Elliott earns 1st short track pole with run at Bristol
Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, prepares to drive during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 22, 2019. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) - Chase Elliott earned his first pole on a short track with a fast lap around Bristol Motor Speedway in Friday qualifying.
Elliott turned a lap at 131.7132 mph Friday around the bullring to earn the fifth pole of his career. His previous four were at either Daytona or Talladega, the biggest and fastest tracks on the NASCAR circuit.
Elliott edged teammate William Byron for the top starting spot and an all-Hendrick Motorsports front row on Sunday.
Ryan Blaney qualified third in a Ford for Team Penske, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Erik Jones and Denny Hamlin in a pair of Toyotas.