Motorsports
Denny Hamlin earns Pocono pole as William Byron wrecks in wild qualifying session
Denny Hamlin missed the race in Mexico City, but it didn’t seem to impact him as the NASCAR Cup Series rolled into Pocono. With a record seven wins at the 2.5-mile track, it was obvious that the No. 11 Toyota would be fast again, and in qualifying, no one could match his pace. He went […]
Denny Hamlin missed the race in Mexico City, but it didn’t seem to impact him as the NASCAR Cup Series rolled into Pocono. With a record seven wins at the 2.5-mile track, it was obvious that the No. 11 Toyota would be fast again, and in qualifying, no one could match his pace. He went to the top of the charts in his fifth pole position at Pocono but his first of the 2025 season.
“Obviously, because I was a little more rested than the field right there, I was able to get a little more speed,” joked Hamlin.
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“I mean, I love all of them,” added Hamlin when asked about Pocono being one of his favorite tracks. “Every week, we have a great shot to win and this team just knows what I need out of the car. And with all the cars and tires and everything that has changed over time, you still make speed at this track the same way. I was able to execute it there in qualifying and that’s a good start for us.”
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Joining Hamlin on the front row will be RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher, who ended the session 0.083s behind Hamlin’s fast lap. Buescher’s first career Cup win came at Pocono back in 2016. Carson Hocevar qualified third, John-Hunter Nemechek fourth, and Cole Custer fifth in some really impressive runs for both the Legacy Motor Club and Haas Factory Team.
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Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Daniel Suarez filled out the remainder of the top ten.
Qualifying trouble
Watch: William Byron hits inside wall hard during qualifying at Pocono
Four drivers didn’t even set a qualifying time. As a result of inspection issues, Brennan Poole’s team was not allowed to take part while Cody Ware crashed in practice and was unable to do so. Josh Berry’s Wood Brothers No. 21 suffered a broken rear diffuser in the practice, which the team was busy repairing.
And then there was Bubba Wallace, whose No. 23 Toyota would not start when it was his time to go. 23XI Racing tried to push start it but to no avail, and he was visibly frustrated inside the car. A.J. Allmendinger and Todd Gilliland were the two slowest drivers on track, partly because they abandoned their laps after sketchy moments.
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But the biggest moment came near the end of qualifying. William Byron wasn’t going to challenge for pole, but he was likely going to be inside the top 10 when he lost control through the Tunnel Turn, spinning out and slamming the inside wall. After posting the fastest time in practice, the team will now have to make extensive repairs as they’ve chosen not to go to a backup car.
Byron’s HMS teammate Chase Elliott was on track at the same time and the incident ruined his lap. Luckily, NASCAR allowed him to put on a fresh set of tires and Elliott was allowed to go back out, but that was only good enough for 18th. Shockingly, he was the highest-qualifying Hendrick Motorsports driver. Kyle Larson qualified 24th and Alex Bowman was 25th.
As for Mexico City winner Shane van Gisbergen, he ended up 23rd, matching his best qualifying effort of the season on an oval.
Photos from Pocono – Practice & Qualifying
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Brennan Poole, Chevrolet
Brennan Poole, Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
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|
1 |
11 |
|
Toyota |
1 |
52.144 |
|
172.599 |
|
|
2 |
17 |
|
Ford |
1 |
+0.083 52.227 |
0.083 |
172.325 |
|
|
3 |
77 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.235 52.379 |
0.152 |
171.825 |
|
|
4 |
42 |
|
Toyota |
1 |
+0.246 52.390 |
0.011 |
171.789 |
|
|
5 |
41 |
|
Ford |
1 |
+0.292 52.436 |
0.046 |
171.638 |
|
|
6 |
19 |
|
Toyota |
1 |
+0.300 52.444 |
0.008 |
171.612 |
|
|
7 |
54 |
|
Toyota |
1 |
+0.320 52.464 |
0.020 |
171.546 |
|
|
8 |
45 |
|
Toyota |
1 |
+0.356 52.500 |
0.036 |
171.429 |
|
|
9 |
20 |
|
Toyota |
1 |
+0.381 52.525 |
0.025 |
171.347 |
|
|
10 |
99 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.487 52.631 |
0.106 |
171.002 |
|
|
11 |
43 |
|
Toyota |
1 |
+0.488 52.632 |
0.001 |
170.999 |
|
|
12 |
22 |
|
Ford |
1 |
+0.529 52.673 |
0.041 |
170.866 |
|
|
13 |
60 |
|
Ford |
1 |
+0.583 52.727 |
0.054 |
170.691 |
|
|
14 |
6 |
|
Ford |
1 |
+0.637 52.781 |
0.054 |
170.516 |
|
|
15 |
38 |
|
Ford |
1 |
+0.659 52.803 |
0.022 |
170.445 |
|
|
16 |
3 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.667 52.811 |
0.008 |
170.419 |
|
|
17 |
4 |
|
Ford |
1 |
+0.669 52.813 |
0.002 |
170.413 |
|
|
18 |
9 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.676 52.820 |
0.007 |
170.390 |
|
|
19 |
2 |
|
Ford |
1 |
+0.692 52.836 |
0.016 |
170.338 |
|
|
20 |
12 |
|
Ford |
1 |
+0.693 52.837 |
0.001 |
170.335 |
|
|
21 |
1 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.717 52.861 |
0.024 |
170.258 |
|
|
22 |
7 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.783 52.927 |
0.066 |
170.046 |
|
|
23 |
88 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.818 52.962 |
0.035 |
169.933 |
|
|
24 |
5 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.822 52.966 |
0.004 |
169.920 |
|
|
25 |
48 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.834 52.978 |
0.012 |
169.882 |
|
|
26 |
8 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.951 53.095 |
0.117 |
169.507 |
|
|
27 |
10 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.963 53.107 |
0.012 |
169.469 |
|
|
28 |
71 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+0.996 53.140 |
0.033 |
169.364 |
|
|
29 |
35 |
|
Toyota |
1 |
+1.015 53.159 |
0.019 |
169.303 |
|
|
30 |
47 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+1.517 53.661 |
0.502 |
167.720 |
|
|
31 |
24 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+5.501 57.645 |
3.984 |
156.128 |
|
|
32 |
34 |
|
Ford |
1 |
+7.037 59.181 |
1.536 |
152.076 |
|
|
33 |
16 |
|
Chevrolet |
1 |
+11.933 1’04.077 |
4.896 |
140.456 |
|
|
— |
44 |
|
Chevrolet |
0 |
NO TIME |
|
|
|
|
— |
51 |
|
Ford |
0 |
NO TIME |
|
|
|
|
— |
Wood Brothers Racing |
21 |
|
Ford |
0 |
NO TIME |
|
|
|
— |
23 |
|
Toyota |
0 |
NO TIME |
|
|
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