Hamlin on pole at Fontana; rival Logano close behind
FONTANA, Calif. — The distraction of an ongoing feud with Joey Logano apparently isn't slowing Denny Hamlin down.
Hamlin won the pole position for Sunday's Auto Club 400 at Fontana's Auto Club Speedway, out-dueling Logano (sixth) and 41 other drivers one week after an incident at Bristol sparked a war of tweets.
Though Hamlin showed slight remorse on Friday over some of his comments, Logano made it clear through short answers that the ill feelings aren't going away anytime soon.
In one-sentence responses, Logano vowed to race Hamlin "the way he raced me" and said there won't be any resolution "until anyone says anything to me personally."
"I haven't gotten a phone call, so he can tell you whatever he wants, right?" Logano said to reporters.
Minutes earlier, Hamlin told the media he regretted questioning Logano's driving ability because "I didn't need to give my opinion on that; I think it was kind of a low blow."
When the two were teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin said, they clashed on the racetrack several times but it was kept out of the spotlight.
"It never really was public, but we had times where it was like, 'Hey, why'd you race me that way?' or vice versa," Hamlin said. "I think I had just as much disappointment as him on the racetrack as teammates as he had in me. I think it was an even shake there.
"Off the racetrack, we'd see each other on the racetrack in Monday morning meetings and be like nothing ever happened."
Told of Hamlin's comments, Logano said, "Yeah, I'd agree with that" but said he was "still a little surprised" at how the relationship has unraveled this year.
Hamlin said he was frustrated that Logano cut him off three times at Bristol before Hamlin nudged him — and said he was disappointed the TV broadcast did not show what led to the incident. He also speculated Logano "feels like he's got a lot to prove over there," which probably added to the frustration after the wreck.
"My way of retaliating was to nudge him," Hamlin said. "Well, I shouldn't have nudged him in the spot I did and he spun out. But he still had a good day going."
The two will eventually run into each other in person and talk it out, Hamlin said. He further said he wasn't worried at all about possible carryover to future races.
"Trust me, I'm pretty comfortable with how we are and the way we act as professional race car drivers," he said. "It's always hot and heavy for a few weeks and typically it goes away."
But Logano apparently isn't as sure. When it was pointed out he still appeared to be upset, he replied, "Do you think I should be? ... I think so."
Greg Biffle and Brad Keselowski qualified second and third, respectively, but both will have to drop to the back due to engine changes. That means Kyle Busch (fourth) will start alongside Hamlin, with Logano on the outside of Row 2 — just feet from his newfound rival.
Here's the complete starting lineup for Sunday's Auto Club 400:
- Denny Hamlin
- Greg Biffle
- Brad Keselowski
- Kyle Busch
- Matt Kenseth
- Joey Logano
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Tony Stewart
- Mark Martin
- Kurt Busch
- Casey Mears
- Juan Pablo Montoya
- Clint Bowyer
- Kevin Harvick
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Kasey Kahne
- Jamie McMurray
- Jimmie Johnson
- Jeff Gordon
- Ryan Newman
- Marcos Ambrose
- Jeff Burton
- Aric Almirola
- Carl Edwards
- Bobby Labonte
- AJ Allmendinger
- Paul Menard
- David Reutimann
- Dave Blaney
- Josh Wise
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- David Stremme
- Travis Kvapil
- David Gilliland
- Michael McDowell
- Landon Cassill
- JJ Yeley
- Scott Riggs
- Timmy Hill
- Danica Patrick
- Mike Bliss
- David Ragan
- Joe Nemechek
Follow Jeff Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck