In the heart of the Midwest, Kansas Speedway played host to a thrilling qualifying session for the NASCAR Cup Series, with Christopher Bell emerging victorious to claim the pole position for the third consecutive race. Bell’s scorching lap of 179.336 mph earned him the top spot, alongside teammate Ty Gibbs, who may have been eliminated from the postseason but still managed to secure a front-row start.
Bell’s performance was a testament to his team’s hard work, as he praised their efforts in providing him with a car that was “probably the best Kansas car we’ve ever had.” The talented driver has consistently shown strong form at Kansas, finishing in the top 10 in the past two races, but is yet to convert his impressive starts into a win. However, Bell remains optimistic, citing his car’s exceptional balance and handling during practice and qualifying.
Tyler Reddick, the defending Kansas playoff race winner, will start third, alongside Kyle Busch, the only other non-playoff driver to advance through the first round of qualifying. Reddick, who held off Denny Hamlin to win in overtime last fall, acknowledged that practice had been a struggle, but credited his team’s adjustments for their improved performance.
The rest of the top 10 was comprised of drivers still in the hunt for the championship, with William Byron securing fifth place, followed by Hamlin, who boasts an impressive four wins at Kansas. Daniel Suarez, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Briscoe, who is eagerly awaiting the arrival of twins with his wife Marissa, rounded out the top 10.
Kyle Larson, who dominated last week’s race at Bristol, was the fastest driver to miss the second round of qualifying and will start 11th, alongside fellow playoff contender Alex Bowman. Austin Cindric qualified 17th on a hot and sunny day at Kansas, while Chase Elliott faces an uphill battle, starting from the back of the grid due to engine trouble in practice.
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