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NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race: Qualifying, Denny Hamlin’s Pole Position, Lineup At Phoenix Raceway

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
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NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race: Qualifying, Denny Hamlin’s Pole Position, Lineup At Phoenix Raceway

The Championship 4 drivers are lined up on the point, well, at least three of them. 

Denny Hamlin, who turned a hot qualifying lap at 133.759 mph Saturday at Phoenix Raceway, earned the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. Hamlin is a future Hall of Famer with 60 career wins, but no circuit championships. Is this Hamlin’s season? 

He will, at least, be front and center for the start. 

Close behind will be two other final four participants: William Byron, who finished 0.042 seconds behind Hamlin Saturday, and third-place finisher Kyle Larson (133.437), the 2021 titleholder. 

Chase Briscoe (132.68), the fourth member of the title race, begins P12. 

Ty Gibbs paced Friday’s 50-minute practice session, posting a lap at 131.868 mph. Hamlin (131.262) placed fifth, but led the final four pilots.

NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race Starting Lineup

Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway:

Starting Position, Driver, Car No.

  • 1, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
  • 2, William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
  • 3, Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
  • 4, Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
  • 5, Ryan Blaney No. 12 Ford
  • 6, Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
  • 7, Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
  • 8, Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
  • 9, Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
  • 10, Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
  • 11, Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
  • 12, Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
  • 13, Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
  • 14, Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
  • 15, Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
  • 16, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
  • 17, Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
  • 18, Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
  • 19, Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
  • 20, Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
  • 21, Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
  • 22, Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
  • 23, Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
  • 24, Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
  • 25, Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
  • 26, Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
  • 27, Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford
  • 28, John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
  • 29, Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet
  • 30, Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
  • 31, Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet
  • 32, Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
  • 33, Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford
  • 34, Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
  • 35, JJ Yeley, No. 44 Chevrolet
  • 36, Casey Mears, No. 66 Ford
  • 37, Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
  • 38, AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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