[media-credit name=”Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images” align=”alignright” width=”217″]
[/media-credit]Denny Hamlin captured the pole for Sunday’s AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway with a lap of 159.299 mph.
“That was an amazing run. Definitely wasn’t what I expected, but it sure feels good to get a pole here. Our car was really strong in race trim and really wasn’t all that good in qualifying trim. Hopefully, this is a good sign of things that will give us a strong run here on Sunday.” Hamlin said.
Hamlin, who has an average finish of 20.5, hopes have a better finish on Sunday with the top starting spot.
“For me to qualify on a pole that doesn’t reward my style and obviously having a car as strong as it is. It’s a good thing that Darian (Grubb, crew chief) is as good as he is at setting up race cars. I just think that we have things rolling right now and we just are taking it one week at a time.” Hamlin said.
Clint Bowyer qualified second with a lap of 159.264 mph.
“It was good. It’s just a little bit too loose, kind of knew that. You knew what you were fixing to be up against when you were watching everybody run. It looked like everybody was skating around on the top of the race track. We (Martin Truex Jr.) were both kind of talking and I was too loose in (turns) one and two, but because of that the car turns really good and you’re almost on the bottom too much in (turns) three and four and then you get over there three-quarters of the way around and the thing will get tight and lose the nose on you.” Bowyer said.
Martin Truex Jr. third, Sam Hornish Jr. fourth and Kyle Busch qualified fifth.
“The Shell/Pennzoil Dodge was really good. The guys have worked hard to give me a fast car. Our race runs yesterday didn’t have the speed that we needed, so I’m really happy that I qualified well.” Hornish Jr. said.
Chase drivers Greg Biffle qualified sixth, Jeff Gordon seventh, Kasey Kahne ninth, Brad Keselowski 10th, Jimmie Johnson 11th, Matt Kenseth 12th, Kevin Harvick 13th, Tony Stewart 24th and Dale Earnhardt Jr. starts 25th.
“We were not very good in practice. I don’t know what to expect. We struggled all weekend really. We just haven’t had real good speed.” Earnhardt Jr. said.
