NASCAR All-Star Race qualifying is always sketchy. Asking drivers to conduct a pit stop in the middle of a timed qualifying session is just asking for chaos. Add in Dover Motor Speedway’s ultra-intense pit road entry, and you have the recipe for what took place on Saturday afternoon.
In a wild qualifying session, where even the eventual polesitter would go for a spin, it was Denny Hamlin who rose above the competition to claim the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway.
Starting Lineup: 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover
While Hamlin secured the top starting spot for the $1 million race, the $100,000 MechanixWear Pit Crew Challenge prize went to the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports pit crew, who cranked out the fastest pit stop during the multi-lap qualifying session, which featured a mandatory four-tire pit stop.
Results: MechanixWear Pit Crew Challenge
With a total time on track of 1 minute, 49.298 seconds during his qualifying run, Hamlin was able to knock Brad Keselowski from the All-Star Race pole position. But it didn’t look like Hamlin was going to have a chance to put in a qualifying effort as he went for a spin on the apron after exiting pit road for his warm-up lap.
After officially securing the pole position, Hamlin explained that he was trying to wiggle heat into his tires before moving his No. 11 car up onto the racing groove, when the track was slicker than he expected.
“I was just trying to get as much heat in the tires as I possibly could. No, I was just trying to feel it out, and it was slick,” Hamlin said. “So, honestly, at this point I just didn’t want to flat-spot [my tires]. And I still could feel a little bit of vibration on my lap.”
Despite the vibration that Hamlin felt on his opening lap of qualifying, he was able to keep within striking distance of the pole, and his No. 11 JGR pit crew was able to bust out the fifth-fastest pit stop, which kept the momentum rolling.
“The lap was still competitive even though I didn’t do a great job with the tires on the warm-up, there. But hats off to the team. You know, they’re the ones that keep you in the game, and it’s all about the pit stop and stuff like that,” Hamlin stated.
Erik Jones, who was the best qualifier in the 36-car field of the 17 drivers still vying for a berth into the final segment of Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race, clocked in third-fastest behind Hamlin and Keselowski.
Ross Chastain and William Byron qualified fourth and fifth.
In all, six drivers were busted for speeding on pit road during their qualifying runs, which foiled their chances at an All-Star Race pole.
The six drivers, who were flagged for speeding during their trip on pit road, included Zane Smith, Ryan Preece, Connor Zilisch, Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, and Chris Buescher.
Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott suffered from abysmal pit stops, and to make matters worse, both drivers were also given additional time penalties. Blaney received a safety violation, while Elliott got an uncontrolled tire penalty.
Blaney will start 28th on Sunday, while Elliott will start 31st.
Daniel Suarez had a qualifying run that was good enough for the sixth starting position in Sunday’s All-Star Race; however, after he finished his run, the right front tire detached from his No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, and he slammed into the outside wall.
TROUBLE for Daniel Suarez. Take a look at what happened. pic.twitter.com/wCZePBCUOm
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 16, 2026
Suarez will start shotgun on the field in the 36th position on Sunday as a result.
While Zane Smith’s pit road speeding penalty ruined a would-be decent qualifying run, his No. 38 Front Row Motorsports pit crew was the fastest on pit road during the session and claimed the $100,000 MechanixWear Pit Crew Challenge award.
The No. 38 team, comprised of Front Changer Michael Louria, Rear Changer Adam Riley, Jackman Nate McBride, Tire Carrier Jarren Davis, and Fueler Ray Hernandez, produced a 12.612-second pit stop, which was able to top the competition by more than two-tenths-of-a-second.
Speed, precision and a $100K payday.
The No. 38 team wins the Pit Crew Challenge! pic.twitter.com/z74GngLrrz
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 16, 2026
Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 97 Trackhouse Racing pit crew was second-fastest with a 12.841-second stop.
