Christopher Bell Hits Jackpot With Las Vegas Cup Pole

Christopher Bell drives during qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Christopher Bell got back in his pole-qualifying mode Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by claiming the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race.

It marks his series-best sixth pole of the year and fourth in just the last eight races.

His No. 20 JGR Toyota turned a lap of 186.335 mph around the 1.5-mile Las Vegas layout, securing the sixth pole for Toyota in the season’s seven NCS Playoff races to date.

Bell will start alongside fellow Playoff driver Kyle Larson, who was just a slight .010-second off the top speed.

“Qualifying has been really fun really since the introduction of the Next Gen car – especially on the intermediate stuff – because it’s just right on the verge of holding your foot down and going wide open,” Bell said. “It’s right on the edge and it’s what I look for.”

Bell’s posted three top 10 finishes in seven Las Vegas starts, with a best showing of fifth place just this March. A member of the Championship 4 in 2022, he knows a win on Sunday would give him an automatic second chance at the sport’s top prize.

“I know we may not be the championship favorite,” Bell added. “But I know we have everything we need to do it.

“We’re in a good place.”

Six of the current eight Playoff drivers advanced to final round qualifying on a coolish Saturday morning at the track. Current championship leader William Byron – who won at Las Vegas this March – will start third, alongside regular season champion Martin Truex, Jr. Byron holds a five-point edge on Truex atop the standings after a re-set for this three-race round.

Chris Buescher – also a Playoff driver – was fifth fastest, followed by Kyle Busch, Bubba Wallace, and Tyler Reddick – the latter also Playoff-eligible.

Defending race winner and reigning series champion Joey Logano will start ninth and Ross Chastain rounded out the top 10 drivers who advanced to final round qualifying.

Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin were the only Playoff drivers who did not advance to that second round of time trials. Blaney will start 12th and Hamlin will start 15th on the 36-car grid.

Ty Gibbs was the fastest qualifying rookie in 11th place.

Chastain and Buescher were fastest in NASCAR Cup Series hour-long practice prior to qualifying. The session included a couple incidents that will send a pair of high-profile drivers to the rear of the starting grid for Sunday.

Both Dawsonville, Georgia’s Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez had tires go down and crashed in practice. Before the incident Elliott had turned in a lap fourth quickest of the session and Suarez 26th fastest. The contact was enough, however, to force both drivers to back-up cars for Sunday’s race. Neither participated in qualifying and will start from the rear of the field.

NASCAR Cup Series
Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, NV
South Point 400 – October 14, 2023

Saturday’s Qualifying Results

1. (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 186.335 mph.
2. (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 186.271 mph.
3. (24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 186.181 mph.
4. (19) Martin Truex, Jr. (P), Toyota, 185.759 mph.
5. (17) Chris Buescher (P), Ford, 185.669 mph.
6. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 185.612 mph.
7. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 185.440 mph.
8. (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota, 185.382 mph.
9. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 185.268 mph.
10. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 185.166 mph.
11. (54) Ty Gibbs #, Toyota, 0.000 mph.
12. (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 0.000 mph.
13. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford, 0.000 mph.
14. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
15. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 0.000 mph.
16. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
17. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford, 0.000 mph.
18. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford, 0.000 mph.
19. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford, 0.000 mph.
20. (31) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
21. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 0.000 mph.
22. (16) A.J. Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
23. (43) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
24. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 0.000 mph.
25. (42) Carson Hocevar(i), Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
26. (51) J.J. Yeley(i), Ford, 0.000 mph.
27. (77) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
28. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
29. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 0.000 mph.
30. (47) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
31. (78) B.J. McLeod(i), Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
32. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford, 0.000 mph.
33. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford, 0.000 mph.
34. (15) Brennan Poole(i), Ford, 0.000 mph.
35. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
36. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.