Hamlin wins the first pole of season for Toyota, Gibbs

BRISTOL, TENN. >> Denny Hamlin won the pole for Saturday night’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway, a critical short-track showdown for drivers trying to qualify for the playoffs.

The Daytona 500 winner turned a lap at 129.230 mph in his Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in Friday’s qualifying session. His effort bumped Kyle Larson to second and Larson is not locked into the 16-driver playoff field with three races remaining to fill the final seven slots.

Winless on the season, Larson is ranked 13th in the standings and briefly held the pole until Hamlin’s fast lap. The two planned to watch Friday night’s Xfinity Series race together sitting in the Bristol stands, so Hamlin took great delight in knocking him from the top starting spot.

“I was wondering why he was giving me the finger when I pulled in,” said Hamlin, who won not only his first pole of the season but the first for Toyota and JGR.

Only nine drivers have locked up berths and a victory earns an automatic spot in the championship race.

“I feel like we’ve been points racing a little bit lately,” Larson said. “I feel if it presents itself, we can be a little different and go after stage wins. We aren’t locked in, but I feel good.”

Martin Truex Jr. qualified third in a Toyota for Gibbs, while Chip Ganassi Racing had two Chevrolets in the top four as Kurt Busch will be lined up behind teammate Larson at the start of the race.

Aric Almirola, a driver still trying to qualify for the playoffs, was fifth and the highest qualifying Ford driver. Chase Elliott qualified sixth, followed by the surprise of the session in Matt DiBenedetto, who was seventh for Leavine Family Racing just days after the team informed him he won’t be back for a second season in 2020.