Following the postponement of both the Cup and Xfinity Series test sessions due to heavy rain, Christopher Bell will begin from the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at Auto Club Speedway.

Bell, who placed third in previous weekend’s season-opening Daytona 500, will begin from the front row in Sunday’s Pala Casino 400 as per the series’ rules.
Bell, a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 20 Toyota, had had trouble in his past two appearances at the 2-mile speedway.
In 2020, Bell’s first year, his day was cut short when a jack bolt pierced through the radiator of his vehicle. The year before, Bell began 19th and quickly moved up to 13th before experiencing a water pressure issue. He was brought in by the team to add water and blow out the vents.




After finishing Stage 1, Bell spun out in Stage 2, and the car overheated, ending Bell’s day in 36th place.
“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.”

Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who will have his perfect start since starting second in the 2021 Bristol Dirt Race, will begin beside Bell on the first row.
The last racer to win both the Daytona 500 and the second race of the season a week later was Matt Kenseth in 2009. The only other racer to start a year with back-to-back victories was Jeff Gordon in 1997.
Third on the starting lineup will be Joey Logano, followed by fourth by Alex Bowman, and fifth by Chris Buescher.
A.J. Allmendinger, Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, and Kevin Harvick round out the top ten.
Kyle Larson, the race winner last year, will start 15th.
According to NASCAR, the Xfinity Series race will still attempt to take place today “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.”
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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Nascar, NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity, Daytona 500, Christopher Bell, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing