Connect with us

NASCAR

Bell Wins into the Championship 4 Again at Homestead

Bell Wins into the Championship 4 Again at Homestead
Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

NASCAR

Christopher Bell Wins Dramatic Show at Homestead, Returns to Championship 4

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – From rejection last week to elation this week, Christopher Bell brought it home at Homestead-Miami Speedway. One of the greatest comeback drives of the season, the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 wasn’t anywhere near the front until the closing laps. Thanks to a fast car and great pit crew, Bell is back in the Championship 4 for a second-straight season.

It may have taken until lap 54, but once Kyle Larson found the lead he hardly looked back. The No. 5 took Stage 1 with ease, and appeared on his way to a Stage-sweeping day. With three laps left in Stage 2 however, Ryan Blaney caught the 5 and picked up this win.

Blaney would hold serve to start Stage 3, with Larson diligently chasing him down. On pit entry just outside of 50 laps to go however, Larson tried too hard to erase his gap to Blaney. The 5 went sliding into the sand barrels at pit entry, ending his day early after leading 96 laps.

Once the race went green again, Blaney quickly lost the lead to Denny Hamlin. The three-time Homestead winner had command for about half a lap until a crash further back forced an immediate caution. On the next restart Christopher Bell took Blaney and Hamlin three-wide to put the No. 20 out front.

Only five laps later Hamlin suffered a mechanical issue and pounded the turn one wall. Compounding the issues for Joe Gibbs Racing, Martin Truex Jr also retired here with engine issues. Following pit stops under this caution, William Byron had the lead.

A short run setup on the No. 24 could not hold up for the final 25 lap run. With 16 laps to go, Christopher Bell stalked down Byron for the lead and made the winning pass. Bell would drive off to a lead greater than a second, holding off a faster Ryan Blaney. For the second year in a row, Bell will be in the Championship 4.

“I’ve got the best team behind me,” Bell said. “Honestly I don’t know, that race was a whirlwind. I was ready to throw the towel in after the second Stage. I got really frustrated on the radio, and Adam (Stevens, crew chief) kept after it. Adam, Tyler, William, the guys back at the shop are working over the adjustments and they gave me what I needed. When we got some clean air this thing was really good.”

“I cannot say how proud I am to be here with our partners, Rheem and DeWalt, driving these Toyota Camrys. I’ve been with Toyota since day one, so thank you to everyone who’s supported me. This is better than a dream come true.”

Behind Bell and Blaney, Tyler Reddick just edged out Byron for third and AJ Allmendinger was fifth. The rest of the top-10 were: Bubba Wallace, Ty Gibbs, Joey Logano, Aric Almirola and Austin Dillon.

Half of the Championship 4 is now set after two races in the Round of 8. The final two spots on points are currently occupied by Byron and Blaney, with the 12 only being 10 points above the cut line. Take a look at the rest of the standings below.

Six drivers have 500 laps ahead at Martinsville to determine the final two Championship 4 berths. The Xfinity 500 is always an action-filled spectacle; this year shows no signs of change. The green flag will fly in Virginia Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Two of the best active drivers at Martinsville enter this elimination race in the red. Can anyone rally to make a championship-caliber drive for Phoenix?

Written by Peter Stratta

Be sure to follow us on Twitter

Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter

Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Related Topics

More in NASCAR