Hamlin sits on pole as he goes for 1st career win at Dover

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Denny Hamlin is on the pole as he goes for his first victory at Dover International Speedway.

Hamlin is for 0 for 27 in races on the concrete mile track dating to 2006. He has only four top-five finishes, did not finish four times and his average finish is just 17.5 place. He finished 21st in the No. 11 Toyota in the May race at Dover.

Martin Truex Jr. won the spring race.

Hamlin will lead the field to green for the second round of the playoffs in his 500th career NASCAR Cup Series start. Richard Petty at Trenton in 1970 and Matt Kenseth at New Hampshire in 2013 are the only drivers to win their 500th start.

Joe Gibbs Racing has 15 wins this season and needs three more in seven races to match Hendrick Motorsports’ record total of 18 in 2007.