Denny Hamlin Wins Pole at Martinsville

JGR driver claims 49th career pole, edges William Byron for top starting spot

Mar. 29, 2026 at 7:07pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the intense action and competition of a NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway, with the cars and track broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.Hamlin's pole-winning performance at Martinsville showcases his mastery of the historic short track, as the veteran driver continues to prove his speed and experience.Martinsville Today

Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin claimed the 49th Busch Light Pole Award of his career on Saturday, securing the number one starting spot for Sunday's Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota turned a lap of 98.241 mph around the half-mile oval, edging out William Byron's No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet by just 0.056 seconds.

Why it matters

Hamlin has long been one of the best drivers at the historic Martinsville short track, and starting up front will give him a prime opportunity to earn his second victory of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The pole also ties Hamlin with Bobby Issac for the 10th most pole awards in Cup Series history.

The details

Hamlin said he knew his car had the speed to potentially claim the pole after a strong practice session, and he was able to put together a near-perfect qualifying lap to edge out Byron. The top five starters also include Wood Brothers Racing's Josh Berry, Hamlin's JGR teammate Ty Gibbs, and Trackhouse Racing's Shane van Gisbergen.

  • Hamlin claimed the 49th pole award of his career on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • The Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The players

Denny Hamlin

A veteran driver for Joe Gibbs Racing who has established himself as one of the best competitors at Martinsville Speedway, claiming his 49th career pole position on Saturday.

William Byron

The driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, who qualified second and will start alongside Hamlin on the front row.

Josh Berry

The driver of the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing, who qualified third for Sunday's race.

Ty Gibbs

The driver of the No. 54 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, who will start fourth alongside Berry on the second row.

Shane van Gisbergen

The driver of the No. 97 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, who turned an impressive oval qualifying effort with a fifth-place starting position.

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What they’re saying

“I knew it was possible simply from where my car was in practice. Any time you've got fast lap speed in practice here that's in the top 12, you're close enough there that qualifying trim doesn't change your car that much.”

— Denny Hamlin

“I never really go into any weekend thinking about qualifying on pole, it's really kind of a sidebar to how my Saturday goes. It's pretty awesome, and really, with age, the hardest part is actually still having a fast time. It's one thing to be able to manage races and use your experience to your advantage. But usually, the first thing to go is your raw speed and we're still knocking off poles, which is really good.”

— Denny Hamlin

What’s next

Hamlin will look to convert his pole position into his second victory of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season in Sunday's Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway.

The takeaway

Denny Hamlin's pole-winning performance at Martinsville Speedway showcases his continued mastery of the historic short track, as the veteran driver ties Bobby Issac for the 10th most pole awards in Cup Series history. Hamlin's speed and experience will make him a top contender to earn his second win of the season on Sunday.