Sports

Hamlin sets track record and wins pole at Pocono Raceway

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Crew members push the race car of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., under cloudy skies at Pocono Raceway before practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race in Long Pond, Pa., Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (The Associated Press)

Two women measure the width of the front straight at the finish line at Pocono Raceway as preparations are made for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race in Long Pond, Pa., Thursday, June 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (The Associated Press)

Denny Hamlin turned a track-record lap of 181.415 mph to win the pole at Pocono Raceway.

Hamlin is a four-time winner at Pocono and won his third pole at the track on Friday. Kurt Busch joins Hamlin on the front row for Sunday's race.

Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon round out the top five.

Hamlin swept two Pocono races from the pole in 2006. He also won races on the 2 1/2-mile track in 2009 and 2010.