Denny Hamlin Takes Pole for NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover
Denny Hamlin secured the pole position for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, overcoming a spin during his warmup lap to finish ahead of Brad Keselowski. The qualifying session was marked by significant attrition and errors, with only 24 of 36 teams completing error-free runs. In related competitions, Zane Smith’s Front Row Motorsports pit crew won the $100,000 Pit Crew Challenge. The main race, featuring a unique format with segment reductions, is scheduled for May 17 and will be broadcast nationally on FS1.
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Denny Hamlin Defeats Teammate Chase Briscoe to Win Second NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover
Denny Hamlin secured his second NASCAR All-Star Race victory by outdueling Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe at Dover Motor Speedway on May 17, 2026. Starting from the pole position, Hamlin led the final 30 laps of the caution-heavy event to claim the $1 million prize, finishing 0.887 seconds ahead of Briscoe. This marks Hamlin's third consecutive win on the 1-mile oval. The race was marred by numerous crashes, particularly in the first two segments, which eliminated over half of the 36-car field. Notable exits included popular driver Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain, who were unable to repair their cars after wrecks. Ryan Preece triggered an early fiery crash but emerged unscathed. Kyle Larson retired due to mechanical failure. Toyota dominated the podium with Erik Jones completing a top-three sweep for the manufacturer. The event served as a precursor to the upcoming Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
yahoo sportsDenny Hamlin Wins NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover
Denny Hamlin secured victory in the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, claiming the $1 million prize. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver overtook his teammate Chase Briscoe with 29 laps remaining in the final segment, holding on to win by 0.887 seconds. This marked Hamlin's second All-Star Race title and his third consecutive win at the Dover track. The race was marred by several significant incidents, including an early nine-car wreck involving Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott. Elliott's day ended prematurely after a second incident involving Riley Herbst. Other notable crashes affected drivers such as Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, and Joey Logano. Erik Jones finished third, followed by Austin Dillon and rookie Connor Zilisch. The event featured multiple segments with varying leaders, including Brad Keselowski, Bubba Wallace, AJ Allmendinger, and Tyler Reddick, before Hamlin ultimately prevailed in the high-stakes exhibition race.
Deadspin > Sports News Without Fear, Favor or CompromiseDenny Hamlin Wins $1 Million in Crash-Heavy NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover
Denny Hamlin secured victory in the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover International Speedway, claiming the $1 million prize after a chaotic event marked by multiple significant crashes. Starting from pole position, Hamlin led 103 laps to achieve his second All-Star win. He was followed by teammate Chase Briscoe in second and Erik Jones in third, completing a dominant 1-2-3 finish for Toyota. The race, held at the 'Monster Mile,' featured intense action across segments, including a nine-car pileup on Lap 2 that involved Ryan Preece, whose car caught fire, though he escaped injury. Another major wreck occurred on the frontstretch near the end, eliminating several contenders like Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch. Despite the carnage and format-induced chaos, Hamlin praised the competitive nature of the race, highlighting his car's speed and ability to navigate traffic as key factors in his success. The event showcased both high-speed competition and the unpredictable dangers inherent in short-track racing.
yahoo sportsDenny Hamlin Wins Pole for NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover After Recovering from Spin
Denny Hamlin secured the pole position for the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, marking his second career pole in this exhibition event. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver demonstrated resilience by recovering from a spin during his qualifying warmup lap on the concrete oval. Despite the incident, Hamlin posted a competitive two-lap time of 1 minute, 49.298 seconds, which included a mandatory four-tire pit stop. He credited his team's efficient pit crew for keeping him in contention. Brad Keselowski qualified second, followed by Erik Jones, Ross Chastain, and William Byron. The qualifying session saw several other drivers face difficulties, including spins by Connor Zilisch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and speeding penalties for Zane Smith, Michael McDowell, and Kyle Larson. Although Smith qualified 25th, his crew earned a bonus and prime pit stall selection for the fastest pit stop time. This event marks the first time Dover has hosted the All-Star Race. The main race features two 75-lap stages followed by a final 200-lap segment with 26 cars competing.
yahoo sportsDenny Hamlin Secures Pole for NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover
Denny Hamlin has secured the pole position for the upcoming NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, edging out Brad Keselowski by 0.149 seconds in a dramatic late qualifying session. Despite spinning on his warm-up lap, Hamlin recovered to post the fastest three-lap average, which included a timed pit stop. The unique qualifying format penalized several top contenders, including Hendrick Motorsports' Kyle Larson, who lost a front-row spot due to pit road infractions. Meanwhile, Zane Smith's Front Row Motorsports team won the $100,000 Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge, earning the crucial first pit stall selection for Sunday's race. This event marks the first time the All-Star Race is held at the concrete oval in Dover, Delaware. The race structure features two 75-lap segments followed by a 200-lap finale for a $1 million prize. Nineteen drivers, including recent winners and former champions like Hamlin, Keselowski, and Kyle Busch, are locked into the final segment, with additional spots available for top performers from the opening stages and the Fan Vote winner.
Deadspin > Sports News Without Fear, Favor or CompromiseDenny Hamlin Wins Pole for NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover After Spin
Denny Hamlin secured the pole position for the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, overcoming a significant setback during his qualifying attempt. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver spun his No. 11 Toyota on the warmup lap while attempting to generate tire heat but recovered to post a competitive two-lap time of 1 minute, 49.298 seconds, which included a four-tire pit stop. Hamlin credited his team's efficient pit crew for keeping him in contention despite the early error. Brad Keselowski qualified second, followed by Erik Jones, Ross Chastain, and William Byron at the track known as the "Monster Mile." The qualifying session was marked by difficulties for several drivers, including spins by Connor Zilisch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and speeding penalties for others. Daniel Suarez crashed into the wall after a tire failure. Although Hamlin admitted qualifying is not his strength, he expressed confidence in his car's performance for the race segments. Additionally, Zane Smith's team earned the first pit stall selection and a bonus for recording the fastest pit stop time. The event marks the first time Dover hosts the All-Star Race.
yahoo sportsDenny Hamlin Wins All-Star Race Pole Despite Spin; Front Row Motorsports Takes Pit Crew Prize
Denny Hamlin secured the pole position for the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover International Speedway despite spinning on his warmup lap. The qualifying session was marked by chaos, including multiple spins, penalties, and mechanical issues among drivers. Hamlin credited his team's performance during the mandatory four-tire pit stop, which is integrated into the unique three-lap qualifying format. He will start on the front row alongside Brad Keselowski, with Erik Jones, Ross Chastain, and William Byron rounding out the top five. In a separate competition within the event, the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports pit crew won the $100,000 Pit Crew Challenge. Driving the Ford for Zane Smith, the crew recorded the fastest stop at 12.612 seconds, narrowly beating the No. 97 Trackhouse Racing team. Other notable incidents included Connor Zilisch spinning into pit road and receiving a penalty, John Hunter Nemechek failing to complete his run due to an unsecured wheel, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. managing a dramatic save after spinning at Turn 4. The session highlighted the critical role of pit crew efficiency and driver adaptability under pressure in the unconventional qualifying format.
yahoo sportsDenny Hamlin Takes Pole for NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover
Denny Hamlin secured the pole position for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, finishing 0.144 seconds faster than Brad Keselowski in qualifying. Despite spinning while exiting pit road before his run, Hamlin topped the leaderboard for Joe Gibbs Racing. The qualifying session saw significant attrition, with only 24 of the 36 teams completing error-free runs. Zane Smith’s Front Row Motorsports pit crew earned a $100,000 prize for the fastest pit stop of the day, although Smith’s starting position was penalized due to a speeding violation on pit road. The full 36-car starting lineup has been set, featuring top drivers such as Erik Jones, Ross Chastain, and William Byron in the top five. The race is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, with the green flag waving at approximately 12:05 p.m. CT. The event will be broadcast nationally on FS1, with additional streaming options available via Fubo, the FOX One app, and HBO Max for in-car camera feeds. The race consists of 350 laps divided into three segments, with the field reducing to 25 cars after the second segment.
yahoo sportsDenny Hamlin Takes Pole for NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover
Denny Hamlin secured the pole position for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, posting a three-lap qualifying time 0.144 seconds faster than runner-up Brad Keselowski. Notably, Hamlin achieved this top spot despite spinning while exiting pit road prior to his green flag run. The qualifying session saw significant attrition, with only 24 of the 36 participating teams completing error-free runs. In related events, Zane Smith’s No. 38 Front Row Motorsports pit crew claimed the $100,000 prize for the fastest pit stop of the day, although Smith’s own starting position was penalized due to a speeding violation on pit road. The article provides the complete 36-car starting lineup, featuring prominent drivers such as Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and William Byron. The All-Star Race is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, with a green flag time of approximately 12:05 p.m. CT. The event will be broadcast nationally on FS1, with additional streaming options available via Fubo, the FOX One app, and HBO Max for in-car camera feeds.
yahoo sports