NASCAR: Bell nips Larson for pole in Kansas

Christopher Bell won the Hollywood Casino Busch Light Pole Award in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying Saturday at Kansas Speedway.

Bell steered the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to a best lap of 180.276 mph in the final round of the session, earning the top starting spot for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400.

The pole position was Bell’s fourth of the season, his second at Kansas and the eighth of his Cup Series career.

“I consider Texas my home track, but this is my second home track,” said Bell, an Oklahoma native who scored his first Xfinity Series win at Kansas.

“I normally have family whenever we come here and race, it’s one of my favorite stops on the schedule. The track is awesome. It’s definitely one that I enjoy. It’s special to me.”

Kyle Larson, last week’s winner at Darlington Raceway, is set to share the front row after posting the second-fastest lap (179.826 mph) in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Martin Truex Jr. qualified third, with Chase Elliott fourth and Tyler Reddick finishing out the top five.

Playoff-eligible drivers swept the top three spots in qualifying and six of the top seven.

Sunday’s 400-mile event is the second of three races in the Round of 16, the opening elimination portion of the 10-race playoffs.

Qualifying Results