CONCORD, N.C. — Denny Hamlin isn’t ready to say he’s back, even after winning the pole for Coca-Cola 600 with a record-setting qualifying lap Thursday night.

He said it would take a win Sunday night or at another Sprint Cup race later in the season before he’s willing to make that declaration.

But Hamlin showed he continues to be on the mend after being sidelined for four races with a compression fracture in his lower spine following a March 24 crash involving former teammate Joey Logano.

Two weeks after finishing second at the Darlington 500, Hamlin broke the track record with a lap of 195.624 mph to capture his first pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“Getting the big trophy on Sunday — that is the validation that you are truly back,” Hamlin said.

He and Jimmie Johnson are the only two drivers to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup every year they’ve been eligible.

He wants to keep it that way — and then some.

“It’s going to take wins and consistency throughout the next several months to put ourselves in position to have a chance at a championship,” Hamlin said.

Four Toyotas will start in the top five. Hamlin will start alongside Kurt Busch on the front row, followed by Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin and Clint Bowyer. Kasey Kahne will start sixth, Greg Biffle seventh, Kyle Busch eighth, Jamie McMurray ninth and Ryan Newman rounds out the top 10.