Denny Hamlin will start from the point at NASCAR’s final “Regular Season” race of the season at Richmond.
The Virginia native took his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to his first pole of the season, third at his home track and 24th of his Sprint Cup career.
“It’s nice to finally win one,” said Hamlin.
“I didn’t think our car was actually that good but we had speed when we needed it and hope we can translate that into running upfront for a win tomorrow night.”
Kyle Larson will start alongside with defending race winner Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray sharing the second row.
Ryan Newman, the highest-ranked driver outside the provisional 16-driver Chase grid, will start in the 15th position and needs to either win or rely on McMurray having a disastrous result on what will be his 500th Sprint Cup start.
Pocono winner Chris Buescher, hopes to maintain his position among the top 30 in points to clinch a Chase berth and will start 31st in the Front Row Motorsports Ford. David Ragan, his closest pursuer in the Sprint Cup standings, will start 21st in the 400-lapper.
“At the end of the day, this weekend is about something bigger,” said Buescher after qualifying down the order.
“We are trying to stay out of trouble and be there at the end. It won’t be an easy walk from where we are at right now but we will be able to work our way up.”
Cole Whitt failed to qualify for the 40-car field.
VIDEO: Hamlin Speaks after scoring pole at Richmond
QUALIFYING: Federated Auto Parts 400 – Richmond International Raceway
| POS. | CAR # | DRIVER | MAKE | SPONSOR | MPH | TIME | GAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |  |
FedEx Ground | 122.344 | 22.069 | Leader |
| 2 | 42 | Kyle Larson |  |
Target | 122.288 | 22.079 | –0.010 |
| 3 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | |
Dollar General | 122.244 | 22.087 | –0.018 |
| 4 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | |
Sherwin Williams Emerald Chevrolet | 122.189 | 22.097 | –0.028 |
| 5 | 41 | Kurt Busch | |
Haas Automation / Monster Energy Chevrolet SS | 122.144 | 22.105 | –0.036 |
| 6 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr | |
Tanger Outlets | 122.045 | 22.123 | –0.054 |
| 7 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | |
Farmers Insurance | 122.045 | 22.123 | –0.054 |
| 8 | 3 | Austin Dillon | |
Dow Chevrolet | 121.638 | 22.197 | –0.128 |
| 9 | 18 | Kyle Busch | |
M&M’s 75th Anniversary | 121.457 | 22.230 | –0.161 |
| 10 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | |
LOWE’S PRO SERVICES | 120.951 | 22.323 | –0.254 |
| 11 | 88 | Jeff Gordon | |
Axalta | 120.827 | 22.346 | –0.277 |
| 12 | 22 | Joey Logano |  |
Shell Pennzoil | 120.579 | 22.392 | –0.323 |
| 13 | 19 | Carl Edwards | |
ARRIS Surfboard | 122.272 | 22.082 | –0.013 |
| 14 | 14 | Tony Stewart | |
Code 3 Associates / Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS | 122.249 | 22.086 | –0.017 |
| 15 | 31 | Ryan Newman | |
Caterpillar | 122.045 | 22.123 | –0.054 |
| 16 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger | |
Kroger/Scott Products | 122.017 | 22.128 | –0.059 |
| 17 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | |
Miller Lite | 121.924 | 22.145 | –0.076 |
| 18 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | |
Advocare Ford Fusion | 121.770 | 22.173 | –0.104 |
| 19 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | |
Jimmy John’s Chevrolet SS | 121.556 | 22.212 | –0.143 |
| 20 | 21 | Ryan Blaney | |
SKF | 121.529 | 22.217 | –0.148 |
| 21 | 23 | David Ragan | |
sweetFrog | 121.310 | 22.257 | –0.188 |
| 22 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | |
Zest Ford Fusion | 120.654 | 22.378 | –0.309 |
| 23 | 43 | Aric Almirola | |
Smithfield | 120.401 | 22.425 | –0.356 |
| 24 | 7 | Regan Smith | |
APC Chevrolet | 120.321 | 22.440 | –0.371 |
| 25 | 93 | Matt DiBenedetto | |
E.J. Wade Construction/Union Bank and Trust | 122.299 | 22.077 | –0.008 |
| 26 | 13 | Casey Mears | |
GEICO | 122.294 | 22.078 | –0.009 |
| 27 | 95 | Michael McDowell | |
Malwarebytes | 122.288 | 22.079 | –0.010 |
| 28 | 16 | Greg Biffle | |
Ford EcoBoost Ford Fusion | 122.266 | 22.083 | –0.014 |
| 29 | 10 | Danica Patrick | |
Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet SS | 122.161 | 22.102 | –0.033 |
| 30 | 27 | Paul Menard | |
Dutch Boy / Menards | 122.078 | 22.117 | –0.048 |
| 31 | 34 | Chris Buescher | |
CSX – Play it Safe | 121.957 | 22.139 | –0.070 |
| 32 | 38 | Landon Cassill | |
MDS Transport | 121.935 | 22.143 | –0.074 |
| 33 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | |
5-Hour Energy | 121.781 | 22.171 | –0.102 |
| 34 | 24 | Chase Elliott | |
3M / American Red Cross | 121.775 | 22.172 | –0.103 |
| 35 | 44 | Brian Scott | |
Albertsons Co / Shore Lodge | 121.540 | 22.215 | –0.146 |
| 36 | 30 | Josh Wise | |
Curtis Key Plumbing | 121.250 | 22.268 | –0.199 |
| 37 | 46 | Michael Annett | |
Pilot Flying J | 121.245 | 22.269 | –0.200 |
| 38 | 55 | Reed Sorenson | |
TBD | 120.924 | 22.328 | –0.259 |
| 39 | 83 | Dylan Lupton | |
E.J. Wade Construction/Union Bank and Trust | 120.208 | 22.461 | –0.392 |
| 40 | 32 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | |
CorvetteParts.net | 120.182 | 22.466 | –0.397 |
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