Denny Hamlin secured the pole position for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, March 28. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver posted a top qualifying lap of 19.275 seconds, edging out William Byron. The session reinforced Toyota’s strong early-season form, placing multiple entries in the top ten as points leader Tyler Reddick qualified eighth.
Key Takeaways:
- Denny Hamlin wins pole with a lap time of 19.275 seconds.
- William Byron qualifies second, joining Hamlin on the front row.
- Toyota teams continue 2026 dominance with several top-ten starters.
- Points leader Tyler Reddick, fresh off a Darlington win, will start eighth.
- Shane van Gisbergen surprises with a fifth-place qualifying run.
Hamlin, Byron Headline Front Row for Cook Out 400
Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota will lead the field to green for Sunday’s race at the 0.526-mile Virginia short track. William Byron, in the No. 24 Chevrolet, will start alongside him on the front row. The qualifying result sets the stage for a strategic battle, with track position being critical at Martinsville.
Toyota Power Prevails in Qualifying Session
The qualifying order underscores Toyota’s performance advantage through the first six weeks of the 2026 season. Joe Gibbs Racing placed three cars in the top twelve, including Hamlin and fourth-place starter Ty Gibbs. 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace also qualified inside the top fifteen, maintaining the manufacturer’s consistent front-running pace.
Reddick Faces Mid-Pack Challenge After Darlington Win
Current Cup Series points leader Tyler Reddick, who won last weekend’s race at Darlington, will begin his Martinsville campaign from the eighth starting position. This places the No. 45 Toyota driver directly in competitive traffic, requiring a calculated drive forward to challenge for a series-leading fifth victory of the season.
