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Christopher Bell fends off Hendrick Motorsports for Martinsville Cup pole

Christopher Bell earned his 14th career pole and his first of the 2025 NASCAR Cup season at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, lapping the historic short track in 19.754s. Bell will be joined on the front row by Chase Elliott, who missed out on pole by 0.017s.

Bell, who already has three wins this year, is also a former winner at Martinsville, taking victory there late in the 2022 season.

A big advantage

"I was kind of down in the dumps after practice," said Bell, driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, after securing pole. "But that was definitely the best qualifying session I've ever felt out of my car here at Martinsville. It was just easy. I've been really good at qualifying in the 20s, (but) I went out there and the car had so much grip. It just cut a really good lap. Really proud of everyone on this #20 team. They've been working hard to improve our Martinsville package. We'll see what happens tomorrow but regardless, starting up front is going to be a huge help."

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (Photo by: Logan Riely / Getty Images)

Part of that advantage is the number one pit stall granted to the pole-sitter (should they choose it), which is extra important at Martinsville due to how close it is to the pit exit line.

"I'm excited about it," said Bell, referring to the pit stall selection. "It's funny. I was sitting in the car looking at that number one pit stall and I said: 'Man, that would be nice.' The yellow line is right there. I'm super excited about the opportunity ahead of us."

Hendrick near the front

Hendrick Motorsports scored a 1-2-3 finish at Martinsville one year ago and ended Saturday's qualifying sessions 2-3-4 on the grid. Along with Elliott on the front row, Alex Bowman timed in third and Homestead winner Kyle Larson was fourth. Bell's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin, who has more wins than any other active driver at Martinsville (five race wins), claimed the fifth spot in the starting lineup.

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (Photo by: Logan Riely / Getty Images)

Chris Buescher qualified sixth, Joey Logano seventh, Bubba Wallace eighth, Tyler Reddick ninth, and William Byron tenth. Byron is the defending winner of this race where he won from 18th on the grid. The Martinsville race winner has actually come from outside the top ten in each of the last five Cup races, which is surprising considering the importance of track position at the tight half-mile. The Martinsville pole-sitter has not gone on to win the race since Jimmie Johnson in 2013.

There were no incidents during the qualifying session, however, there was a surprise near the back of the grid. Ryan Blaney, who is the most recent winner at Martinsville, only managed to get up to 32nd on the time sheets. He did show impressive long-run pace in practice, but this is his worst starting position ever at the Virginia short track.

Photos from Martinsville - Practice & Qualifying

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 Martinsville - Saturday

NASCAR Cup
40
Cla Driver # Manufacturer Laps Time Interval Mph
1 C. BellJoe Gibbs Racing 20 Toyota 2

19.718

  96.034
2 C. ElliottHendrick Motorsports 9 Chevrolet 2

+0.017

19.735

0.017 95.951
3 A. BowmanHendrick Motorsports 48 Chevrolet 2

+0.020

19.738

0.003 95.937
4 K. LarsonHendrick Motorsports 5 Chevrolet 2

+0.037

19.755

0.017 95.854
5 C. BuescherRFK Racing 17 Ford 2

+0.040

19.758

0.003 95.840
6 D. HamlinJoe Gibbs Racing 11 Toyota 1

+0.040

19.758

0.000 95.840
7 J. LoganoTeam Penske 22 Ford 2

+0.044

19.762

0.004 95.820
8 B. Wallace23XI Racing 23 Toyota 2

+0.048

19.766

0.004 95.801
9 T. Reddick23XI Racing 45 Toyota 2

+0.062

19.780

0.014 95.733
10 W. ByronHendrick Motorsports 24 Chevrolet 2

+0.064

19.782

0.002 95.723
11 C. BriscoeJoe Gibbs Racing 19 Toyota 2

+0.087

19.805

0.023 95.612
12 K. BuschRichard Childress Racing 8 Chevrolet 2

+0.093

19.811

0.006 95.583
13 T. GibbsJoe Gibbs Racing 54 Toyota 2

+0.099

19.817

0.006 95.554
14 21 Ford 2

+0.101

19.819

0.002 95.545
15 M. McDowellSpire Motorsports 71 Chevrolet 2

+0.115

19.833

0.014 95.477
16 J. NemechekLegacy Motor Club 42 Toyota 2

+0.126

19.844

0.011 95.424
17 R. ChastainTrackHouse Racing 1 Chevrolet 2

+0.132

19.850

0.006 95.395
18 A. DillonRichard Childress Racing 3 Chevrolet 2

+0.140

19.858

0.008 95.357
19 Z. SmithFront Row Motorsports 38 Ford 2

+0.148

19.866

0.008 95.319
20 A. CindricTeam Penske 2 Ford 2

+0.153

19.871

0.005 95.295
21 R. PreeceRFK Racing 60 Ford 2

+0.166

19.884

0.013 95.232
22 C. CusterHaas Factory Team 41 Ford 2

+0.172

19.890

0.006 95.204
23 A. AllmendingerKaulig Racing 16 Chevrolet 2

+0.175

19.893

0.003 95.189
24 N. GragsonFront Row Motorsports 4 Ford 2

+0.178

19.896

0.003 95.175
25 T. GillilandFront Row Motorsports 34 Ford 2

+0.186

19.904

0.008 95.137
26 D. SuarezTrackHouse Racing 99 Chevrolet 2

+0.201

19.919

0.015 95.065
27 B. KeselowskiRFK Racing 6 Ford 2

+0.227

19.945

0.026 94.941
28 T. DillonKaulig Racing 10 Chevrolet 2

+0.258

19.976

0.031 94.794
29 C. HocevarSpire Motorsports 77 Chevrolet 2

+0.263

19.981

0.005 94.770
30 J. HaleySpire Motorsports 7 Chevrolet 2

+0.273

19.991

0.010 94.723
31 E. JonesLegacy Motor Club 43 Toyota 2

+0.276

19.994

0.003 94.708
32 R. BlaneyTeam Penske 12 Ford 2

+0.301

20.019

0.025 94.590
33 S. van GisbergenTrackHouse Racing 88 Chevrolet 2

+0.372

20.090

0.071 94.256
34 R. Stenhouse JrHyak Motorsports 47 Chevrolet 2

+0.391

20.109

0.019 94.167
35 R. Herbst23XI Racing 35 Toyota 2

+0.400

20.118

0.009 94.125
36 C. WareRick Ware Racing 51 Ford 2

+0.550

20.268

0.150 93.428
37 C. MearsGarage 66 66 Ford 2

+0.865

20.583

0.315 91.998
38
B. MyersTeam AmeriVet
50 Chevrolet 2

+0.895

20.613

0.030 91.864
In this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Christopher Bell
Hendrick Motorsports
Joe Gibbs Racing
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