Christopher Wins Kansas Cup Pole as Others have Tire Problems

The Canadian Press

KANSAS CITY, KS – RIS – Christopher Bell will sit on the pole for Sunday NASCAR Cup race at Kansas Speedway.  Bell ran a fast .lap of 179.575 mph to start first.  . Tyler Reddick joins Bell on the front row after a lap of 178.855 mph. It’s Reddick’s best start of the season.  Kyle Larson (178.772 mph) qualified third. Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric (178.448) qualified fourth. Kurt Busch (178.359) completed the top five. Kyle Busch (177.983) joins his brother in the third row.

Saturday’s practice session featured multiple incidents. Joey Logano lost a left rear tire, and the list goes on.  Chris Buescher crashed after a left rear went down. His team went to a backup car.

Others also had problems in practice: Cody Ware spun. Ryan Blaney had a left rear tire go down and slid off Turn 4. Denny Hamlin had a left rear go down and caught the car before it spun. Ricky Stenhouse also spun and the rear of the car made contact with the wall after cutting a tire. Joey Logano spun and hit the wall. He had left rear tire problems.  Others also had problems in practice: Cody Ware spun. Ryan Blaney had a left rear tire go down and slid off Turn 4. Denny Hamlin had a left rear go down and caught the car before it spun. Ricky Stenhouse also spun and the rear of the car made contact with the wall after cutting a tire. Joey Logano spun and hit the wall. He had a left rear down.

“These guys are just doing a really good job on this 20 car,” said Bell. Reddick added that: “any car you drive here, you can’t really drive it flat across (turns) three and four, especially that high. I’m just so used to it getting a little tight landing into three. I just lifted a little bit too much and as soon as I got there, I kind of hated myself for lifting as much as I did. I could have run a little faster lap through three and four. But all-in-all, our No. 8 Bet MGM Chevrolet has been great.”

Bell met the media after qualifying, here is the transcript of that conference:
This is your third pole at Kansas. What are you going to do with another pedal car? “I don’t even know where my other two are, so I’m going to have to figure that out and add to the collection.”

It’s your third pole this year. What do you need to finish the race in first? “We have everything we need to win the races, that is for sure. Our cars are super-fast. I feel like I’ve been driving pretty well, especially the last couple of weeks specifically. We just have to maintain our track position. We’ve really struggled on pit road and that’s one of the reasons why we are not contending for wins. If we can get our pit road struggles underhand, then we are going to be a contender for sure.”

How much do you think your program has improved? “It’s been good. We’ve definitely been a lot more consistent this year and I think a lot of that is just Adam Stevens (crew chief) figuring out what I need in the race car to be successful. Last year, we didn’t have qualifying and very few – I guess we had a few races with practice and qualifying, but now, when you have practice every week and qualifying every week, there is just many more data points, so that Adam can hone in on what I need to be successful. We would hit it every now and then last year and be competitive, but we would have moments when we were off, and it seems like we are hitting on all cylinders, and he is able to consistency give me what I need in the car.”

How antsy are you to get back to victory lane? “I just try to focus on doing my job as good as I can. It’s very much a team sport. I’m only as good as my mechanics, engineer, my crew chief and they’ve been allowing me to succeed by giving me great equipment. Same thing – we have had a lot of pit road issues, but we are all a team. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes on the racetrack, and I’ve never heard anyone on the pit crew come over and tell me that I screwed up. I try to just focus on what I do best and do as good of a job that I can.”

Do you view yourself as a leader of this team now? “That’s one thing that – you look at the different teams across the garage, and you have different situations. For me and my situation, I let the crew chief lead the team. Whenever I’ve been most successful in my racing career in general, it’s whenever I have very good crew chiefs at managing the teams. When you go back to the start of my career at Keith Kunz Motorsports, Keith Kunz was that guy. Then moving to Kyle Busch Motorsports, I had Bond Suss in the late models and Rudy Fugle. They are just excellent at controlling their team and being the leader of the team. I don’t feel like that I have the personality to lead the team. I need to have a leader and being paired up with the crew chiefs that I have – I mentioned Rudy, Bond, Keith, and then you have Jason Ratcliff and Adam Stevens. They have been excellent at that. I let them lead the team and follow their direction and focus on doing my job as good as I can.”

Three dirt guys lead the field tomorrow. How do you battle and claim your real estate? “It’s going to be tough to pass. Once everyone gets to the top, it’s going to be tough to pass. Fortunately, I start in front of them, so hopefully that gives me a little bit of an advantage. You are going to have to really execute all of the details. You need to get off pit road first, have the best restarts. The track is going to race a little bit different tomorrow, because when the tires are good and the track gets cleaned up after yellows – we are going to be at the bottom, so the guys that can time that the best and maximize the time of the bottom and get up to the top at the right time is going to be the guy that succeeds. Later on in tires, when we all migrate to the top, it’s going to be tough to past but you are going to have to make sure you execute before that.”

Time Trial Results: 3rd Annual AdventHealth 400, Kansas Speedway

Round 1A
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) 
Tyler Reddick, No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet, 30.388 sec, 177.702 mph, 0, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, 30.463, 177.264, 0, 1, 0.075, 0.075
3) 
Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Crunchy Cookie Toyota, 30.496, 177.072, 0, 1, 0.108, 0.033
4) 
Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 30.515, 176.962, 0, 1, 0.127, 0.019
5) 
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Wabash Ford, 30.554, 176.736, 0, 1, 0.166, 0.039
6) 
Chase Elliott, No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet, 30.570, 176.644, 0, 1, 0.182, 0.016
7) 
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, 30.701, 175.890, 0, 1, 0.313, 0.131
8) 
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 CommScope Chevrolet, 30.706, 175.861, 0, 1, 0.318, 0.005
9) 
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet, 30.749, 175.615, 0, 1, 0.361, 0.043
10) 
Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, 30.759, 175.558, 0, 1, 0.371, 0.010
11) 
Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light #ForTheFarmers Ford, 30.762, 175.541, 0, 1, 0.374, 0.003
12) 
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 McDonald's Toyota, 30.822, 175.200, 0, 1, 0.434, 0.060
13) 
Harrison Burton #, No. 21 DEX Imaging Ford, 30.970, 174.362, 0, 1, 0.582, 0.148
14) 
Noah Gragson(i), No. 16 Chevrolet Chevrolet, 31.457, 171.663, 0, 1, 1.069, 0.487
15) 
Cody Ware, No. 51 Nurtec ODT Ford, 31.467, 171.608, 0, 1, 1.079, 0.010
16) 
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 King's Hawaiian Ford, 31.644, 170.648, 0, 1, 1.256, 0.177
17) 
Josh Bilicki(i), No. 77 UACC/Support Ukraine Chevrolet, 32.106, 168.193, 0, 1, 1.718, 0.462
18) 
Chris Buescher, No. 17 Castrol GTX Full Synthetic Ford, 0.000, 0.000, 0, 0, -----, -----

Round 1B
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) 
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Rheem Toyota, 30.079 sec, 179.527 mph, 0, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) 
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 30.340, 177.983, 0, 1, 0.261, 0.261
3) 
Kurt Busch, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 30.356, 177.889, 0, 1, 0.277, 0.016
4) 
Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 30.456, 177.305, 0, 1, 0.377, 0.100
5) 
Austin Cindric #, No. 2 Menards/Monster Ford, 30.507, 177.009, 0, 1, 0.428, 0.051
6) 
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Advent Health Chevrolet, 30.513, 176.974, 0, 1, 0.434, 0.006
7) 
Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford, 30.530, 176.875, 0, 1, 0.451, 0.017
8) 
William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 30.553, 176.742, 0, 1, 0.474, 0.023
9) 
Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 30.617, 176.373, 0, 1, 0.538, 0.064
10) 
Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com/PAG Ford, 30.676, 176.033, 0, 1, 0.597, 0.059
11) 
Ty Dillon, No. 42 Chevyliners.com Chevrolet, 30.692, 175.942, 0, 1, 0.613, 0.016
12) 
Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Garner Trucking Inc. Chevrolet, 30.743, 175.650, 0, 1, 0.664, 0.051
13) 
Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 30.885, 174.842, 0, 1, 0.806, 0.142
14) 
JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 Diagnostic Imaging Centers Ford, 31.013, 174.121, 0, 1, 0.934, 0.128
15) 
Todd Gilliland #, No. 38 First Phase Credit Card Ford, 31.701, 170.342, 0, 1, 1.622, 0.688
16) 
BJ McLeod, No. 78 General Formulations Ford, 32.096, 168.245, 0, 1, 2.017, 0.395
17) 
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Dillons/Louisiana Hot Sauce Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000, 0, 0, -----, -----
18) 
Joey Logano, No. 22 Verizon 5G Ford, 0.000, 0.000, 0, 0, -----, -----

Round 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Rheem Toyota, 30.071 sec, 179.575 mph, 1, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet, 30.192, 178.855, 1, 1, 0.121, 0.121
3) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 30.206, 178.772, 1, 1, 0.135, 0.014
4) Austin Cindric #, No. 2 Menards/Monster Ford, 30.261, 178.448, 1, 1, 0.190, 0.055
5) Kurt Busch, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 30.276, 178.359, 1, 1, 0.205, 0.015
6) Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Crunchy Cookie Toyota, 30.340, 177.983, 1, 1, 0.269, 0.064
7) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 30.355, 177.895, 1, 1, 0.284, 0.015
8) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 30.411, 177.567, 1, 1, 0.340, 0.056
9) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, 30.606, 176.436, 1, 1, 0.535, 0.195
10) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Wabash Ford, 30.618, 176.367, 1, 1, 0.547, 0.012

Starting Line Up: 3rd Annual AdventHealth 400, Kansas Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Rheem Toyota, 30.071 sec, 179.575 mph
2) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet, 30.192, 178.855
3) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 30.206, 178.772
4) Austin Cindric #, No. 2 Menards/Monster Ford, 30.261, 178.448
5) Kurt Busch, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 30.276, 178.359
6) Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Crunchy Cookie Toyota, 30.340, 177.983
7) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 30.355, 177.895
8) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 30.411, 177.567
9) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, 30.606, 176.436
10) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Wabash Ford, 30.618, 176.367
11) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Advent Health Chevrolet, 30.513, 176.974
12) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford, 30.530, 176.875
13) William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 30.553, 176.742
14) Chase Elliott, No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet, 30.570, 176.644
15) Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 30.617, 176.373
16) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com/PAG Ford, 30.676, 176.033
17) Ty Dillon, No. 42 Chevyliners.com Chevrolet, 30.692, 175.942
18) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, 30.701, 175.890
19) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 CommScope Chevrolet, 30.706, 175.861
20) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Garner Trucking Inc. Chevrolet, 30.743, 175.650
21) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road , 30.749, 175.615
22) Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, 30.759, 175.558
23) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light #ForTheFarmers Ford, 30.762, 175.541
24) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 McDonald's Toyota, 30.822, 175.200
25) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 30.885, 174.842
26) Harrison Burton #, No. 21 DEX Imaging Ford, 30.970, 174.362
27) JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 Diagnostic Imaging Centers Ford, 31.013, 174.121
28) Noah Gragson(i), No. 16 Chevrolet Chevrolet, 31.457, 171.663
29) Cody Ware, No. 51 Nurtec ODT Ford, 31.467, 171.608
30) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 King's Hawaiian Ford, 31.644, 170.648
31) Todd Gilliland #, No. 38 First Phase Credit Card Ford, 31.701, 170.342
32) BJ McLeod, No. 78 General Formulations Ford, 32.096, 168.245
33) Josh Bilicki(i), No. 77 UACC/Support Ukraine Chevrolet, 32.106, 168.193
34) Joey Logano, No. 22 Verizon 5G Ford, 0.000, 0.000
35) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Castrol GTX Full Synthetic Ford, 0.000, 0.000
36) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Dillons/Louisiana Hot Sauce Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Track Qualifying Record: Kevin Harvick, 10/05/14, 27.325 sec, 197.621 mph

Tomorrow’s Cup race will start Sunday afternoon.

Ron Fleshman with John Davison

RIS NASCAR Editor.  Has been with RIS since the middle 90's. Writes on each of the three main series of NASCAR.

Read More on Cup / XFINITY / Truck news
Volume 2022, Issue 5, Posted 8:22 PM, 05.14.2022