Christopher Bell will start Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway from pole position in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
The 29-year-old paced the NASCAR Cup Series field during Saturday’s qualifying session at the 1.5-mile track, recording a 29.491-second lap time (183.107 mph). It is his first pole award of the season.Â
“What happens on Saturday has no dictation on what happens Sunday. We’ve got a great starting spot and we’re in prime position to win some stage points. But 267 laps is a long time and I fully believe that we can have a great race tomorrow and definitely believe I can be talking to all of you guys (media) in 24 hours after the race too,” Bell said.
Meanwhile, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain qualified second, running a 29.556-second lap time (182.704) in his No. 1 Chevrolet. He will start alongside Bell on the front row on Sunday.Â
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Noah Gragson showed some speed, placing third in his No. 10 Ford.
“I feel like we keep on stacking chips every weekend. We are enjoying learning with this group of guys and bonding and getting better each and every race. It is a lot of fun. Drew Blickensderfer, my crew chief, really challenges me to get better each week, and we keep growing on those processes and steps,” Gragson said.
Kyle Larson drove his Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet into the fourth qualifying position, with Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch finishing fifth in the session. Ty Gibbs, Austin Cindric, Michael McDowell, Chase Elliott and Chase Briscoe completed the top 10.Â