Denny Hamlin Takes Pole In Dominant Joe Gibbs Racing Qualifying Session at Vegas

Can you feel that? It feels like there could be a momentum shift in the works. On Saturday, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin led the way in a Joe Gibbs Racing clean sweep of the top-four starting spots in qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400.

Hamlin, who snagged his 53rd career pole position, was the overwhelming favorite to win the Cup Series title heading into the 10-race Chase. However, after four races, he went from 25 points ahead of everyone to being 26 points behind Kyle Larson, the new point leader.

If Hamlin is to hoist his first Bill France Cup this season, he needs to turn around, and if qualifying is any indication, a turnaround could be on tap this weekend. However, Hamlin knows the hot streak that Larson, who has won two of the last three races, is on right now.

“I don’t know. They’re on a heck of a run right now,” Hamlin said of Larson. “But it seemed like all of us [Joe] Gibbs [Racing] guys kind of nailed our balance, and 23XI [Racing] as well. And that’s what really matters with the track being so hot today; balance is more of a factor than it’s been in qualifying in quite some time.”

Still, Hamlin and his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team will give it their all until the final lap in the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Not only was Saturday successful in terms of qualifying, but Hamlin was very happy with his car in race trim.

“It was good. It had a lot of really good characteristics of cars that I’ve had here in the past,” Hamlin, who has won the last two Las Vegas races, said of his car in race trim. “And I thought we improved on that slightly this time around. Improved on some of the deficiencies that we did have. So, I feel like it’s pretty good. Obviously, we have a long way to go, but it’s a good start.”

Hamlin likes his car, and this is a track that he has owned over the last couple of seasons. Keep an eye on him on Sunday.

Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe, Hamlin’s three JGR teammates, clocked in right behind him in second, third, and fourth, and Tyler Reddick, who drives the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, will start from the fifth position.

Larson, the series point leader and defending series champion, will start Sunday’s race from the sixth position.

Official Starting Lineup: South Point 400