Christopher Bell Wins Pole with Teammate Truex Second

AP Photo

TALADEGA, AL – RIS – Christopher Bell will sit on the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.  Alongside will be Martin Truex, Jr. as Toyotas took the first two starting positions.  Bell earned his second career NASCAR Cup Series pole position with a lap of 180.928 mph around the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday morning, narrowly just edging teammate Martin Truex Jr. by .081 seconds.  This is the first time JGR has swept the front row at Talladega.

“There is not much to say about the lap, just a lot to say about Toyota, The engine package they brought here, and the cars assembled at JGR,’’ said Bell, whose best Talladega finish in four starts is fifth in last fall’s race. “This No. 20 group did a really good job. They gave me the best car in the field today, so hopefully we can keep it going and keep it up front tomorrow.”

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.

In a surprise at a track where the Ford teams have usually done well, the fastest Ford, Joey Logano was only able to finish 13th. Defending race winner Brad Keselowski will start his No. 6 RFK Racing Ford from 15th position on the grid. Keselowski is the winningest driver in the field with six Talladega victories.

There will be no practice this year, so the Cup cars will not appear again until Sunday’s race.

Qualifying Results: 53rd Annual GEICO 500, Talladega Superspeedway

Round 1:
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next
1) Christopher Bell, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota, 53.152 sec, 180.163 mph, 0.000, 0.000
2) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 53.228, 179.905, 0.076, 0.076
3) Kurt Busch, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota, 53.270, 179.763, 0.118, 0.042
4) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 McDonald's Toyota, 53.310, 179.629, 0.158, 0.040
5) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 53.345, 179.511, 0.193, 0.035
6) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 53.348, 179.501, 0.196, 0.003
7) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx All in for Small Business Toyota, 53.440, 179.192, 0.288, 0.092
8) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 53.483, 179.048, 0.331, 0.043
9) Daniel Hemric(i), No. 16 Majestic Steel Chevrolet, 53.493, 179.014, 0.341, 0.010
10) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet, 53.513, 178.947, 0.361, 0.020
11) Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 53.514, 178.944, 0.362, 0.001
12) Kyle Busch, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 53.515, 178.940, 0.363, 0.001
13) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil/Autotrader Ford, 53.572, 178.750, 0.420, 0.057
14) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet, 53.602, 178.650, 0.450, 0.030
15) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Castrol Carbon Neutral Ford, 53.626, 178.570, 0.474, 0.024
16) Erik Jones, No. 43 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, 53.628, 178.563, 0.476, 0.002
17) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 53.635, 178.540, 0.483, 0.007
18) Austin Cindric #, No. 2 Menards/Sylvania Ford, 53.653, 178.480, 0.501, 0.018
19) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Moose Fraternity Chevrolet, 53.657, 178.467, 0.505, 0.004
20) Ty Dillon, No. 42 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet, 53.689, 178.361, 0.537, 0.032
21) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 53.708, 178.297, 0.556, 0.019
22) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Wurth Ford, 53.743, 178.181, 0.591, 0.035
23) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford, 53.744, 178.178, 0.592, 0.001
24) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 GEARWRENCH Ford, 53.751, 178.155, 0.599, 0.007
25) Harrison Burton #, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 53.764, 178.112, 0.612, 0.013
26) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/SunnyD Chevrolet, 53.802, 177.986, 0.650, 0.038
27) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 53.813, 177.950, 0.661, 0.011
28) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 53.940, 177.531, 0.788, 0.127
29) Cole Custer, No. 41 Feeding America/Wow Wow Chevrolet, 53.943, 177.521, 0.791, 0.003
30) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 53.964, 177.452, 0.812, 0.021
31) •Noah Gragson(i), No. 62 Wendy?s $5 Biggie Bag/Beard Oil Chevrolet, 53.989, 177.369, 0.837, 0.025
32) Todd Gilliland #, No. 38 First Phase Credit Card Ford, 54.178, 176.751, 1.026, 0.189
33) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Raze Energy Chevrolet, 54.205, 176.663, 1.053, 0.027
34) Cody Ware, No. 51 Nurtec ODT Ford, 54.677, 175.138, 1.525, 0.472
35) •Greg Biffle, No. 44 Morehouse College Chevrolet, 54.791, 174.773, 1.639, 0.114
36) David Ragan, No. 15 Envision Ford, 55.118, 173.736, 1.966, 0.327
37) BJ McLeod, No. 78 Motorsport Games Ford, 55.129, 173.702, 1.977, 0.011
38) •JJ Yeley(i), No. 55 Hex.com Ford, 55.662, 172.038, 2.510, 0.533
39) Landon Cassill(i), No. 77 Fox Nation Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000, -----, -----
•Required to qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Round 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next
1) Christopher Bell, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota, 52.927 sec, 180.928 mph, 0.000, 0.000
2) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 53.008, 180.652, 0.081, 0.081
3) Daniel Hemric(i), No. 16 Majestic Steel Chevrolet, 53.221, 179.929, 0.294, 0.213
4) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 53.234, 179.885, 0.307, 0.013
5) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 53.254, 179.817, 0.327, 0.020
6) Kurt Busch, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota, 53.255, 179.814, 0.328, 0.001
7) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx All in for Small Business Toyota, 53.308, 179.635, 0.381, 0.053
8) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 53.316, 179.608, 0.389, 0.008
9) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 McDonald's Toyota, 53.336, 179.541, 0.409, 0.020
10) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet, 53.399, 179.329, 0.472, 0.063
* Required to qualify on time, OP - TNo. op 30 in Owner Points, PC - Past Champion,(i)Ineligible for driver points in this series

Starting Lineup: 53rd Annual GEICO 500, Talladega Superspeedway:

Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Christopher Bell, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota, 52.927 sec, 180.928 mph
2) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 53.008, 180.652
3) Daniel Hemric(i), No. 16 Majestic Steel Chevrolet, 53.221, 179.929
4) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 53.234, 179.885
5) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 53.254, 179.817
6) Kurt Busch, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota, 53.255, 179.814
7) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx All in for Small Business Toyota, 53.308, 179.635
8) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 53.316, 179.608
9) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 McDonald's Toyota, 53.336, 179.541
10) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet, 53.399, 179.329
11) Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 53.514, 178.944
12) Kyle Busch, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 53.515, 178.940
13) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil/Autotrader Ford, 53.572, 178.750
14) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road , 53.602, 178.650
15) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Castrol Carbon Neutral Ford, 53.626, 178.570
16) Erik Jones, No. 43 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, 53.628, 178.563
17) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 53.635, 178.540
18) Austin Cindric #, No. 2 Menards/Sylvania Ford, 53.653, 178.480
19) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Moose Fraternity Chevrolet, 53.657, 178.467
20) Ty Dillon, No. 42 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet, 53.689, 178.361
21) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 53.708, 178.297
22) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Wurth Ford, 53.743, 178.181
23) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford, 53.744, 178.178
24) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 GEARWRENCH Ford, 53.751, 178.155
25) Harrison Burton #, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 53.764, 178.112
26) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/SunnyD Chevrolet, 53.802, 177.986
27) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 53.813, 177.950
28) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 53.940, 177.531
29) Cole Custer, No. 41 Feeding America/Wow Wow Chevrolet, 53.943, 177.521
30) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 53.964, 177.452
31) Noah Gragson(i), No. 62 Wendy?s $5 Biggie Bag/Beard Oil Chevrolet, 53.989, 177.369
32) Todd Gilliland #, No. 38 First Phase Credit Card Ford, 54.178, 176.751
33) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Raze Energy Chevrolet, 54.205, 176.663
34) Cody Ware, No. 51 Nurtec ODT Ford, 54.677, 175.138
35) Greg Biffle, No. 44 Morehouse College Chevrolet, 54.791, 174.773
36) David Ragan, No. 15 Envision Ford, 55.118, 173.736
37) BJ McLeod, No. 78 Motorsport Games Ford, 55.129, 173.702
38) JJ Yeley(i), No. 55 Hex.com Ford, 55.662, 172.038
39) Landon Cassill(i), No. 77 Fox Nation Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

 

Track Qualifying Record: Bill Elliott - 05/03/87, 44.9981 sec, 212.809 mph

Ron Fleshman

RIS NASCAR Editor.  Has been with RIS since the middle 90's. Writes on each of the three main series of NASCAR.

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