NASCAR Playoffs at Talladega starting lineup: Christopher Bell wins fourth pole of 2022

Bell now leads all Cup Series drivers in poles won this season

LINCOLN, Ala. -- Christopher Bell won the pole for the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in qualifying on Saturday, posting a lap of 53.026 (180.591 mph) to win his fourth pole of the year and sweep both Talladega poles for 2022. Bell now leads all Cup Series drivers in poles won this season.

Saturday's qualifying session marked the first opportunity for Noah Gragson to climb aboard Hendrick Motorsports' No. 48 Chevrolet, as he fills in as the substitute driver for Alex Bowman (concussion-like symptoms) this weekend. Gragson made the final round of qualifying, earning his career-best starting spot in seventh with a lap of 53.356. Justin Allgaier, driving the Beard Motorsports No. 62 that Gragson was originally entered in, qualified 31st.

Qualifying saw a frightening moment on pit road, as Tyler Reddick was unable to stop his car after his qualifying lap and nosed into the pit wall, momentarily pinning a NASCAR official between his car and the wall. The official was treated on pit road for minor injuries, and Reddick's car also sustained some minor damage.

Ty Gibbs was fast enough to advance to the final round of qualifying, but he did not make a lap in the second round after his team went back to the garage area to address an engine issue. Gibbs will start 10th on Sunday.

YellaWood 500 starting lineup

1. #20 - Christopher Bell
2. #5 - Kyle Larson
3. #11 - Denny Hamlin
4. #10 - Aric Almirola
5. #14 - Chase Briscoe
6. #1 - Ross Chastain
7. #48 - Noah Gragson
8. #8 - Tyler Reddick
9. #24 - William Byron
10. #23 - Ty Gibbs
11. #22 - Joey Logano
12. #43 - Erik Jones
13. #16 - Daniel Hemric
14. #99 - Daniel Suarez
15. #21 - Harrison Burton (R)
16. #9 - Chase Elliott
17. #2 - Austin Cindric (R)
18. #6 - Brad Keselowski
19. #12 - Ryan Blaney
20. #3 - Austin Dillon
21. #31 - Justin Haley
22. #19 - Martin Truex Jr.
23. #17 - Chris Buescher
24. #4 - Kevin Harvick
25. #47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
26. #18 - Kyle Busch
27. #45 - Bubba Wallace
28. #41 - Cole Custer
29. #34 - Michael McDowell
30. #42 - Ty Dillon
31. #62 - Justin Allgaier
32. #7 - Corey LaJoie
33. #77 - Landon Cassill
34. #38 - Todd Gilliland (R)
35. #78 - B.J. McLeod
36. #15 - J.J. Yeley
37. #51 - Cody Ware