Hamlin claims pole

FONTANA, Calif. -- Former Chesterfield resident Denny Hamlin won the pole for tomorrow's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway.

Hamlin averaged 183.870 mph during his qualifying run around the 2-mile oval. The pole is his first of the year and seventh of his career. Hamlin's last pole came at Richmond in 2008.

David Reutimann will start second, followed by Greg Biffle.

Three-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson will start fourth. Points leader Mark Martin will start 10th.

Nationwide Series to phase in new car

FONTANA, Calif. -- The NASCAR Nationwide Series will phase in a new car in 2010, with the cars expected to be used full time during the 2011 season.

The new car will be unveiled at the July race at Daytona International Speedway. It will also be used in races at Michigan, Richmond and Lowe's Motorspeedway before being fully integrated in 2011.

The move comes on the heels of a meeting between owners, crew chiefs and NASCAR officials in July. NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said the four races next year will give teams good feedback heading into 2011.

IRL down to three

Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Ryan Briscoe, in some order, will finish 1-2-3 in the seasonlong IRL standings.

Everything else is a crazy tossup.

It's been a wild year points-wise on the IndyCar circuit as it is, with 13 changes atop the standings, not including the season-opener.

The jostling hasn't been limited to the top spot, either. Helio Castroneves is currently fourth; he could wind up as low as eighth. Danica Patrick, currently fifth, will finish somewhere between fourth and 10th.

Tony Kanaan is eighth entering today's Indy 300; he could climb as high as fourth if things go right in the finale.

Elsewhere

• Sarah Fisher Racing will expand for the 2010 Indy Racing League season, adding a second car and running three more races.