AVONDALE, Ariz.(AP) — Denny Hamlin's quest to win his first career NASCAR championship will begin from the pole position.

Hamlin will lead the field to green at Phoenix Raceway in Sunday's winner-take-all finale. The Cup will be awarded to the highest finisher among Hamlin, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe, and William Byron and Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports.

“A fast car is still going to make it to the front,” Hamlin said of his challengers. “It's an advantage, but it's small.”

Larson is the only driver in the championship field with a title, while two-time reigning Daytona 500 winner Byron is back in the final four for the third consecutive year. Briscoe is making his title race debut and Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner considered the best NASCAR driver to n

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