NASCAR Cup Auto Club, Fontana
Bell will start on pole after Fontana qualifying rained out
Christopher Bell will start on the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at Auto Club Speedway after persistent rain forced the cancellation of both qualifying sessions for the Cup and Xfinity Series.
Jim Utter
Edited: Feb 25, 2023, 4:02 PM
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The lineup for Sunday’s Pala Casino 400 was set per the series rulebook and Bell – who finished third in last weekend’s season-opening Daytona 500 – will claim the top starting position.
Bell, who drives the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, has struggled in two previous starts at the 2-mile speedway.
In 2020, his rookie year, Bell’s day ended early when a jack bolt went through the radiator of his car. Last season, Bell started 19th and raced his way up to 13th when he reported he lost water pressure. The team brought him in to blow out the vents and add water.
Bell finished Stage 1 but shortly after a spin in Stage 2 the car overheated and ended his day in 36th.
“I really enjoy Fontana the race track but it hasn’t liked me back,” Bell said. “Statistically it is one of my worst race tracks, but I really enjoy the challenge of it and the layout of it.
“Hopefully we have a good showing this time.”
Joining Bell on the front row is Daytona 500 champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who will enjoy his best start in a race since he started second in the 2021 Bristol Dirt Race.
Matt Kenseth in 2009 was the last driver to win the Daytona 500 and second race of the season a week later. Jeff Gordon in 1997 was the only other driver to go back-to-back to begin a year.
Joey Logano will line up third, Alex Bowman fourth and Chris Buescher will round out the top-five.
Completing the top-10 are A.J. Allmendinger, Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney and Kevin Harvick.
Kyle Larson, who won last season’s race, will line up 15th.
NASCAR will still try to get the Xfinity Series race in today, saying: "This afternoon’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race remains on schedule. NASCAR will continue to monitor the forecast. Stay tuned for updates regarding today’s race."
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Pos. Car No. Driver Team Manufacturer 1 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG-Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 3 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 4 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 6 16 AJ Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 7 99 Daniel Suarez Trackhouse Racing team Chevrolet 8 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing team Chevrolet 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 10 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 12 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 13 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 14 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 17 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 18 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 19 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 20 42 Noah Gragson Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 21 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22 15 JJ Yeley Rick Ware Racing Ford 23 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 24 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 25 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 26 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 27 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 28 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 30 78 BJ McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 31 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 32 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 33 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 34 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 35 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 36 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
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