Just because a driver starts from pole position, it doesn’t mean they have an easier race. On NASCAR’s oval tracks, there is a lot that can go down. From wrecks to strategies, the challenges drivers face on the track are always important factors. So when Joe Gibbs Star driver Christopher Bell scored pole position at Kansas, it did not mean much to him.
This is the third time that Bell has attained pole position at Kansas and despite starting in the front, he hasn’t won a race there yet. The last two times he started in front at the track, he managed to score a top-10 finish at best. However, he did not have a problem winning at 3 other tracks this season and neither were from the pole. Considering this, following the qualifier, Christopher Bell spoke to the media and revealed why he wasn’t all that happy with the result.
Christoper Bell’s mindset after taking pole at Kansas
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As of now, Christopher Bell is doing well in the playoffs. His record for the last three races was P4, P14 and P5. With Atlanta, The Glen, and Bristol going smoothly, he has a safe place in the playoffs. But for the title- it’s easier to do so with more wins during the final rounds of the season. Kansas is the start of round 2, and starting from the pole is the best place to start; however, it is his recent bad luck that makes him weary of the upcoming race.
When Bob Pockrass asked Bell about him taking a win from pole position, the Joe Gibbs driver replied, “Well, I haven’t done it yet, so I don’t know. Kansas has been a weird track for us because we come here and we obviously qualify really well, but it seems like, over the course of the long run, I just haven’t had what I need to compete with the best cars.”
Christopher Bell looked at the bright side and explained, “We’re consistently good, like we finish in the top 10 a lot. We’re on the verge of top five, but certainly, in every race since the Next Gen introduction, we haven’t been the winning car here.” Until today, the best finish that Bell has had on the track was in 2022, when he came third. That worked in his favor, as he managed to win at ROVAL and Martinsville that year.
Although the No. 20 car is fast enough to acquire pole, Bell mentioned that they haven’t said, “We hit it perfect.” The solution that Bell came up with was working on the car and himself to improve and drive better during the race. Bell also mentioned all the difficulties that he faces on the track, so let’s dive into why he hasn’t managed to win from pole.
Christopher Bell’s problem with the Kansas Speedway
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In his conversation with Bob Pockrass, Christopher Bell explained that the Kansas track is quite a “tricky” one. According to Bell, the balance changes throughout the track, and the drivers need to move from the top lane to the bottom to maintain speed.
Bell explained how Kansas is the opposite of Homestead as he said, “Where at Homestead, you kind of run down and migrate to the wall. Here at Kansas, it seems like you can start at the wall, and then, as the run goes, you’re going to move around and get away from it whenever your balance starts to change.”
via Getty CHARLOTTE, NORTH Carolina—SEPTEMBER 04: Christopher Bell speaks with the media during NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day at the Charlotte Convention Center on September 4, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
But the main problem with Kansas for Bell is the fact that short runs have not been a problem for him. However, staying consistent over the course of the race is where he does not feel comfortable. Bell called for a comparison of him and the usual winners at Kansas and explained that they are “always going to be upfront.”
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The JGR driver concluded the interview saying that he hopes to be in front during the race. Taking everything that Bell said into consideration, do you think that the No. 20 car will be able to break the curse and win from the pole? Share your thoughts in the comments below.