Denny Hamlin 's 20-year quest to become a NASCAR Cup Series champion just got one step closer after securing pole position for the title-decider in Phoenix on Saturday.
Hamlin flew to pole position with a confident-looking 28.914s lap, collecting his 48th career pole and his fifth of the 2025 season.
"We're trying," smiled Hamlin after securing the top spot on the grid. "We're doing everything we can. I'm really proud of this whole Toyota team. We worked hard at it. We've really been working hard. Hopefully we get the payoff tomorrow."
On the outlook for tomorrow, Hamlin added: "We're obviously going to be in a great starting spot there. Then we just have to make sure we do all the right things and execute the entire day. Largely, that's going to rest on my shoulders, so I'll do the best that I can."
The driver he beat to pole position was title rival William Byron, who fell 0.042s adrift of the top spot.
"It's always chaotic," said Byron of his qualifying run. "You're coming to the green with a lot of speed, and then when we cut the dogleg, it was just a little rougher than I thought it would be through there. On my lap, I thought I hit Turn 1. Just couldn't quite commit to throttle off both corners. I felt like I was right on the edge of grip, and didn't want to have a slip and lose pace. Happy with it. I feel like we're right there in the mix. Right where we need to be."
Byron's Hendrick Motorsports teammate and fellow Championship 4 challenger Kyle Larson right a further 0.023s behind, slotting in third.
Then came Team Penske with Austin Cindric fourth and Ryan Blaney fifth. Carson Hocevar, Josh Berry, Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, and Joey Logano filled out the remainder of the top ten.
But where is Chase Briscoe? The other final four driver has more poles than anyone this year, and yet, he qualified 12th on Saturday, over two tenths adrift of his pole-sitting teammate. Before this race, he had five consecutive qualifying efforts inside the top ten.
Photos from Phoenix - Qualifying
Phoenix - Saturday, in photos
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Phoenix - Saturday, in photos
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Phoenix - Saturday, in photos
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Phoenix - Saturday, in photos
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Phoenix - Saturday, in photos
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Phoenix - Saturday, in photos
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Phoenix - Saturday, in photos
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Phoenix - Saturday, in photos
Phoenix - Saturday, in photos
| Cla | Driver | # | Manufacturer | Laps | Time | Interval | Mph | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D. HamlinJoe Gibbs Racing | 11 | Toyota | 1 |
26.914 |
133.759 | ||
| 2 | W. ByronHendrick Motorsports | 24 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.042 26.956 |
0.042 | 133.551 | |
| 3 | K. LarsonHendrick Motorsports | 5 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.065 26.979 |
0.023 | 133.437 | |
| 4 | A. CindricTeam Penske | 2 | Ford | 1 |
+0.103 27.017 |
0.038 | 133.249 | |
| 5 | R. BlaneyTeam Penske | 12 | Ford | 1 |
+0.115 27.029 |
0.012 | 133.190 | |
| 6 | C. HocevarSpire Motorsports | 77 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.125 27.039 |
0.010 | 133.141 | |
| 7 |
J. BerryWood Brothers Racing
|
21 | Ford | 1 |
+0.179 27.093 |
0.054 | 132.876 | |
| 8 | A. BowmanHendrick Motorsports | 48 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.180 27.094 |
0.001 | 132.871 | |
| 9 | C. BuescherRFK Racing | 17 | Ford | 1 |
+0.197 27.111 |
0.017 | 132.787 | |
| 10 | J. LoganoTeam Penske | 22 | Ford | 1 |
+0.205 27.119 |
0.008 | 132.748 | |
| 11 | K. BuschRichard Childress Racing | 8 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.215 27.129 |
0.010 | 132.699 | |
| 12 | C. BriscoeJoe Gibbs Racing | 19 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.219 27.133 |
0.004 | 132.680 | |
| 13 | R. ChastainTrackHouse Racing | 1 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.223 27.137 |
0.004 | 132.660 | |
| 14 | D. SuarezTrackHouse Racing | 99 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.229 27.143 |
0.006 | 132.631 | |
| 15 | E. JonesLegacy Motor Club | 43 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.240 27.154 |
0.011 | 132.577 | |
| 16 | R. Stenhouse JrHyak Motorsports | 47 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.258 27.172 |
0.018 | 132.489 | |
| 17 | C. ElliottHendrick Motorsports | 9 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.262 27.176 |
0.004 | 132.470 | |
| 18 | N. GragsonFront Row Motorsports | 4 | Ford | 1 |
+0.270 27.184 |
0.008 | 132.431 | |
| 19 | B. KeselowskiRFK Racing | 6 | Ford | 1 |
+0.275 27.189 |
0.005 | 132.406 | |
| 20 | C. BellJoe Gibbs Racing | 20 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.282 27.196 |
0.007 | 132.372 | |
| 21 | R. PreeceRFK Racing | 60 | Ford | 1 |
+0.283 27.197 |
0.001 | 132.368 | |
| 22 | Z. SmithFront Row Motorsports | 38 | Ford | 1 |
+0.304 27.218 |
0.021 | 132.265 | |
| 23 | B. Wallace23XI Racing | 23 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.305 27.219 |
0.001 | 132.261 | |
| 24 | T. Reddick23XI Racing | 45 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.306 27.220 |
0.001 | 132.256 | |
| 25 | T. GibbsJoe Gibbs Racing | 54 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.324 27.238 |
0.018 | 132.168 | |
| 26 | A. DillonRichard Childress Racing | 3 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.329 27.243 |
0.005 | 132.144 | |
| 27 | C. CusterHaas Factory Team | 41 | Ford | 1 |
+0.330 27.244 |
0.001 | 132.139 | |
| 28 | J. NemechekLegacy Motor Club | 42 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.337 27.251 |
0.007 | 132.105 | |
| 29 | J. HaleySpire Motorsports | 7 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.386 27.300 |
0.049 | 131.868 | |
| 30 | T. GillilandFront Row Motorsports | 34 | Ford | 1 |
+0.392 27.306 |
0.006 | 131.839 | |
| 31 | S. van GisbergenTrackHouse Racing | 88 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.402 27.316 |
0.010 | 131.791 | |
| 32 | R. Herbst23XI Racing | 35 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.445 27.359 |
0.043 | 131.584 | |
| 33 | C. WareRick Ware Racing | 51 | Ford | 1 |
+0.531 27.445 |
0.086 | 131.171 | |
| 34 | T. DillonKaulig Racing | 10 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.608 27.522 |
0.077 | 130.804 | |
| 35 | J. YeleyNY Racing Team | 44 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.806 27.720 |
0.198 | 129.870 | |
| 36 | C. MearsGarage 66 | 66 | Ford | 1 |
+0.851 27.765 |
0.045 | 129.660 | |
| 37 | M. McDowellSpire Motorsports | 71 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+1.045 27.959 |
0.194 | 128.760 | |
| 38 | A. AllmendingerKaulig Racing | 16 | Chevrolet | 0 |
|
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