Denny Hamlin Wins Martinsville Pole

Considering Denny Hamlin's record at Martinsville Speedway -- two straight victories and three wins in the last five races -- you wouldn't think he'd be too worried about whether he could hold onto the pole position for Sunday's Tums Fast Relief 500 after posting the fastest lap in his qualifying run Friday.

But winning the pole means getting the pick of the pit stalls, and at Martinsville the best one is first in line, right behind the exit line of the pits.

So as Hamlin waited nervously in the lounge of his team transporter while the rest of the field took their runs, he was. . . well, let's let him describe it in his usual frank manner: "I wasn't wishing bad luck," he said, "but I was just like, 'Slip, slip, slip, slip.'

"It came true for us. We've had to work extra hard today because we have worked just on qualifying."

The pole position at this tight, half-mile short track was "objective number one" for Hamlin and he and his team devoted all of practice to the qualifying setup.

"This is the first time for us doing that and obviously we executed it," he said.

Jimmie Johnson, who has a 41-point lead over Hamlin with five races remaining in the Chase to the Sprint Cup, qualified well back in 19th in the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet. Johnson has won five of the last eight Martinsville races -- the only other winner besides Hamlin at NASCAR's oldest active track since 2006.

"Odds are the 48's not going to stay where he's at and the 29 (of Kevin Harvick) is not going to stay where he's at," Hamlin said. "As soon as the green flag drops, those guys are going to be coming."

Harvick, who is third in points, qualified near the back of the field in 36th.
"I wasn't wishing bad luck, but I was just like, 'Slip, slip, slip, slip."
-- Denny Hamlin
Hamlin won the pole with a speed of 97.018 mph, edging Aussie driver Marcos Ambrose, who turned his lap at 97.003 mph after surviving a spin in practice without any lingering effects.

"I'm excited to be in the front row," Ambrose said. "I'm going to stay there as long as I can.

Greg Biffle qualified third, followed by Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya. Tony Stewart. trying to hang within shouting distance of the Chase leaders, qualified sixth, followed by Carl Edward and David Reutimann. Jamie McMurray and David Ragan rounded out the top 10.

Jeff Gordon, who is fourth in the Chase, 156 points behind Johnson, qualified 11th.

Kasey Kahne, in the first start of his interim service as driver of the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota, struggled in time trials and will start 33rd.

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