Christopher Bell Powers to Xfinity Series Pole at Darlington

Christopher Bell aims to go back-to-back in Xfinity Series competition at Darlington Raceway on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

DARLINGTON, S.C. — NASCAR Cup Series standout Christopher Bell is starting off his busy weekend around the 1.366-mile oval at Darlington Raceway on the right foot, claiming the pole position and will lead the 38-car NASCAR Xfinity Series field to green for Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200.

The defending race winner when the series’ last visited the facility in September of 2024 was able to scoot around Darlington Raceway with a time of 29.111 (164.408 mph).

Brandon Jones, Bell’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing locked out the front row and will start to Bell’s outside in second for the 147-lap event.

Three-time winner at Darlington Raceway, Justin Allgaier qualified his No. 7 Chevrolet in the third spot alongside of Taylor Gray in fourth.

Sam Mayer put his No. 41 Ford Mustang for Haas Factory Team in the fifth spot, rounding out the top 5 in qualifying.

Carson Kvapil qualified sixth, with Daniel Dye in seventh, Chase Elliott, making his only Xfinity Series start of 2025 will begin his race in eighth, Christian Eckes in ninth, and last week’s runner up at Martinsville Speedway Sheldon Creed will start 10th.

Defending race winner from Martinsville Speedway a week ago, Austin Hill qualified in 19th after scraping the outside retaining wall during his qualifying attempt.

Ross Chastain, making his second of five starts in the JR Motorsports No. 9 part-time entry is starting back in 27th after a struggling qualifying session.

Two cars were unable to qualify for Saturday’s battle in South Carolina, that being the road course specialist of Austin Green, and the No. 74 Chevrolet entry for Dawson Cram were unable to put their cars into the show.

Bell looks to shine again at “The Lady In Black” after claiming his 14th career NASCAR Xfinity Series pole award. (Photo Credit: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

“I felt pretty good about it through Turns 1 and 2.” Said Bell in a post-qualifying interview after narrowly securing the pole award, despite almost colliding with the wall during his lap.

“I felt completely out of control in Turns 3 and 4. Looking at the guys qualifying after me, they were able to maintain through Turns 1 and 2, and then it appeared that I had a pretty good Turns 3 and 4. So, I guess out of control is fast. This (Toyota) Supra is really fun to drive.

Bell and the Joe Gibbs Racing team are honoring Rick Ferkel, Bell’s driving mentor with throwback paint schemes to his racing days in sprint car competition in both the Xfinity and Cup Series races all weekend at Darlington Raceway.

“Having the throwback scheme on it to my mentor Rick Ferkel is really special. This is a special weekend for me to have the Ferkel family here, They’ll be with us for the NASCAR Cup Series race tomorrow and the NASCAR Xfinity Series race today.”

Bell has a significant challenge in repeating his 2024 victory and noted what he needs to do to visit victory lane once again.

“Last year, my car was so tilted forwards the front side that I had a ton of front side speed compared to my teammate Sheldon (Creed) last year, so you ask for that to be a little tilted better, but the way that the race worked out, it still worked out in my favor of having a yellow flag at the end, so you never know how these races are going to go, and thats what makes them hard to really win.”

Bell looks to go back-to-back at Darlington Speedway on Saturday afternoon and seeks for his 20th career Xfinity Series win.

The Sports Clips VFW Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway will air live on the CW at 3:30 pm EST.

Sports Clips VFW Help A Hero 200 Qualifying Results