Martin Truex Jr. slightly disappointed losing pole position to Christopher Bell

At the end of the NASCAR qualifying session on Saturday, it was the two teammates, Martin Truex Jr. and Christopher Bell who were on top. Unfortunately, for MTJ, it was Bell that made the pole. Truex Jr. will still be on the front row, but part of him couldn’t help but be a little let down with his P2 effort.

Racing can be strange. Even when you don’t feel like you’re doing well, the car isn’t quite right, you don’t feel the speed – things can still end up good. Martin Truex Jr. had a lap that he wasn’t sure was going to hold. Then, it held.

That was until Christopher Bell got involved and unseated his veteran teammate. Bell has a knack for this New Hampshire track. Still, it stung a little.

“I’m a little disappointed, yeah,” Truex Jr. said via Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. “Got out of the car and I didn’t think it’d be enough, I was surprised it was as close as it was. That being said, I feel good about our car, we had a good practice. It seemed like we had a lot of speed. This place is all about getting the balance and trying to stay, staying with it all day long. We’ve been able to lead a lot here, not at the end so hopefully this weekend will be our time.”

Martin Truex Jr. will start on the front row today. Was he a little disappointed he didn’t win the pole? Yes, but he’s optimistic for the race at a place where he has run well. pic.twitter.com/XE4hTVlmtI

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 16, 2023

This has been quite a rebound season for Martin Truex Jr. compared to 2022. He went winless the entire year. However, his fortunes have turned in 2023. He opened the year with a victory at the Busch Light Clash. Then, he won at Dover, his home track, followed by a massive win at Sonoma.

Martin Truex Jr. has been consistent in 2023

After winning the Busch Light Clash, Truex Jr. went through a slump. He posted just two top-10 results in the first eight races of the season. However, a P3 result in Martinsville seemed to turn things around. When it doubt, a little short track racing will get you back to where you need to be.

In the 11 races since that slump, Martin Truex Jr. has two wins with four additional top-5s and another top-10 on top of that. It is really an impressive stretch that Truex went on and now he’s second in the standings. P32 and P29 in the last two weeks doesn’t help, but New Hampshire is a track he drives well at.

This is a weekend that we could see a championship favorite make their case. It could also be a race that gives a playoff hopeful that golden ticket to the postseason, shaking everything up in the process.

Martin Truex Jr. will have a great starting position. Even if it isn’t the pole, a front-row position will give him a strong shot at leading early and perhaps dominating another race on his way to Victory Lane.