Darlington: Denny Hamlin qualifying report

Denny Hamlin Qualifies 23rd at the Track Too Tough to Tame

Darlington, SC -- Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing, qualified 23rd for tomorrow night's Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com at Darlington Raceway.

In both practice sessions earlier today, the No. 11 Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota was quick, including posting the 4th fastest time in final practice. A rain shower and an early qualifying draw didn't help the Farm Bureau Insurance team heading into qualifying. Still, Denny drove it hard and was putting down a solid lap until brushing the wall in turn four.

"It was a driver mistake for sure. I just swung for the fences; I tried to get in the gas way too early there. I know I got through (turns) one and two pretty good and just made a mistake. I got in the gas a little too early and had a tire shake in the front. I tried to use a little brake to get the front back on the track but just lost the nose off four and got a little damage," said Denny Hamlin after exiting the No. 11 Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota during Coors Pole Qualifying.

Denny Hamlin runs well at Darlington and the No. 11 Farm Bureau Insurance team will look to come through the field quickly tomorrow night. "We're going to have to come from deep in the field, but our Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota has done it before so we'll have to do it again this weekend. The Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota is pretty good in race trim, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow night's Southern 500," finished Denny.

-credit: jgr