Christopher Bell Takes Las Vegas Pole as Joe Gibbs Racing Sweeps Top 3

The team bounces back after a slow start to the NASCAR season.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:05pm

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Christopher Bell has taken the pole position for the NASCAR race in Las Vegas, with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates filling out the top three starting spots. This comes after the team struggled in the opening races of the season, raising questions about their performance.

Why it matters

Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the top NASCAR teams, so their early-season struggles were unexpected. This strong qualifying performance shows they have bounced back and regained their competitiveness, which could set them up for success in the upcoming race.

The details

Christopher Bell posted the fastest qualifying lap, with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch rounding out the top three starting positions. This marks a complete turnaround for the team, which had uncharacteristically poor results in the first few races of the 2026 NASCAR season.

  • The qualifying session took place on March 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The players

Christopher Bell

A NASCAR driver competing for the Joe Gibbs Racing team.

Joe Gibbs Racing

One of the top NASCAR teams, known for its success and competitiveness.

Denny Hamlin

A NASCAR driver competing for the Joe Gibbs Racing team.

Kyle Busch

A NASCAR driver competing for the Joe Gibbs Racing team.

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What they’re saying

“We've been working hard to get back on track, and this qualifying result shows that our efforts are paying off.”

— Christopher Bell (Daily Advance)

What’s next

The NASCAR race in Las Vegas is scheduled for this Sunday, March 17, 2026.

The takeaway

Joe Gibbs Racing's strong qualifying performance in Las Vegas suggests they have overcome their early-season struggles and are poised to return to their usual competitiveness in the upcoming race.