NASCAR Cup Series: Denny Hamlin takes pole for 2018 Consumers Energy 400

Denny Hamlin took the pole position for the 23rd race of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, the Consumers Energy 400, at Michigan International Speedway.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin took his second pole position of the 36-race 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season and his second consecutive pole position after dominating each of the three rounds of qualifying for the 23rd race of the season, the Consumers Energy 400, in his #11 Toyota.

Hamlin, who also took the pole position for last Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International, is set to start the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.0-mile (3.219-kilometer) Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan alongside teammate Kyle Busch in second place in his #18 Toyota.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick is the highest qualifying Ford driver for the race. He qualified in third place in his #4 Ford. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Erik Jones qualified in fourth in his #20 Toyota, giving Toyota drivers, particularly Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, three of the top four positions on the starting grid.

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Richard Childress Racing teammates Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman are the highest qualifying Chevrolet drivers for the race. They qualified in fifth and sixth place in their #3 Chevrolet and #31 Chevrolet, respectively.

Furniture Row Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. is the other Toyota driver who made it into the third and final round of qualifying for the race. He qualified in seventh place in his #78 Toyota.

Four other Ford drivers made it into the third and final round of qualifying for the race. Those drivers were Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano as well as Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Aric Almirola and Kurt Busch. They qualified in eighth, ninth, 11th and 12th place in their #12 Ford, #22 Ford, #10 Ford and #41 Ford, respectively.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman is the only other Chevrolet driver who made it into the third and final round of qualifying for the race. He qualified in 10th place in his #88 Chevrolet. The winner of the June Michigan race, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Clint Bowyer, qualified in 16th in his #14 Ford.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson, who won the last three races at Michigan International Speedway before Bowyer won in June earlier this season, qualified in 17th place for the race in his #42 Chevrolet.

Here are the full qualifying results for the 2018 Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

Be sure to tune in to NBC Sports Network at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 12 for the live broadcast of the 23rd race of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, the Consumers Energy 400. Who will be victorious at Michigan International Speedway?