LOUDON, N.H. — Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell turned the fastest qualifying lap of 124.781 mph at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and will lead the field to green for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race.
JGR swept the front row in Saturday’s qualifying session with Bell joined by teammate Martin Truex Jr. Truex hit 124.752 mph in his No. 19 Toyota. But it was Ford drivers that took the next three spots with Aric Almirola followed by Team Penske teammates Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney.
Bell won his first pole of the season and fifth in 128 career Cup races.
Bell has one win this season and is one of 11 drivers with a spot in NASCAR’s playoff field. There are five spots up for grabs with seven races left before the cutoff. Truex posted his eighth top-10 start of 2023 and his 19th in 30 career races at New Hampshire.
Bell earned a playoff spot a year ago when he won at New Hampshire. Bell mastered the track where he won Xfinity Series races in 2018, 2019 and 2021 and was second in the Cup race in 2021.
Crayon 301 Lineup
After Saturday qualifying; race Sunday
At New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, N.H.
Lap length: 1.06 miles
(Car number in parentheses)
1. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 124.781 mph.
2. (19) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota, 124.752.
3. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford, 124.707.
4. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 124.589.
5. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 124.328.
6. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 124.308.
7. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 123.896.
8. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 123.871.
9. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 123.855.
10. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, .000.
11. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 124.985.
12. (99) Daniel Suárez, Chevrolet, 124.487.
13. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 124.479.
14. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 124.353.
15. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 124.316.
16. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Chevrolet, 124.255.
17. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford, 124.207.
18. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 124.203.
19. (31) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 124.199.
20. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 124.110.
21. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford, 124.029.
22. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford, 123.960.
23. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 123.847.
24. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 123.819.
25. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 123.743.
26. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 123.719.
27. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford, 123.566.
28. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford, 123.155.
29. (42) Noah Gragson, Chevrolet, 123.139.
30. (43) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 123.051.
31. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 123.043.
32. (78) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, 122.576.
33. (15) Ryan Newman, Ford, 122.521.
34. (51) Cole Custer, Ford, 122.222.
35. (77) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 122.003.
36. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 121.268.
