NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Hamlin Will Start First In Sunday Rivalry
Denny Hamlin won the pole for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway...
Mike Hembree  |  Posted October 22, 2010   Martinsville, VA
Denny Hamlin holds the pole award for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Denny Hamlin did all he could do Friday in his pursuit of Sprint Cup point leader Jimmie Johnson.

Hamlin won the pole position for Sunday's Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 97.018 mph. It's the second pole win of the season for Hamlin, who enters the race in second in points, 41 behind Johnson.

“We focused on qualifying knowing that the No. 1 pit stall is very, very critical here at Martinsville,” Hamlin said. “I love it when a plan comes together.”

Martinsville's pit road is very tight, and the first pit stall at the forward end of pit row is easily the best.

Hamlin had talked earlier in the day Friday about trying to win the pole to give him a better shot at keeping Johnson from leading a lap Sunday, thus potentially preventing Johnson from a five-point gain.

Johnson was down the qualifying list in 19th at a track where passing requires patience and persistence.

Following Hamlin in the top five were Marcos Ambrose, Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Kevin Harvick, chasing Johnson from the third spot in points (77 back), qualified 36th.

Kasey Kahne, making his first run for Red Bull Racing after splitting with Richard Petty Motorsports Wednesday, qualified 33rd, and Aric Almirola, his temporary replacement at RPM, was 35th.

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

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