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NASCAR: Bell wins pole at Talladega

Posted by AR1 staff

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell earned his second career NASCAR Cup Series pole position with a lap of 180.92 mph around the 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Saturday morning – just edging his teammate Martin Truex Jr., by a scant .081-second.

The all-JGR Toyota front row marks the first time the team has swept top qualifying honors (in a qualifying session) at Talladega. The teammates will lead the field to green in Sunday’s GEICO 500 (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“I can’t say I got anything [picking up speed] that was all my crew guys. I’m just very thankful to be in the position I am driving for Joe Gibbs Racing,’’ said Bell, whose best Talladega finish in four starts is fifth in last fall’s race.

“We’ve got a great team and this one is a pretty big thank you to [executive] Andy Graves at TRD (Toyota Racing Development). We ride him pretty hard, but I’ll give this engine a 10, Andy.’’

Asked if he thought the wind gusts at the track ultimately made a difference in his pole-winning speed, the 27-year-old smiled and said, “it didn’t hurt.’’

“Even from the first round to the second round I could tell my RPMs picked up really big going down the back straightaway then they were pretty flat going down the front straightaway, so I don’t’ know if it was an advantage to me, but definitely didn’t hurt,’’ said Bell, whose previous pole position came in March at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Daniel Hemric – held the top qualifying position until the final two cars in the second round (Truex and Bell) and will start third in the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. Daniel Suárez was fourth fastest in the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson was fifth fastest in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports. None of these top-five qualifiers has ever won a NASCAR Cup Series race at the track.

Toyota drivers Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet’s William Byron, Toyota’s Bubba Wallace and Chevrolet’s Tyler Reddick rounded out the top-10 for Sunday’s grid.

Of note, the top qualifying Ford driver was Joey Logano, who will roll off 13th in the No. 22 Team Penske Mustang on Sunday. Defending race winner, Brad Keselowski will start his No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford from 15th   position on the grid.

Keselowski is the winningest driver in the field with six victories.

BUBBA WALLACE RETURNS TO TRACK OF FIRST CUP VICTORY

Bubba Wallace earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway last fall, yet the driver of the No. 23 23XI Toyota said he can’t help but re-live the huge moment in his career. Often. And it is a huge motivation this week.

“To be honest with you, I sit here and think about it a lot and people put so much emphasis on the win,’’ said Wallace, who advanced to final round qualifying and will start ninth for Sunday’s race.

“We talk about it, talk about it, talk about it and it builds up. I just like to keep it low key under the radar. That’s how I like to roll about life. Some people may disagree, but it is special to be here. I’m excited.

“I know how good our speedway cars are and if [spotter] Freddie [Kraft] and I do what we can do at these speedway races like we’ve been doing then, I know we will have a shot to win. It’s a team effort. … As long as we stay in the race and maintain where we are at and just have a fighting chance, it will be a good day.

“That’s what I look forward to the most.’’

Wallace’s only top-10 of 2022 is a runner-up finish in the season-opening DAYTONA 500 on the other “big track” on the schedule.

NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING INSPECTION

Three cars had problems in the pre-qualifying inspection for the NASCAR Cup Series. The No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driven by Martin Truex Jr and the No. 47 JTG Daugherty Chevrolet driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. both failed inspection twice and will lose pit selection.

A crew member from each team was also ejected.

The No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill failed inspection three times and has lost pit selection, lost the chance to qualify for the race, been issued a drive-through penalty in the race and had a crew member ejected.

EARNHARDT OUT FRONT ON XFINITY SERIES GRID

Sentimental favorites will lead the field to green in Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega. Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of the track’s all-time winningest driver, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, won the pole position for the Ag-Pro 300 and one of his late grandfather’s former crew chiefs, Larry McReynolds, will be calling the race from the pit box.

It’s the first time the Alabama-native McReynolds has served as crew chief after a heralded career in the role in the 1980s and ‘90s. He has worked as an analyst for FOX Sports NASCAR broadcasts and hosted shows on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

The pole-winning result for the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet is a career first for the 32-year old Earnhardt, who is running a part-time Xfinity Series schedule this year. His career best result is third place at Charlotte in 2019 driving for the Joe Gibbs Racing team.

“I tell ya, this is unbelievable man,’’ Earnhardt said after qualifying. “This is a dream of mine for years, to get this opportunity and everything else falling in place. The good Lord is taking care of us.’’

In nine previous Talladega Xfinity Series starts, his best finish is 12th in 2015.

“I’m proud of him to get these opportunities and hope he makes the best of it today,’’ Jeffrey’s uncle, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. By Holly Cain/NASCAR Wire Service

Qualifying Results

  1. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 180.928 mph.
  2. (19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 180.652 mph.
  3. (16) Daniel Hemric(i), Chevrolet, 179.929 mph.
  4. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 179.885 mph.
  5. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 179.817 mph.
  6. (45) Kurt Busch, Toyota, 179.814 mph.
  7. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 179.635 mph.
  8. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 179.608 mph.
  9. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 179.541 mph.
  10. (8) Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, 179.329 mph.
  11. (31) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 178.944 mph.
  12. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 178.940 mph.
  13. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 178.750 mph.
  14. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 178.650 mph.
  15. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 178.570 mph.
  16. (43) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 178.563 mph.
  17. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford, 178.540 mph.
  18. (2) Austin Cindric #, Ford, 178.480 mph.
  19. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 178.467 mph.
  20. (42) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 178.361 mph.
  21. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford, 178.297 mph.
  22. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 178.181 mph.
  23. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford, 178.178 mph.
  24. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 178.155 mph.
  25. (21) Harrison Burton #, Ford, 178.112 mph.
  26. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 177.986 mph.
  27. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 177.950 mph.
  28. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 177.531 mph.
  29. (41) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 177.521 mph.
  30. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 177.452 mph.
  31. (62) Noah Gragson(i), Chevrolet, 177.369 mph.
  32. (38) Todd Gilliland #, Ford, 176.751 mph.
  33. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 176.663 mph.
  34. (51) Cody Ware, Ford, 175.138 mph.
  35. (44) Greg Biffle, Chevrolet, 174.773 mph.
  36. (15) David Ragan, Ford, 173.736 mph.
  37. (78) BJ McLeod, Ford, 173.702 mph.
  38. (55) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 172.038 mph.
    39. (77) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.