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Hamlin wins Sprint Cup pole in California

FONTANA, Calif., March 23 (UPI) -- Denny Hamlin won the pole Friday for Sunday's running of the auto Club 400 at the Auto Club Speedway.

Hamlin was clocked at 186.403 mph during his qualifying lap at the 2-mile track, giving him the 10th Sprint Cup pole of his career. He had not won a pole in 44 races, his previous one having come in October 2010 at Martinsville, Va.

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Five different drivers have won the pole at the five Sprint Cup races this year.

Hamlin's teammate, Kyle Busch, had the second-fastest qualifying lap, followed by Mark Martin, Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne. The rest of the leading 10 was made up of Ryan Newman, defending race winner Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson.

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