HAMLIN TAKES CUP POLE AT SLIPPERY DOVER TRACK

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Denny Hamlin didn’t think he had the outright speed to win the Dover pole, but an unusually steamy day played into his favor.

Hamlin won his third pole of the season Friday — tying a career high — by trying to run the same lap time he did in practice instead of going all out for a pole run.

That helped him navigate a slippery, greasy track — or “really bad,” as Hamlin called it — to start on the front row for Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks with a lap of 157.978 mph.

“I’m hot, sweaty,” Hamlin said with a smile afterward. “I thought we were in Delaware?”

That’s true, but NASCAR’s visits to Dover aren’t typically quite this hot. Even drivers like seven-time Dover winner Jimmie Johnson had a bit of trouble in qualifying (Johnson got loose and saved his car but qualified 24th).

“When I ran the lap, I wasn’t in love with it,” Hamlin said. “Fundamentally, I knew I didn’t do that great of a job.”

It was enough, though, to out-pace some of Hamlin’s Toyota colleagues. Martin Truex Jr. was second, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth — all Toyota drivers. Ryan Newman (fifth) was the fastest Chevrolet; Brad Keselowski (eighth) was the fastest Ford.

Hamlin’s starting position will give him the No. 1 pit stall — a key to helping fast pit stops at Dover — for Sunday’s race. IndyCar: Dario Franchitti won the pole for the first of two races at the Detroit Grand Prix.

Franchitti, though, will start 11th today because of a 10-grid-spot penalty for making an unapproved engine change at Indianapolis.

The Chip Ganassi Racing driver earned the top spot in qualifying with a lap of 1:19.3311 on Belle Isle’s 2.36-mile street course. It was the 31st pole of his career and second this season.

E.J. Viso, who qualified second, will start up front followed by Mike Conway, James Jakes and defending IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay. NASCAR Trucks: Kyle Busch pulled away in the final laps to win the Lucas Oil 200 at Dover International Speedway.

Busch won in the series for the second consecutive race following his victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Matt Crafton was second and Ryan Blaney third. Chase Elliott and Darrell Wallace Jr. rounded out the top five. NASCAR Sprint Cup FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks

lineup After Friday qualifying; race Sunday At Dover International Speedway

Dover, Del. Lap length: 1 miles (Car number in parentheses) 1. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 157.978. 2. (56) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 157.798. 3. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 157.756. 4. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 157.736. 5. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 157.715. 6. (55) Mark Martin, Toyota, 157.604. 7. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 157.549. 8. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 157.48. 9. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 157.46. 10. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 157.405. 11. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 157.35. 12. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 157.24. 13. (78) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 157.054. 14. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 156.713. 15. (15) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 156.556. 16. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 156.175. 17. (13) Casey Mears, Ford, 156.169. 18. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 156.054. 19. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 155.952. 20. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 155.696. 21. (33) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 155.44. 22. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 155.407. 23. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 155.239. 24. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 155.206. 25. (51) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 155.146. 26. (47) Bobby Labonte, Toyota, 155.086. 27. (83) David Reutimann, Toyota, 155.059. 28. (38) David Gilliland, Ford, 154.972. 29. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 154.679. 30. (9) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 154.619. 31. (98) Michael McDowell, Ford, 154.573. 32. (19) Mike Bliss, Toyota, 154.5. 33. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 154.48. 34. (30) David Stremme, Toyota, 154.295. 35. (34) David Ragan, Ford, 153.984. 36. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 153.636. 37. (7) Dave Blaney, Chevrolet, Owner Points. 38. (93) Travis Kvapil, Toyota, Owner Points. 39. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, Owner Points. 40. (36) J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet, Owner Points. 41. (35) Josh Wise, Ford, Owner Points. 42. (32) Timmy Hill, Ford, Owner Points. 43. (44) Scott Riggs, Ford, Owner Points.