Hamlin, Biffle starting on front row for all-star race

Concord, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Denny Hamlin will start on the pole for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race while Greg Biffle will roll off second after they were the top-two drivers in qualifying, held prior to the race.

Hamlin, the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, completed his three laps around the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway and his mandatory four-tire pit stop in 1 minute, 51.227 seconds at an average speed of 145.648 mph. He is making his ninth appearance in the all-star race. It was the first time Hamlin won the pole for this event. He has yet to win the race.

Biffle completed his run in 1:52.000 (144.643 mph). Brad Keselowski qualified third, followed by Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne and Danica Patrick.

On Friday night, Biffle won the first 20-lap segment of the Sprint Showdown and Bowyer took the checkered flag for the second 20-lap segment to transfer into the all-star race. Patrick secured a spot in this race after she won the online fan vote for the second time in three years.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Aric Almirola, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards completed the top-10.

Qualifying 11th through 20th in the 20-car field were: Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson, who has won the all-star race a record four times, A.J. Allmendinger, Jamie McMurray, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick.

Kyle Busch is making his first Sprint Cup start since missing the first 11 races this season due to a fractured right leg and left foot he suffered during an accident in the Feb. 21 Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

Harvick received a five-second penalty on his qualifying run when his jackman crossed over the pit wall too soon, causing him to finish last in qualifying.

The all-star race is divided into five segments for a total of 110 laps (25/25/25/25/10). The winner of the race will collect at least $1 million. McMurray won last year's event.