Hamlin returns from dad duty with Cup Series pole at Pocono

In his return to the seat of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota, Denny Hamlin will lead the field to the green flag at Pocono Raceway.

Hamlin captured the pole Saturday with a lap of 172.599mph (52.144s). A seven-time winner at Pocono Raceway, Hamlin missed the most recent event because of the birth of his first son and third child with fiancée Jordan Fish. It is his fifth pole at Pocono.

“We typically can step up from practice; we make good adjustments,” Hamlin said of earning the pole after being 27th in practice. “I never really panic too much, and obviously, because I was a little more rested than the field right there, I was able to go a little [faster].”

Chris Buescher qualified second and will join Hamlin on the front row. Buescher’s fast lap was 172.325mph.

Spire Motorsports' Carson Hocevar qualified third at 171.825mph and John Hunter Nemechek fourth at 171.789mph. Cole Custer completed the top five at 171.638mph.

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Chase Briscoe ended up sixth at 171.612mph, Ty Gibbs seventh at 171.546mph, Tyler Reddick eighth at 171.429mph, Christopher Bell ninth at 171.347mph and Daniel Suarez 10th at 171.002mph.

It was an eventful qualifying session to set the field of 37.

William Byron crashed during his lap and will go to a backup car for Sunday’s race. Byron had been fastest in practice and in the best 10 consecutive lap averages.

Todd Gilliland hit the wall with the right rear of his Ford during his qualifying lap. He qualified 32nd.

Bubba Wallace was one of four drivers who did not make a lap. Wallace’s car would not fire on pit road and he could not get on track.

Josh Berry and Cody Ware did not make qualifying laps after issues in practice. Berry’s team is still working to repair the diffuser and replace the rear clip of his car. Ware crashed during practice, and his car is also being repaired.

Brennan Poole was not allowed to make a qualifying lap per NASCAR. Poole’s car failed inspection three times Saturday morning.

NEXT: The Great American Getaway 400 at 2 p.m. Sunday.

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