Christopher Bell Wins Talladega Pole

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TALLADEGA, AL – RIS – Christopher Bell will sit on the pole for Sunday’s Yellawood 500 NASCAR Cup Race at Talladega Superspeedway.  The format was the usual two rounds with the 5 fastest times in each round running for the pole. The first round began, and Denny Hamlin ran the fastest lap. The ten fastest finishers were Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Aric Almirola, Ty Gibbs, William Byron, and Noah Gragson. They advance to the second round to compete for the pole position. Christopher Bell was fastest overall and wil start first.

Bell posted a lap of 52.927 seconds (180.928 MPH) in the second round of qualifying, beating Martin Truex Jr. for the top spot and earning both his second pole of the season and career. Bell's first pole of the year came at Las Vegas in March.

Bell's Toyota is the first non-Chevrolet to win a pole at a superspeedway since Kurt Busch won the pole at Talladega in the fall of 2018 driving a Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. Daniel Hemric was the fastest Chevrolet in third, while Joey Logano led the Ford qualifiers in 13th.

Bell is the second repeat pole-sitter of 2022, and his two poles now rank second on the season to Ryan Blaney's three.

Three drivers encountered issues in pre-qualifying tech inspection: Truex and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s teams failed inspection twice, resulting in them losing pit selection and having one crew member ejected from the weekend. Landon Cassill's team failed inspection three times, leading to his team being disallowed from making a qualifying attempt. Cassill will start last on Sunday and will have to serve a drive-through penalty following the green flag.

Qualifying Results: 54th Annual YellaWood 500 - Talladega Superspeedway
Round 1
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota, 53.117, 180.281, 2, 2, 0.000, 0.000
2) Chase Briscoe (P), No. 14 Magical Vacation Planner Ford, 53.202, 179.993, 2, 2, 0.085, 0.085
3) Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Sirius XM Toyota, 53.228, 179.905, 2, 2, 0.111, 0.026
4) Kyle Larson (P), No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 53.232, 179.892, 2, 2, 0.115, 0.004
5) Ross Chastain (P), No. 1 Jockey Chevrolet, 53.282, 179.723, 2, 2, 0.165, 0.050
6) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 REALTREE Chevrolet, 53.327, 179.571, 2, 2, 0.210, 0.045
7) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 53.339, 179.531, 2, 2, 0.222, 0.012
8) Ty Gibbs(i), No. 23 Monster Energy Toyota, 53.345, 179.511, 2, 2, 0.228, 0.006
9) William Byron (P), No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 53.410, 179.292, 2, 2, 0.293, 0.065
10) Noah Gragson(i) (P), No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 53.415, 179.275, 2, 2, 0.298, 0.005
11) Joey Logano (P), No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 53.422, 179.252, 2, 2, 0.305, 0.007
12) Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, 53.427, 179.235, 2, 2, 0.310, 0.005
13) Daniel Hemric(i), No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet, 53.433, 179.215, 2, 2, 0.316, 0.006
14) Daniel Suarez (P), No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 53.453, 179.148, 2, 2, 0.336, 0.020
15) Harrison Burton #, No. 21 Dex Imaging Ford, 53.459, 179.128, 2, 2, 0.342, 0.006
16) Chase Elliott (P), No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 53.461, 179.121, 2, 2, 0.344, 0.002
17) Austin Cindric # (P), No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 53.465, 179.108, 2, 2, 0.348, 0.004
18) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford, 53.468, 179.098, 2, 2, 0.351, 0.003
19) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford, 53.471, 179.088, 2, 2, 0.354, 0.003
20) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet, 53.493, 179.014, 2, 2, 0.376, 0.022
21) Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 53.500, 178.991, 2, 2, 0.383, 0.007
22) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 53.504, 178.977, 2, 2, 0.387, 0.004
23) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 53.551, 178.820, 2, 2, 0.434, 0.047
24) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light Ford, 53.570, 178.757, 2, 2, 0.453, 0.019
25) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/SunnyD Chevrolet, 53.609, 178.627, 2, 2, 0.492, 0.039
26) Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Toyota, 53.668, 178.430, 2, 2, 0.551, 0.059
27) Bubba Wallace (P), No. 45 Leidos Toyota, 53.680, 178.390, 2, 2, 0.563, 0.012
28) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 53.709, 178.294, 2, 2, 0.592, 0.029
29) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 53.764, 178.112, 2, 2, 0.647, 0.055
30) Ty Dillon, No. 42 SunseekerResorts.com Chevrolet, 53.781, 178.055, 2, 2, 0.664, 0.017
31) Justin Allgaier(i), No. 62 Beard Oil/South Point Chevrolet, 53.862, 177.788, 2, 2, 0.745, 0.081
32) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Schluter Systems Chevrolet, 54.053, 177.159, 2, 2, 0.936, 0.191
33) Landon Cassill(i), No. 77 Voyager: Crypto for All Chevrolet, 54.086, 177.051, 2, 2, 0.969, 0.033
34) Todd Gilliland #, No. 38 Georgia Peanuts Ford, 54.098, 177.012, 2, 2, 0.981, 0.012
35) BJ McLeod(i), No. 78 NASCAR Rivals Ford, 54.740, 174.936, 2, 2, 1.623, 0.642
36) JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 Summit Racing Equipment Ford, 54.936, 174.312, 2, 2, 1.819, 0.196
37) Cody Ware, No. 51 Nurtec ODT UBCF Ford, 54.940, 174.299, 2, 2, 1.823, 0.004

Round 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next
1) Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Sirius XM Toyota, 53.026 sec, 180.591 mph, --, --
2) Kyle Larson (P), No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 53.048, 180.516, 0.022 sec, 0.022 sec
3) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota, 53.076, 180.421, 0.050, 0.028
4) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 53.166, 180.115, 0.140, 0.090
5) Chase Briscoe (P), No. 14 Magical Vacation Planner Ford, 53.268, 179.770, 0.242, 0.102
6) Ross Chastain (P), No. 1 Jockey Chevrolet, 53.320, 179.595, 0.294, 0.052
7) Noah Gragson(i) (P), No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 53.356, 179.474, 0.330, 0.036
8) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 REALTREE Chevrolet, 53.388, 179.366, 0.362, 0.032
9) William Byron (P), No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 53.434, 179.212, 0.408, 0.046
10) Ty Gibbs(i), No. 23 Monster Energy Toyota, 0.000, 0.000, -----, -----

Starting Line Up: 54th Annual YellaWood 500 - Talladega Superspeedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Sirius XM Toyota, 53.026 sec, 180.591 mph
2) Kyle Larson (P), No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 53.048, 180.516
3) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota, 53.076, 180.421
4) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 53.166, 180.115
5) Chase Briscoe (P), No. 14 Magical Vacation Planner Ford, 53.268, 179.770
6) Ross Chastain (P), No. 1 Jockey Chevrolet, 53.320, 179.595
7) Noah Gragson(i) (P), No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 53.356, 179.474
8) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 REALTREE Chevrolet, 53.388, 179.366
9) William Byron (P), No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 53.434, 179.212
10) Ty Gibbs(i), No. 23 Monster Energy Toyota, 0.000, 0.000
11) Joey Logano (P), No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 53.422, 179.252
12) Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, 53.427, 179.235
13) Daniel Hemric(i), No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet, 53.433, 179.215
14) Daniel Suarez (P), No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 53.453, 179.148
15) Harrison Burton #, No. 21 Dex Imaging Ford, 53.459, 179.128
16) Chase Elliott (P), No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 53.461, 179.121
17) Austin Cindric # (P), No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 53.465, 179.108
18) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford, 53.468, 179.098
19) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford, 53.471, 179.088
20) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road , 53.493, 179.014
21) Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 53.500, 178.991
22) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 53.504, 178.977
23) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 53.551, 178.820
24) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light Ford, 53.570, 178.757
25) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/SunnyD Chevrolet, 53.609, 178.627
26) Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Toyota, 53.668, 178.430
27) Bubba Wallace (P), No. 45 Leidos Toyota, 53.680, 178.390
28) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 53.709, 178.294
29) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 53.764, 178.112
30) Ty Dillon, No. 42 SunseekerResorts.com Chevrolet, 53.781, 178.055
31) Justin Allgaier(i), No. 62 Beard Oil/South Point Chevrolet, 53.862, 177.788
32) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Schluter Systems Chevrolet, 54.053, 177.159
33) Landon Cassill(i), No. 77 Voyager: Crypto for All Chevrolet, 54.086, 177.051
34) Todd Gilliland #, No. 38 Georgia Peanuts Ford, 54.098, 177.012
35) BJ McLeod(i), No. 78 NASCAR Rivals Ford, 54.740, 174.936
36) JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 Summit Racing Equipment Ford, 54.936, 174.312
37) Cody Ware, No. 51 Nurtec ODT UBCF Ford, 54.940, 174.299
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs

Did Not Qualify: None.

Track Qualifying Record: Bill Elliott: 05/03/87. 44.998 sec, 212.809 mph

Track Race Record: Mark Martin: 05/10/97, 2:39:18, 188.354 mph

Ron Fleshman and John Davison

Ron Fleshman with John Davison

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Volume 2022, Issue 10, Posted 1:12 PM, 10.01.2022