Christopher Bell, a short track ace, earned the pole for Sunday’s Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The defending champion at the “Magic Mile,” Bell secured a trip to the playoffs last season with a dominating performance at the Granite State track, winning by a 5.767-second margin. Bell has compiled three consecutive top-10 finishes at New Hampshire.
Bell turned in a hot lap of 124.781 mph for his first pole of the season and fifth of his career.
Martin Truex Jr. Will start on the outside of the front row Sunday and Aric Almirola qualified third. Team Penske teammates, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney will begin fourth and fifth, respectively.
Kyle Bush crashed into the retaining wall along Turns 1 and 2 of his qualifying run, but recovered enough to begin 10th.
Retweet to congratulate Christopher Bell on his NASCAR Cup Series pole in New Hampshire! https://t.co/9tNSlhl1nT pic.twitter.com/LSgthzPZrb
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) July 15, 2023
New Hampshire Track To Run Spitter Tests Monday, Tuesday
Following Sunday’s checkered flag for the Crayon 301, the action at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will not cease.
On Monday and Tuesday, Cup Series officials will stage additional short-track tests along the 1.058-mile surface. NASCAR has been developing a new splitter and will test its quality and endurance capabilities.
Bell, who will start from the pole position Sunday, Harrison Burton, William Bryron, Erik Jones and Ryan Preece will participate in the tests.
Even if the test is successful, the new splitter may not be available until 2024, according to Mike Forde, managing director of racing communications at NASCAR.
Speaking with NASCAR on NBC podcast, Forde said: “Might not be able to be implemented in 2023 just because there is a lot of production following that. We feel pretty good about (the new splitter). The CFD modeling we’ve done on this, from my understanding (is) pretty promising.
“So we’re excited about that.”
Let’s set the stage. 😤
📍: @NHMS pic.twitter.com/8BLrt1Wox5
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 12, 2023
Starting Lineup for NASCAR Cup Series’ Crayon 301
Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:
Starting Position, Driver, Car No., Team
- 1, Christopher Bell, 20, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 2, Martin Truex Jr., 19, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 3, Aric Almirola, 10, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 4, Joey Logano, 22, Team Penske
- 5, Ryan Blaney, 12, Team Penske
- 6, Tyler Reddick, 45, 23XI Racing
- 7, William Byron, 24, Hendrick Motorsports
- 8, Bubba Wallace, 23, 23XI Racing
- 9, Brad Keselowski, 6, RFK Racing
- 10, Kyle Busch, 8, Richard Childress Racing
- 11, Austin Dillon, 3, Richard Childress Racing
- 12, Daniel Suarez, 99, Trackhouse Racing
- 13, Kevin Harvick, 4, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 14, AJ Allmendinger, 16, Kaulig Racing
- 15, Kyle Larson, 5, Hendrick Motorsports
- 16, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 47, JTG Daugherty Racing
- 17, Michael McDowell, 34, Front Row Motorsports
- 18, Chase Elliott, 9, Hendrick Motorsports
- 19, Justin Haley, 31, Kaulig Racing
- 20, Denny Hamlin, 11, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 21, Ryan Preece, 41, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 22, Austin Cindric, 2, Team Penske
- 23, Todd Gilliland, 38, Front Row Motorsports
- 24, Corey LaJoie, 7, Spire Motorsports
- 25, Alex Bowman, 48, Hendrick Motorsports
- 26, Chris Buescher, 17, RFK Racing
- 27, Chase Briscoe, 14, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 28, Harrison Burton, 21, Wood Brothers Racing
- 29, Noah Gragson, 42, Legacy Motor Club
- 30, Erik Jones, 43, Legacy Motor Club
- 31, Ross Chastain, 1, Trackhouse Racing
- 32, BJ McLeod, 78, Live Fast Motorsports
- 33, Ryan Newman, 15, Rick Ware Racing
- 34, Cole Custer, 51, Rick Ware Racing
- 35, Ty Dillon, 77, Spire Motorsports
- 36, Ty Gibbs, 54, Joe Gibbs Racing
ANOTHER issue for @KyleBusch!
He backs it into the wall during #BuschLightPole Qualifying! pic.twitter.com/JZYB9Q6acM
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 15, 2023
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