Denny Hamlin took his third pole position of the season on Saturday at Richmond as NASCAR returned from the Olympic break.
The experienced rider barely made it to the final qualifying round – he was the slowest of the qualifiers and was close to being eliminated – before hitting back in his final run.
READ MORE: NASCAR race today in Richmond: starting times and spectator options at the Cook Out 400
Hamlin set a time of 22.850 seconds (118.162 miles per hour) on the 1.2-kilometer track, giving him a lead over some of this season’s best drivers ahead of Sunday’s race.
Chase Elliott, second in the overall standings, set the fourth fastest time, while third-place Tyler Reddick could only qualify in tenth place and points leader Kyle Larson did not even make it to the final round, finishing in 15th place.
READ MORE: This is what the NASCAR Cup Series playoff situation looks like before the Olympic break
Just made it to the second round #BuschLightmast Qualification?
No problem for @dennyhamlin. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/G0ljIaMjt2
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) 10 August 2024
Starting grid for the 2024 Cook Out 400
1. Denny Hamlin, #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2. Martin Truex Jr., #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3. Josh Berry, #4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
4. Chase Elliott, #9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
5. Christopher Bell, #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
6. Austin Dillon, #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
7. Chris Buescher, #17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
8. Bubba Wallace, #23 23XI Racing Toyota
9. Joey Logano, #22 Team Penske Ford
10. Tyler Reddick, #45 23XI Racing Toyota
11. Ryan Blaney, #12 Team Penske Ford
12. Kyle Busch, #8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
13. William Byron, #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
14. Ty Gibbs, #54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
15. Kyle Larson, #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
16. Noah Gragson, #10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
17. Alex Bowman, #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
18. Austin Cindric, #2 Team Penske Ford
19. Carson Hocevar, #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
20. Zane Smith, #71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
21. Daniel Suarez, #99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
22. Ross Chastain, #1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
23. Todd Gilliland, #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
24. Corey Lajoie, #7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
25. Chase Briscoe, #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
26. Ryan Preece, #41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
27. Erik Jones, #43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
28. Michael McDowell, #34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
29. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
30. Ty Dillon, #16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
31. Harrison Burton, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
32. Daniel Hemric, #31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
33. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
34. Riley Herbst, #15 Rick Ware Racing Ford
35. John Hunter Nemechek, #42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
36. Justin Haley, #51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
37. Parker Retzlaff, No. 66 Power Source Ford
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