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Denny Hamlin wins Sprint All-Star Race pole, Biffle also on front row

denny hamlin ASR 2015 getty

Denny Hamlin and Greg Biffle will start on the front row in tonight’s 31st Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Hamlin and his Toyota will start from the pole for the first time in All-Star Race history, having a field-best speed of 145.648 and a best time of 1:51.227.

“I felt like I got everything,” Hamlin, seeking his first All-Star victory, told Fox Sports 1. “We’re hopefully going to go for a million.”

The qualifying session involved three laps, including a four-tire pit stop. In addition, there was no speed limit onto or off pit road during the pit stop.

The total time each driver achieved determined their starting position.

Biffle, the second-to-last driver to make a qualifying run, recorded a speed of 144.643 mph at 1:52.000 in his Ford. Biffle won one of the two segments in Friday night’s Sprint Showdown to transfer into the All-Star Race.

All 20 drivers in the field are vying for a $1 million first prize. The 110-lap race will be divided into four 25-lap segments, followed by a 10-lap sprint to the finish.

Brad Keselowski was third with a speed of 144.349 mph and a time of 1:52.228.

One of the last qualifiers, Clint Bowyer, grabbed the fourth spot with a speed of 144.256 mph at 1:52.300. Like Biffle, Bowyer won the other Sprint Showdown qualifying segment on Friday to transfer into the All-Star Race.

Kasey Kahne, who won Friday night’s thrilling finish in the Camping World Truck Series race, will start fifth (143.625 mph, 1:52.794), followed by Danica Patrick (143.499 mph, 1:52.893) in sixth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (143.209 mph, 1:53.121) in seventh.

“Holy crap,” a seemingly incredulous Patrick said on her team radio after learning where she qualified.

Patrick’s fortune didn’t last. An engine change will force her to start at the rear.

Reigning Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick will start last (20th after being penalized five seconds when his jackman inadvertently lost his balance atop the pit wall and stepped onto the pit box before Harvick arrived.)

There were no incidents in the 20-car session.

ASR Starting lineup

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