Christopher Bell will lead the Cup Series field to the green flag at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday evening. Bell made NASCAR history by winning the pole in the first three races of the playoffs, with a lap speed of 126.997 mph. In an interview, Bell expressed his pride in his team and their hard work in putting together the car. He also emphasized the importance of the upcoming race, noting that qualifying doesn’t necessarily determine the outcome. Despite this, Bell is excited about his starting position and the opportunities it brings.
Denny Hamlin will start in second place with a speed of 126.930 mph, while William Byron is tied for third place with a speed of 126.345 mph. Michael McDowell and Martin Truex Jr. round out the top five starting positions. Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace, and Corey Lajoie complete the top ten.
Both McDowell and Truex find themselves below the playoff cut line and are in danger of being eliminated. The top five finishers will have the opportunity to earn stage points, which could greatly impact their chances of advancing. Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano, who are currently above the cut line, will start further back in the field as they battle Truex for a spot in the next round. Harvick will start in 21st place, while Logano will start in 28th.
Meanwhile, Kyle Larson had a difficult qualifying lap, with a near spin in Turn 4. As a result, he will start from the back of the field. The race is set to begin at 6:35 p.m. ET, with pre-race coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. on USA Network.