Denny Hamlin Set to Start from the Busch Light Pole at Pocono
Denny Hamlin asserted dominance once again during Saturday qualifying for The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA.COM. The 44-year-0ld who missed last week’s Cup Series race in Mexico City due to the birth of his third child was a force to be reckoned with at Pocono Raceway this afternoon.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was eager to get back behind the wheel of his No. 11 Toyota, and it showed. Hamlin held off Chris Buescher, who clocked 172.325 (P2) to start from the Busch Light Pole in Sunday’s race, clocking a lap average of 172.599 mph.
It was a historic day for the veteran driver as he asserted his 44th career pole and became the oldest driver in the circuit to win a pole since Matt Kenseth in 2017. Apart from Denny Hamlin and Buescher rounding out the remaining top five for the starting lineup at Pocono is Carson Hocevar (P3) at 171.825 mph, John Hunter Nemechek (P4) at 171.789 mph, and Cole Custer (P5) at 171.638 mph.
William Byron, who was expected to qualify well, made contact with an outside wall and will start at the back of the field in P31. Ryan Blaney, who took the checkered flag at the 2.5-mile track, is expected to begin in P20, and last weekend’s winner, Shane van Gisbergen, in P23.
Denny Hamlin and the Not So Tricky Triangle
Pocono Raceway, also known in the NASCAR Circuit as the “Tricky Triangle,” is named for its unique configuration, which features three turns each named after iconic speedways. Turn 1 mirrors that of New Jersey’s esteemed Trenton Speedway, turn 2 is modeled after Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s “Tunnel Turn,” and turn 3 has an uncanny likeness to the Milwaukee Mile.
Due to the presence of a piece of each of these tracks in its design, the corners are varied, as are the lengths of the straightaways. This racetrack features the longest straightaway on the NASCAR schedule. Therefore, drivers must adapt their on-track tactics to account for Pocono’s variable design and the strict left turns. This presents challenges, but it seems Denny Hamlin has taken a master class in navigating the raceway’s unpredictable twists and turns.
However, it seems Denny Hamlin has taken a master class in overcoming the track’s unforgiving uniqueness winning there in 2019 and 2023 and securing two runner-up finishes in 2020 and 2024. he also won in 2022 but was quickly relegated to P35 after his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Toyota failed a post-race inspection.
Even so, his 2023 win would more than make up for the disqualification after he surpassed Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon to claim the title for most career wins at the track. It’s safe to say that Hamlin could potentially secure another after winning the Cup Series FireKeepers 400 at Michigan International Raceway two weeks ago.
He missed the Viva Mexico 250 due to the birth of his son, but he sure hasn’t let the time away deter from winning which is what he does best. This season the JGR driver broke a 31-race winless streak in Martinsville followed by a second consecutive win in Darlington the following week. So, without question all eyes will be on Denny Hamlin when factoring in the stroke of luck he has accrued with his record of success at Pocono Raceway.
Final Thoughts
Denny Hamlin returns to Pocono Raceway this weekend with a history of dominating the notoriously difficult 2.5-mile tri-oval track nestled in the heart of Blakeslee, Pennsylvania. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has overcome a 31-race winless streak and though his momentum has been skewed notching two consecutive wins in Martinsville and Darlington.
He gradually lost steam in Bristol win he fell to P2, and it was all downhill for the next six races until his victory in Michigan two weeks ago. Will this pattern repeat itself Sunday or will Hamlin add yet another consecutive win to power up his current number 3 ranking in the series?
