At Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Denny Hamlin earned his 44th career Cup pole on Saturday by posting a lap speed of 172.599 mph on the 2.5-mile circuit. At 44 years old, Hamlin is the oldest driver to claim a Cup Series pole since Matt Kenseth, who won the pole at Richmond at age 45 in September 2017. Hamlin returned to the track after missing last week’s race in Mexico to be with his family for the birth of his son.

Strong Performances and Top Qualifiers Following Hamlin

Chris Buescher secured the second starting position with a lap of 172.325 mph, matching his best starting spot this season. Rounding out the top five qualifiers were Carson Hocevar in third with 171.825 mph, John Hunter Nemechek in fourth at 171.789 mph, and Cole Custer in fifth at 171.639 mph.

Setbacks for Byron, Wallace, and Others in Qualifying

William Byron, who recorded the fastest lap during practice, experienced a crash during qualifying. He lost control coming out of the Tunnel Turn, collided with the outside wall, and then hit the inside SAFER barrier, forcing him to start at the back of the field. Bubba Wallace, who was second-fastest in practice, also will begin at the rear after his car failed to start during qualifying due to a starter issue, which Hamlin confirmed as co-owner of Wallace’s No. 23 car.

Josh Berry and Brennan Poole join Byron and Wallace at the tail end of the field. Berry’s team replaced the diffuser post-practice and did not attempt qualifying, while Poole failed inspection three times, was denied a qualifying run, and will face a pass-through penalty on pit road after the race begins.

Implications for Sunday’s Race at Pocono

Denny Hamlin’s achievement as the oldest Cup pole winner at Pocono since 2017 highlights his enduring competitiveness despite recent personal commitments. The setbacks faced by contenders like Byron and Wallace add uncertainty to the starting grid, potentially impacting race strategy and outcomes. With several drivers forced to start from the back, Sunday’s race may see significant early-race position changes, making for a tense and unpredictable event at Pocono Raceway.