August 16, 2019 | By Lee Spencer

NASCAR Notebook: Hamlin celebrates Toyota's first pole of 2019

BRISTOL, Tenn.—Denny Hamlin delivered his fourth pole in the No. 11 Fed Ex Toyota at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday.

Hamlin earned his 31st pole—and his first of 2019—with a lap of 129.230mph.

He seemed quite pleased that he knocked his golfing buddy Kyle Larson off of the provisional pole

“I didn’t know I beat Larson,” Hamlin said with a smirk. “I thought it was Martin (Truex Jr.). Perfect. Even better. I was wondering why he was giving me the finger when I pulled in. No, that’s awesome.

“I knew we had a shot. The second practice especially, our car was really good and had good speed at the front of the run and end of the run. I was confident as long as the crew chief did his job and I did my job, we’d definitely have a chance.”

Not only was the pole the first for Hamlin this year, it was the first for any Toyota in the Cup Series. Although the manufacturer has been prolific when it comes to wins—Toyota has won half of the races since 2017—when it comes to starting from the point the single lap speed has been missing. Hamlin prefers the consolation prize.

“Fortunately for us, qualifying doesn’t pay any money and it doesn’t pay any points,” Hamlin said. “It really hasn’t weighed on us. I mean obviously with the aero package that we have, you can make your car on most tracks as fast or slow as you want to, but you have concerns about racing after that. We’ve really focused on making our cars race well and that’s where all the accolades come from.

“Sure, you want to win a pole. That’s obviously a big deal. If you don’t win a pole for your organization or a manufacturer or yourself in a year, it maybe shows a little lack of speed, but I certainly knew that we’ve had race-winning speed all year long. With the new qualifying format and all that, it’s not been our focus. It’s been the race. Certainly we knew short tracks would be an opportunity where we could get that done.”

 

Blaney gets banged around

It was bad enough that Ryan Blaney had a power-steering pump fail in Happy Hour—he didn’t expect to hurt his shoulder in the process.

Blaney had posted the second-fastest time in the session prior to losing the power in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford on Friday. Although he kept his car in one piece, his shoulder took a beating.

“I don’t know what jacked around in there, but you’re all the way left and that thing all of a sudden stops working at max load, and not expecting it,” Blaney said. “Kind of straightens out real fast and then putting pressure back to the left right away to try and keep it off the fence, I think just kind of messed it up. 

“I banged it up against a couple cabinets and it got back pretty good, so I’m fine.”

After repairs to Blaney’s car, he’ll roll off 12th on Saturday.

 

DiBenedetto considering his options

Matt DiBenedetto was informed his contract would not be renewed after this season.

But he’s going to make the most of the time he has left behind the wheel of the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota.

DiBenedetto proved that on Friday after qualifying seventh with a lap of 128.460mph.

“This is a track we’ve had circled off,” DiBenedetto said.“Short tracks, road courses, places where we can hustle the car. It’s good to come out and have good speed. I feel good about our car.

“I didn’t feel good about our qualifying lap. I’m glad we still ended up seventh because I, along with a lot of other people got loose.”

DiBenedetto had hoped his performance would earn him a reprieve. He’s posted two top fives and four top 10s in his last eight starts. As for potential rides for 2020, the 28-year-old Grass Valley, Californian’s phone has yet to ring.

“I have no irons in the fire, per se, yet” DiBenedetto said. “But this all just happened this week. I keep everyone posted right on.  When I find out something, I like to tell everybody. I like to be an open book.

“I don’t want to retire yet, because I’m just 28-year-old and just getting started. But I want to win in the Cup Series. That’s what I said and that’s my goal. I want to keep on climbing the ladder not go backwards.”

 

Speaking of contracts…

Aric Almirola says he’s locked into the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford for 2020.

The 35-year-old driver is in his second season with continued support from Smithfield Foods.

“We’ve had a multi-year agreement from the very beginning,” Almirola said. “So, we’re all good.”

Almirola is currently 11th in the standings following a disappointing 33rd-place finish last weekend at Michigan Speedway. He won a pole at Atlanta earlier this season but is still looking for his first win of 2019. Almirola qualified fifth for the Bristol Night Race.