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Denny Hamlin Faces Challenges After Qualifying Back of the Pack
In a disappointing turn during the qualifying session, Denny Hamlin found himself at the back of the 38-car lineup for the upcoming race. The No. 11 Toyota from Joe Gibbs Racing was promptly taken to the garage, where a potential powertrain issue was diagnosed. NASCAR officials were present as the crew worked to evaluate the situation, raising several concerns.
“They see a few red flags, certainly,” Hamlin remarked in an interview with NBC Sports, expressing trust in his team’s ability to resolve the issue. “They’ll dig into it tonight, figure it out, and get it fixed for tomorrow.”
For the race day ahead, Hamlin is determined to make his way through the field, stating, “We feel pretty good about what we brought. Our Camry is going to be pretty good tomorrow. Just gotta get to the finish.” Despite the challenging situation, he remains optimistic about his team’s chances to contend and recover during the race.
Michael McDowell Secures Front Row Start
In contrast to Hamlin’s struggles, Michael McDowell had a standout performance, seizing his fifth pole of the 2024 season at Atlanta. Having previously gone pole-less for the first 16 years of his career, this achievement marks a significant turnaround. The Ford contingent showcased strong qualifying results, filling the first five positions, demonstrating the manufacturer’s continued prowess at drafting tracks.
McDowell, excited about his achievement, shared, “I’m just so proud of everybody at Front Row. We knew we had a shot, based on Daytona, but to get this Mustang its fifth pole of the year — we’re trying to win the most poles. Just keep fighting hard, but really proud of the effort.”
Joining McDowell on the front row will be Ryan Blaney from Team Penske, who qualifies as the highest-ranking playoff driver. Rounding out the top five are Todd Gilliland, Josh Berry, and Austin Cindric. Other notable drivers in the top ten include Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, William Byron, and Chase Briscoe.
Playoff Drivers and Their Starting Positions
As for the playoff drivers, their starting positions going into the race vary. Notable placements include Alex Bowman in 11th, Harrison Burton in 12th, and Chase Elliott in 16th. Other playoff competitors include Brad Keselowski at 19th, Ty Gibbs at 20th, Martin Truex Jr. at 22nd, Tyler Reddick at 23rd, Christopher Bell in 26th, Daniel Suarez at 30th, and, notably, Denny Hamlin starting in the 38th position.
With the first stage of the Atlanta race consisting of just 60 laps, there won’t be a need for a green-flag pit stop, making starting positions even more critical for accumulating stage points. However, only six out of the 16 playoff drivers managed to move into the final qualifying round, setting the stage for a highly competitive race ahead.
Source
www.motorsport.com