AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyle Larson was the driver to beat all season in his comeback with Hendrick Motorsports. With only the NASCAR Cup Series championship race left, the three other contenders will chase Larson one more time.
Larson nipped defending champion Chase Elliott for the pole Saturday at Phoenix Raceway to make it a 1-2 front row for Hendrick Motorsports in the finale.
Hendrick and Chevrolet start with an early edge Sunday against Joe Gibbs Racing contenders Martin Truex, Jr. and Denny Hamlin. Hamlin starts sixth in the No. 11 Toyota and Truex is 12th in the No. 19.
“Today we’re behind,” Truex said. “I don’t know that that guarantees tomorrow we’ll be behind.”
Hamlin sat stone-faced as he discussed JGR's qualifying struggles and deadpanned he was going to “rage” Saturday night to get ready for yet another championship race.
A three-time Daytona 500 winner and first-year Cup team owner, Hamlin fell short in four previous title tries.
“I’ve locked myself in a hotel room before, nights before the finals,” Hamlin said. “That doesn’t work.”
Larson went out 37th in the qualifying order and his lap of 137.847 mph was enough to knock Elliott off the top spot. Elliott was second in the No. 9 Chevy.
The 29-year-old Larson missed last season's race as he served out the end of a nearly season-long suspension for using a racial slur. The time off didn't slow down Larson. He raced all over the country in sprint cars this season and dominated in his first season driving for team owner Rick Hendrick.
“I really don’t want to think about losing and trying to be happy,” Larson said.
Larson, Hamlin and Truex all had team members ejected for Sunday's race for twice failing inspection. Larson had his pick of pit stalls and his team chose the first one.
The drivers conceded the starting spot might not matter much at Phoenix. Elliott’s car failed pre-race inspection before last season's championship race and the penalty cost him the pole when he was sent to the rear. But he raced his way through traffic in the first stage and then took control of the championship.
Larson, with a series-high nine wins, will gladly take the top spot.
“It definitely doesn't hurt for sure,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s a championship-winning moment.”
Elliott is the reigning champion, NASCAR’s most popular driver and defending race winner, while 2017 champion Truex won at Phoenix this spring. They join three-time Daytona 500 winner and four-time championship loser Hamlin in chasing Larson.
Elliott said he didn't think his speed was good enough to even take second, much less hold on for the pole.
“The longer you go out there, it isn't a bad thing,” he said.
Larson actually has 10 wins, the non-points $1 million All-Star race isn’t counted in his total, and his 2,474 laps led this season broke Jeff Gordon’s 20-year record.
“We still have the major thing that we really want to accomplish tomorrow," Larson said.
WDUN will carry live MRN Radio coverage of Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series season finale from Phoenix Raceway beginning at 2 pm on 102.9 FM and streaming live on AccessWDUN.
NASCAR Cup Series
Phoenix Raceway - Avondale, AZ
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race - November 6, 2021
Saturday's Qualifying Results
Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed
1. 5 Kyle Larson (P) HendrickCars.com Chevrolet 26.116 137.847
2. 9 Chase Elliott (P) NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 26.289 136.939
3. 24 William Byron Raptor Chevrolet 26.307 136.846
4. 12 Ryan Blaney Menards/Jack Links Ford 26.315 136.804
5. 1 Kurt Busch Monster Energy Chevrolet 26.327 136.742
6. 11 Denny Hamlin (P) FedEx Express Toyota 26.361 136.565
7. 41 Cole Custer HaasTooling.com Ford 26.432 136.199
8. 20 Christopher Bell DEWALT Toyota 26.433 136.193
9. 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Light #BuschPitBoss Ford 26.434 136.188
10. 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 26.436 136.178
11. 2 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire Ford 26.469 136.008
12. 19 Martin Truex, Jr. (P) Bass Pro Shops Toyota 26.494 135.880
13. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota 26.502 135.839
14. 48 Alex Bowman Ally Chevrolet 26.544 135.624
15. 21 Matt DiBenedetto Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford 26.544 135.624
16. 42 Ross Chastain Clover Chevrolet 26.544 135.624
17. 99 Daniel Suarez Good Sam Chevrolet 26.558 135.552
18. 10 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 26.568 135.501
19. 6 Ryan Newman Castrol GTX Full Synthetic Ford 26.576 135.461
20. 8 Tyler Reddick BetMGM Chevrolet 26.592 135.379
21. 47 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Honey Nut Cheerios Chevrolet 26.594 135.369
22. 14 Chase Briscoe # HighPoint.com Ford 26.623 135.221
23. 3 Austin Dillon Dow Coatings Chevrolet 26.649 135.089
24. 7 Corey LaJoie Schluter Systems Chevrolet 26.652 135.074
25. 23 Bubba Wallace Door Dash Toyota 26.665 135.008
26. 17 Chris Buescher Fastenal Ford 26.683 134.917
27. 43 Erik Jones Rellevate Chevrolet 26.722 134.720
28. 34 Michael McDowell Love's Travel Stops Ford 26.811 134.273
29. 77 Justin Haley(i) Peacock - Streaming Now Chevrolet 26.812 134.268
30. 38 Anthony Alfredo # Boot Barn Ford 26.906 133.799
31. 37 Ryan Preece Kroger Chevrolet 26.921 133.725
32. 78 B.J. McLeod(i) Pala Casino Ford 27.181 132.445
33. 51 Cody Ware(i) Nurtec ODT Chevrolet 27.560 130.624
34. 53 Joey Gase(i) DonateLife Chevrolet 27.716 129.889
35. 00 Quin Houff CREEK Enterprises Inc. Chevrolet 27.861 129.213
36. 13 David Starr(i) Bob Menery Ripper Magoo Toyota 27.874 129.153
37. 52 Josh Bilicki(i) Boom Ford 27.887 129.092
38. 15 Garrett Smithley(i) Carpets of Arizona Chevrolet 28.243 127.465
39. 66 Timmy Hill(i) Coble Enterprises/Darn Transport Toyota 0.000 0.000
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