Hamlin Secures Pole Position for NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix
Denny Hamlin will lead the field for the NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway, securing the pole position with a blistering lap of 133.759 mph (26.914 seconds). This achievement marks Hamlin’s fifth pole of the 2025 season and his fourth at Phoenix.
“We’re trying; we’re doing everything we can,” stated Hamlin, emphasizing his determination for the championship. He credited his Progressive Toyota team for their hard work and expressed hope for a successful outcome on race day.
William Byron and Kyle Larson, both in contention for the title, qualified second and third, clocking in at 133.551 mph and 133.437 mph, respectively. Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, and Carson Hocevar rounded out the top six, with Cindric at 133.249 mph, Blaney at 133.190 mph, and Hocevar at 133.141 mph.
Chase Briscoe, the fourth championship contender, qualified 12th with a lap of 132.680 mph. The four title contenders will have priority in selecting pit stalls, following the order of their qualifying results.
Hamlin acknowledged the advantage of his starting position, stating, “We’re obviously going to be in a great starting spot. I’ll do the best I can,” while emphasizing the importance of executing throughout the race.
Despite challenges, AJ Allmendinger did not record a qualifying time after crashing during practice due to a tire failure. His Kaulig Racing team is currently preparing a backup car for the race.
A total of 38 teams will take to the track for the championship finale, set to begin at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
