Bell Rings In Another Pole for Bristol Cup Race

Meg Oliphant - Getty Images

BRISTOL, TN – RIS – Christopher Bell won his third consecutive Cup pole of 2023 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday. Bell did it with a fast lap of 126.997 mph.  He’s the first driver to sweep the pole awards in the opening round of the playoffs.

Bell’s JGR teammate Denny Hamlin just missed the pole by .008 seconds with a 126.93 mph and joins Bell on the front row.  William Byron, Michael McDowell and Martin Truex Jr. completed the top five. Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, rookie Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace and Corey LaJoie rounded out the top 10 in Friday night’s qualifying session.

Ryan Blaney was the quickest of drivers to miss the final round of qualifying and starts 11th on Saturday night. Tyler Reddick will start 12th. A handful of playoff drivers will have work to do in the race as Kyle Busch starts 15th, Chris Buescher rolls off 20th, Kevin Harvick starts 21st, Ross Chastain starts 23rd, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. starts 25th and Joey Logano starts 28th.

Though he had the fastest lap in practice just prior to qualifying, Kyle Larson got loose in his first lap and will finish last on the field for the start of the race on Saturday,

Due to possible inclement weather, the Xfinity race will start one hour early tonight.  

Time Trial Results: Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway

Round 1A
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Reser's Fine Foods Toyota, 15.111 sec, 126.980 mph, 1, 2, ---, ---
2) Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 15.160, 126.570, 1, 2, 0.049 sec, 0.049sec
3) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 NEGU Chevrolet, 15.255, 125.782, 2, 2, 0.144, 0.095
4) Bubba Wallace (P), No. 23 Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota, 15.305, 125.371, 2, 2, 0.194, 0.050
5) Chase Elliott (P), No. 9 NAPA Gold Filters Chevrolet, 15.338, 125.101, 1, 2, 0.227, 0.033
6) Justin Haley, No. 31 Mountain Dew Chevrolet, 15.343, 125.060, 1, 2, 0.232, 0.005
7) Chris Buescher (P), No. 17 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 15.345, 125.044, 2, 2, 0.234, 0.002
8) Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 GEARWRENCH Ford, 15.354, 124.971, 1, 2, 0.243, 0.009
9) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Barger Precast Chevrolet, 15.362, 124.906, 2, 2, 0.251, 0.008
10) Ross Chastain (P), No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 15.365, 124.881, 1, 2, 0.254, 0.003
11) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford, 15.372, 124.824, 1, 2, 0.261, 0.007
12) Joey Logano (P), No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 15.416, 124.468, 2, 2, 0.305, 0.044
13) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Menards/Monster Ford, 15.427, 124.379, 1, 2, 0.316, 0.011
14) Erik Jones, No. 43 U.S. AIR FORCE Chevrolet, 15.494, 123.841, 1, 2, 0.383, 0.067
15) Ty Dillon, No. 77 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 15.538, 123.491, 2, 2, 0.427, 0.044
16) BJ McLeod(i), No. 78 FreedomWorksHere.com Chevrolet, 15.610, 122.921, 1, 2, 0.499, 0.072
17) JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 Steakhouse Elite Burgers Ford, 15.793, 121.497, 2, 2, 0.682, 0.183
18) Kyle Larson (P), No. 5 Valvoline/Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet, 15.810, 121.366, 2, 2, 0.699, 0.017

Round 1B
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Freight Direct Toyota, 15.062 sec, 127.393 mph, 1, 2, ---, ---
2) Brad Keselowski (P), No. 6 Castrol Edge Ford, 15.106, 127.022, 1, 2, 0.044 sec, 0.044 sec
3) William Byron (P), No. 24 Relay Payments Chevrolet, 15.107, 127.014, 1, 2, 0.045, 0.001
4) Michael McDowell (P), No. 34 Love's/Delo Ford, 15.189, 126.328, 1, 2, 0.127, 0.082
5) Martin Truex Jr. (P), No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 15.220, 126.071, 1, 2, 0.158, 0.031
6) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford, 15.230, 125.988, 2, 2, 0.168, 0.010
7) Tyler Reddick (P), No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 15.245, 125.864, 1, 2, 0.183, 0.015
8) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 15.252, 125.806, 2, 2, 0.190, 0.007
9) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford, 15.264, 125.708, 2, 2, 0.202, 0.012
10) Kyle Busch (P), No. 8 Cheddar's/ALSCO Uniforms Chevrolet, 15.282, 125.559, 1, 2, 0.220, 0.018
11) Carson Hocevar(i), No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet, 15.293, 125.469, 1, 2, 0.231, 0.011
12) Ryan Preece, No. 41 Operating Engineers Ford, 15.306, 125.363, 2, 2, 0.244, 0.013
13) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, 15.312, 125.313, 2, 2, 0.250, 0.006
14) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Aerial Recovery Chevrolet, 15.367, 124.865, 1, 2, 0.305, 0.055
15) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P), No. 47 Scott Brand Chevrolet, 15.372, 124.824, 1, 2, 0.310, 0.005
16) Ryan Newman, No. 51 Biohaven/Jacob Co. Ford, 15.414, 124.484, 1, 2, 0.352, 0.042
17) Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford, 15.433, 124.331, 1, 2, 0.371, 0.019
18) Harrison Burton, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 15.538, 123.491, 2, 2, 0.476, 0.105

Round 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next
1) Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Reser's Fine Foods Toyota, 15.109 sec, 126.997 mph, ---, ---
2) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Freight Direct Toyota, 15.117, 126.930, 0.008 sec, 0.008 sec
3) William Byron (P), No. 24 Relay Payments Chevrolet, 15.187, 126.345, 0.078, 0.070
4) Michael McDowell (P), No. 34 Love's/Delo Ford, 15.202, 126.220, 0.093, 0.015
5) Martin Truex Jr. (P), No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 15.210, 126.154, 0.101, 0.008
6) Brad Keselowski (P), No. 6 Castrol Edge Ford, 15.233, 125.963, 0.124, 0.023
7) Chase Elliott (P), No. 9 NAPA Gold Filters Chevrolet, 15.239, 125.914, 0.130, 0.006
8) Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 15.239, 125.914, 0.130, 0.000
9) Bubba Wallace (P), No. 23 Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota, 15.241, 125.897, 0.132, 0.002
10) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 NEGU Chevrolet, 15.274, 125.625, 0.165, 0.033

Starting Line Up: Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Reser's Fine Foods Toyota, 15.109 sec, 126.997 mph
2) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Freight Direct Toyota, 15.117, 126.930
3) William Byron (P), No. 24 Relay Payments Chevrolet, 15.187, 126.345
4) Michael McDowell (P), No. 34 Love's/Delo Ford, 15.202, 126.220
5) Martin Truex Jr. (P), No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 15.210, 126.154
6) Brad Keselowski (P), No. 6 Castrol Edge Ford, 15.233, 125.963
7) Chase Elliott (P), No. 9 NAPA Gold Filters Chevrolet, 15.239, 125.914
8) Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 15.239, 125.914
9) Bubba Wallace (P), No. 23 Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota, 15.241, 125.897
10) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 NEGU Chevrolet, 15.274, 125.625
11) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford, 15.230, 125.988
12) Tyler Reddick (P), No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 15.245, 125.864
13) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 15.252, 125.806
14) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford, 15.264, 125.708
15) Kyle Busch (P), No. 8 Cheddar's/ALSCO Uniforms Chevrolet, 15.282, 125.559
16) Carson Hocevar(i), No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet, 15.293, 125.469
17) Ryan Preece, No. 41 Operating Engineers Ford, 15.306, 125.363
18) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, 15.312, 125.313
19) Justin Haley, No. 31 Mountain Dew Chevrolet, 15.343, 125.060
20) Chris Buescher (P), No. 17 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 15.345, 125.044
21) Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 GEARWRENCH Ford, 15.354, 124.971
22) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Barger Precast Chevrolet, 15.362, 124.906
23) Ross Chastain (P), No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 15.365, 124.881
24) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Aerial Recovery Chevrolet, 15.367, 124.865
25) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P), No. 47 Scott Brand Chevrolet, 15.372, 124.824
26) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford, 15.372, 124.824
27) Ryan Newman, No. 51 Biohaven/Jacob Co. Ford, 15.414, 124.484
28) Joey Logano (P), No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 15.416, 124.468
29) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Menards/Monster Ford, 15.427, 124.379
30) Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford, 15.433, 124.331
31) Erik Jones, No. 43 U.S. AIR FORCE Chevrolet, 15.494, 123.841
32) Harrison Burton, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 15.538, 123.491
33) Ty Dillon, No. 77 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 15.538, 123.491
34) BJ McLeod(i), No. 78 FreedomWorksHere.com Chevrolet, 15.610, 122.921
35) JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 Steakhouse Elite Burgers Ford, 15.793, 121.497
36) Kyle Larson (P), No. 5 Valvoline/Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet, 15.810, 121.366
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs

Track Qualifying Record: Chase Elliott, 04/07/19, 14.568 sec,131.713 mph

Track Race Record: Charlie Glotzbach, 07/11/71, 2:38:12, 101.074 mph