NASCAR Playoffs Heat Up in Las Vegas
The third round of the NASCAR playoffs kicked off in style on Saturday, with Christopher Bell securing the pole position for Sunday’s race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Bell, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, clocked an impressive 185.344 mph lap time to take the top spot.
Bell Feeling Confident Ahead of Sunday’s Race
“I feel really good. I feel really comfortable,” Bell said after qualifying. “I know we’re going to have a shot at it.” With a win on Sunday, Bell could earn an automatic berth in the Cup Series championship finale.
Playoff Drivers Vie for Spot in Finale
A total of eight drivers, including Bell, are vying for a spot in the championship finale. The next two weeks will see the drivers compete at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Martinsville, Virginia, with the highest-ranked driver in the Cup Series standings earning the fourth slot.
Qualifying Results
Tyler Reddick, the regular-season champion, qualified second in a Toyota for 23XI Racing. Denny Hamlin, teammate with Bell at JGR, took third place, while Alex Bowman, who was disqualified last week, qualified fourth. Current points leader Kyle Larson rounded out the top five in his Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
Chase Elliott Struggles in Qualifying
Reigning Cup champion Ryan Blaney had a disastrous day, crashing early in practice and failing to qualify. Chase Elliott, meanwhile, struggled to find pace, qualifying 18th.
Blaney’s Crash Ends Practice Early
“I had no warning,” Blaney radioed his team after the crash. “I’m sorry.” The impact seemed to knock the wind out of him, but he was fortunate to escape uninjured. Team Penske is now scrambling to prepare a backup Ford for Sunday’s race.
A Long Road Ahead for Blaney
“Hard hit. But I live,” Blaney said after the crash. “I’m all right, just blew a tire and it stinks. Shame it ended our practice early, we’ve got our work cut out for us. There’s definitely a lot to overcome, starting from the back and no laps with this backup car.”
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