Denny Hamlin’s absence in the race in Mexico City did not affect his performance as the NASCAR Cup Series headed to Pocono, where he showcased his dominance with a record seventh win at the track. Securing the pole position, Hamlin joked about being more rested than the competition, leading to his stellar performance.
With a strong qualifying session, Hamlin expressed his love for Pocono, emphasizing the team’s ability to meet his car requirements consistently. The front row was completed by Chris Buescher, with Carson Hocevar, John-Hunter Nemechek, and Cole Custer following closely in an impressive showing by both Legacy Motor Club and Haas Factory Team.
Amidst qualifying troubles for some drivers, William Byron’s crash forced him to switch to a backup car for the race, impacting his starting position. Despite challenges faced by other Hendrick Motorsports drivers, Elliott managed to salvage an 18th place start. Mexico City winner Shane van Gisbergen matched his best oval qualifying effort by securing the 23rd spot.
