenges his team faced with the car’s balance during practice but praising the effective changes made before qualifying.
“We struggled with the balance all through race practice, so we made some good adjustments there to go one lap. I felt like it was really good. This Toyota did everything I needed it to do. It’s awesome to come here and get a pole,”
he said.
Looking ahead to race day, Hamlin acknowledged the importance of translating this strong qualifying effort into a win.
“Starting up front is certainly a big advantage. We’ll go back, reset tonight, and we’ll be stronger tomorrow,”
he added.
Strong Performances from Playoff and Non-Playoff Drivers
Among playoff contenders, Josh Berry impressed by qualifying third in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, marking a standout effort for the underdog driver. Tyler Reddick qualified fourth, while Kyle Larson secured the fifth position for Hendrick Motorsports. Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, and Austin Cindric completed the top ten starters.
Further down the grid, William Byron was 11th, Ryan Blaney 12th, Joey Logano 14th, and Shane van Gisbergen placed 20th. Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman finished 21st and 29th respectively, marking the slowest times among playoff drivers. Bowman remains last in the standings.
Qualifying Dynamics and Highlights
Qualifying featured a battle for speed as all title contenders took to the track in the final segment of the session for the ten remaining playoff races. Justin Haley set an early pace with Spire Motorsports, leading the non-playoff drivers in 13th position after recently posting his best finish of the year at Daytona.
Austin Cindric took the lead early in the final round before his teammate Bubba Wallace broke into the 28-second range. Tyler Reddick briefly claimed the provisional pole, only to be surpassed by Chase Briscoe, who grabbed the top spot with a fast lap. Despite his speed, Briscoe couldn’t hold the pole, as Hamlin executed a remarkable exit from Turn 4 to overtake him for the top qualifying time. This is Hamlin’s first Southern 500 pole since 2018.
Implications for Sunday’s Southern 500 Race
Securing the pole at the Southern 500 is a significant boost for Hamlin’s playoff campaign, providing a valuable starting position on a challenging track. With teammate Briscoe close behind, Joe Gibbs Racing looks poised for a strong showing. However, Hamlin and his team understand the need to maintain consistency and race strategy to convert a favorable grid position into a victory.
As the playoffs progress, competition remains fierce among all drivers, with several top contenders eager to make their mark in the remaining races. Hamlin’s pole demonstrates his ability to deliver under pressure, offering hope and momentum as the playoffs continue to unfold.
