Bell beats Hamlin for Bristol Cup pole in all-JGR front row

Bell went out early in the final round of Friday’s qualifying session at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and his average lap speed of 126.997 mph was enough to hold off his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Denny Hamlin (126.930 mph), who was the last on the track.

So far, Bell has been unable to translate his playoff poles into wins.

He ended up 23rd at Darlington and finished eighth last weekend at Kansas. His only win this season came at the Bristol Dirt Race in April. The pole is Bell’s fifth this season and ninth of his career.

“All the credit goes back to the guys that are putting these cars together,” Bell said. “I tell you, what, that is probably one of the tightest qualifying margins ever.

“This is my favorite race of the year – the Bristol Night Race. I got great starting spot and 500 long laps tomorrow.”

Asked if he has a car that has the necessary long-run speed to contend for a win, Bell said, “Absolutely, I do every week. It’s just a matter of execution. The key is putting the whole race together. We’ve been doing a bad job of that. Whenever we do put it all together, good things are going to come.”

William Byron ended up third, Michael McDowell fourth and Martin Truex Jr. – who is in danger of being eliminated from the playoffs in the first round – was fifth.

Completing the top-10 starting lineup are Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace and Corey LaJoie.

Cla	Driver	#		Manufacturer	Laps	Time	Interval	Mph
1	C. BELLJoe Gibbs Racing	20		Toyota	2	15.109		126.997
2	D. HAMLINJoe Gibbs Racing	11		Toyota	2	+0.008	0.008	126.930
3	W. BYRONHendrick Motorsports	24		Chevrolet	2	+0.078	0.070	126.345
4	M. MCDOWELLFront Row Motorsports	34		Ford	2	+0.093	0.015	126.220
5	M. TRUEX JRJoe Gibbs Racing	19		Toyota	2	+0.101	0.008	126.154
6	B. KESELOWSKIRFK Racing	6		Ford	2	+0.124	0.023	125.963
7	C. ELLIOTTHendrick Motorsports	9		Chevrolet	2	+0.130	0.006	125.914
8	T. GIBBSJoe Gibbs Racing	54		Toyota	2	+0.130	0.000	125.914
9	B. WALLACE23XI Racing	23		Toyota	2	+0.132	0.002	125.897
10	C. LAJOIESpire Motorsports	7		Chevrolet	2	+0.165	0.033	125.625

Round 1 / Group A

Bell topped the first group with an average lap speed of 126.980 mph.

Gibbs was second quick (126.570 mph) and LaJoie was third (125.782 mph).

Also advancing to the final round of qualifying were Wallace and Elliott.

Among those who failed to move on was Kyle Larson, who was fastest in Friday’s practice. Larson got loose on his initial qualifying lap in Turns 3 and 4 and ended up slowest of everyone in the first group.

He was pushing all he could on that lap!

What an incredible save by @KyleLarsonRacin! pic.twitter.com/0Mwyf6uQkc

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 15, 2023

Also missing the cut were Kevin Harvick, Ross Chastain and Joey Logano.

Cla	Driver	#		Manufacturer	Laps	Time	Interval	Mph
1	C. BELLJoe Gibbs Racing	20		Toyota	2	15.111		126.980
2	T. GIBBSJoe Gibbs Racing	54		Toyota	2	+0.049	0.049	126.570
3	C. LAJOIESpire Motorsports	7		Chevrolet	2	+0.144	0.095	125.782
4	B. WALLACE23XI Racing	23		Toyota	2	+0.194	0.050	125.371
5	C. ELLIOTTHendrick Motorsports	9		Chevrolet	2	+0.227	0.033	125.101
6	J. HALEYKaulig Racing	31		Chevrolet	2	+0.232	0.005	125.060
7	C. BUESCHERRFK Racing	17		Ford	2	+0.234	0.002	125.044
8	K. HARVICKStewart-Haas Racing	4		Ford	2	+0.243	0.009	124.971
9	A. ALLMENDINGERKaulig Racing	16		Chevrolet	2	+0.251	0.008	124.906
10	R. CHASTAINTrackHouse Racing	1		Chevrolet	2	+0.254	0.003	124.881
11	A. ALMIROLAStewart-Haas Racing	10		Ford	2	+0.261	0.007	124.824
12	J. LOGANOTeam Penske	22		Ford	2	+0.305	0.044	124.468
13	A. CINDRICTeam Penske	2		Ford	2	+0.316	0.011	124.379
14	E. JONESLegacy Motor Club	43		Chevrolet	2	+0.383	0.067	123.841
15	T. DILLONSpire Motorsports	77		Chevrolet	2	+0.427	0.044	123.491
16	B. MCLEODLive Fast Motorsports	78		Chevrolet	2	+0.499	0.072	122.921
17	J. YELEYRick Ware Racing	15		Ford	2	+0.682	0.183	121.497
18	K. LARSONHendrick Motorsports	5		Chevrolet	2	+0.699	0.017	121.366

Round 1 / Group B

Hamlin, one of the last to attempt a qualifying lap, ended up fastest in Group B with an average lap speed of 127.393 mph.

Keselowski was second fastest (127.022 mph) and Byron was third (127.014 mph).

Also advancing to the final round were McDowell and Truex.

“Our car was really good on the long run we just didn’t know what we’d have for a two-lap fire-off,” McDowell said. “We have to turn this qualifying speed into a finish. A win tomorrow would be great.”

Among those who failed to move on were Ryan Blaney, last week’s winner Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman and Kyle Busch.

Cla	Driver	#		Manufacturer	Laps	Time	Interval	Mph
1	D. HAMLINJoe Gibbs Racing	11		Toyota	2	15.062		127.393
2	B. KESELOWSKIRFK Racing	6		Ford	2	+0.044	0.044	127.022
3	W. BYRONHendrick Motorsports	24		Chevrolet	2	+0.045	0.001	127.014
4	M. MCDOWELLFront Row Motorsports	34		Ford	2	+0.127	0.082	126.328
5	M. TRUEX JRJoe Gibbs Racing	19		Toyota	2	+0.158	0.031	126.071
6	R. BLANEYTeam Penske	12		Ford	2	+0.168	0.010	125.988
7	T. REDDICK23XI Racing	45		Toyota	2	+0.183	0.015	125.864
8	A. BOWMANHendrick Motorsports	48		Chevrolet	2	+0.190	0.007	125.806
9	C. BRISCOEStewart-Haas Racing	14		Ford	2	+0.202	0.012	125.708
10	K. BUSCHRichard Childress Racing	8		Chevrolet	2	+0.220	0.018	125.559
11	C. HOCEVARLegacy Motor Club	42		Chevrolet	2	+0.231	0.011	125.469
12	R. PREECEStewart-Haas Racing	41		Ford	2	+0.244	0.013	125.363
13	A. DILLONRichard Childress Racing	3		Chevrolet	2	+0.250	0.006	125.313
14	D. SUAREZTrackHouse Racing	99		Chevrolet	2	+0.305	0.055	124.865
15	R. STENHOUSE JRJTG Daugherty Racing	47		Chevrolet	2	+0.310	0.005	124.824
16	R. NEWMANRick Ware Racing	51		Ford	2	+0.352	0.042	124.484
17	T. GILLILANDFront Row Motorsports	38		Ford	2	+0.371	0.019	124.331
18	H. BURTONWood Brothers Racing	21		Ford	2	+0.476	0.105	123.491