Christopher Bell wins second straight pole award ahead of Hollywood Casino 400

For the second straight race to start the NASCAR Playoffs, Christopher Bell wins the pole. He’ll lead the Hollywood Casino 400 to green. Bell and his team are hoping that they have a different result in the race than they did a week ago. They were plagued with issues all night.

Winning a pole award is never a bad thing, though. No matter what happened a week ago, you have to be ready to get the job done. Christopher Bell said he is ready to “put it all together” and that could mean a special race for the No. 20 team.

Bell was able to throw down a sub-30-second lap at Kansas Speedway. The Toyotas and Chevys are pretty strong. Michael McDowell was the lone Ford in the top-10 in qualifying. Kyle Larson is starting on the front row with Bell.

For whom the Bell poles. 🔔

REPOST to congratulate @CBellRacing for winning the pole at Kansas. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/qqcZkj4Mm3

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 9, 2023

It was last season when Christopher Bell hit his stride in the NASCAR Playoffs and catapulted himself to the Championship 4. With two walk-off wins in the Round of 12 and the Round of 8, Bell looked poised to take on a lead role at Joe Gibbs Racing this season.

Instead, it has been a little bit disappointing. He won at Bristol Dirt, but he also went months without a top-5 finish this season. It was a terrible dry spell and one that could have doomed his season if not for the win at Bristol. Are we seeing Bell finally turn that corner again and hit his stride when it matters most?

Bubba Wallace had a fast car, but he couldn’t control it and had a poor final qualifying lap. He also failed inspection twice on Friday and will lose his pit stall selection and a crew member.

Christopher Bell has to avoid mistakes in Kansas

Christopher Bell went from having a comfortable cushion at Darlington to being on the bubble in the blink of an eye. He comes into Kansas Speedway for the Hollywood Casino 400 in 12th overall. That has him under a ton of pressure.

For Bell to have a good day, he has to avoid mistakes. When he gets bogged down in the middle of the field, he often disappears. This pole position gives him a chance to start off with some clean air. However, Kyle Larson is likely going to make a strong move to take the lead from the jump.

Larson won last week and while he has this momentum he is going to try and do the most he can with it. So, expect him to be aggressive and race for the win tomorrow. He isn’t going to just relax because of that one win. If he can stack points now, he’s going to do it.

Based on what we saw in qualifying, this is going to be a Toyota race with the Hendrick Chevys playing a part. Don’t overlook Austin Dillon, either. He was P10 there earlier in the spring and I have him as a surprise winner if he can play his cards right.

Ross Chastain is also one to watch. His speed was just as good as Christopher Bell’s. On his lap, he couldn’t hold onto it. While he didn’t qualify as well as he wanted to, he will likely be able to make the most of his weekend with a fast Trackhouse Racing Chevy Camaro.

There is a lot of the line and this race could play out in a variety of ways. The NASCAR Playoffs are unpredictable, but we are close to the next chapter.