Christopher Bell earned his third pole of the 2024 season on Saturday with a 185.344mph (29.135s) lap. Driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, he bested 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick by simply 0.013s within the remaining spherical of qualifying.
“I really feel actually good,” Bell advised NBC. “I really feel actually snug. In observe, I do not assume the tempo confirmed what we had however contained in the automotive, I felt tremendous snug. I do know we’re gonna have a shot at it tomorrow.”
Whereas it is an effective way to begin the Spherical of 8, Bell has additionally by no means gained a Cup race from pole place earlier than.
“I have been on this place many instances and clearly, I’ve by no means gained from the pole but,” mentioned Bell, who simply earned his thirteenth profession pole place. “Nonetheless ready to do this, however possibly tomorrow’s the day.”
Reddick will line up alongside with the just lately eradicated Alex Bowman in third. Denny Hamlin was fourth and Kyle Larson fifth. Filling out the rest of the top-ten on the grid: Carson Hocevar, Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, William Byron, and Joey Logano.
The one two playoff drivers to not advance into the pole spherical had been Chase Elliott within the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Ryan Blaney, who didn’t make an try after a observe crash. Blaney will begin thirty seventh (final) within the No. 12 Staff Penske Ford.
Spherical 1
Fortunately, there have been no incidents like Blaney’s in a really clear qualifying session. Within the first spherical, Bell set the tempo with a 29.153s lap in Group A. He superior together with Hamlin, Logano, Gibbs, and Hocevar. Martin Truex Jr. was the primary driver to overlook out, simply 0.009s again of Hocevar.
In Group B, Reddick was quickest at a blistering quick 29.007s lap. He superior together with Byron, Chastain, Bowman, and Larson. Austin Cindric was the primary driver out, 0.077s out.
