Bell wins back-to-back NASCAR Cup races after thrilling 4 car battle at COTA

NASCAR followers noticed a sensational struggle for the win on the Circuit of the Americas, with a battle between 4 drivers coming all the way down to the final nook on the ultimate lap. Ultimately, it was Christopher Bell waving the checkered flag for the second consecutive week. Seven days in the past, he led solely the ultimate lap on his approach to taking victory at Atlanta, but it surely was no shock to see him in Victory Lane Sunday at COTA by exhibiting tempo in all three phases.

COTA is Bell’s eleventh profession win and the earliest within the season he’s claimed a number of race victories.

“That was nearly a déjà vu of final 12 months,” mentioned Bell, who was additionally chasing the chief however got here up quick in final 12 months’s COTA race. “I had the monitor place that point. Man, these street course races are simply a lot enjoyable.

“At any time when Kyle [Busch] was main, I used to be simply attempting to be so cautious. Clearly we all know what occurred final 12 months (Bell spun Busch, igniting a post-race dialog]. I did not need that to occur. I wished to move him clear. He was simply doing such an excellent job at operating his race, and he might get off the corners simply adequate that I could not get inside him. However there I began peeking a nostril, and he bobbled and allowed me to get out entrance. At any time when I did, I am, like, Okay, simply do not beat your self. These have been concerning the 5 – 6 sloppiest laps I’ve ever run.”

Watch: Christopher Bell ‘tremendous proud’ after COTA victory

The struggle for the win

Kyle Busch was in command following the ultimate set of green-flag pit stops, hoping to finish a 59-race winless streak. Nevertheless, his teammate Austin Dillon discovered himself caught within the gravel after contact from Denny Hamlin, forcing a late-race warning. Now, Busch had fairly the struggle on his palms.

Because the laps ticked away, Bell closed in on Busch and the 2 drivers grew to become locked in an intense battle for the race lead. Bell needed to swerve to keep away from operating into Busch at one level they usually even slammed doorways as they elbowed one another out of the way in which coming into the essess. Bell finally prevailed with an inside move that started within the final nook and was accomplished coming into Flip 1 with simply 5 laps to go. With the tires used up, Busch light quick, watching helplessly as his likelihood of victory slipped away.

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However the battle for the win was removed from over. William Byron was shortly on him and the winners from the previous two weekends then battled for the highest spot. Proper behind them was Tyler Reddick, ready for his alternative to pounce. Byron was all around the rear bumper of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, however he wasn’t keen to shove him out of the way in which.

Halfway by way of the race, Kyle Busch had a prolonged defensive battle in opposition to Van Ginsbergen and Reddick.

Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photos

Byron retains it clear

On the ultimate lap, he was shut sufficient to push Bell broad however nonetheless selected to maintain it clear within the run to the end. Bell claimed victory, with each Byron and Reddick inside three tenths of the race winner.

“We have all the time raced rather well collectively so I did not need to transfer him blatantly and all that type of stuff,” mentioned Byron, who received the Daytona 500 in February. “We got here a great distance this weekend. Actually happy with that. We have been fairly far off to start out and bought ourselves clearly raceable and able to win. “So simply sucks to be so rattling shut, proper? You might be on the bumper of the man coming to the road, and that sucks. Lots of races forward, and hopefully we will simply hold bringing the pace.”

Watch: William Byron: ‘Sucks to be so rattling shut’ in COTA end

Chase Elliott got here again from a Lap 1 spin to complete fourth, main a gaggle of drivers who pitted for recent rubber through the ultimate warning. Busch light to fifth whereas Shane van Gisbergen was sixth. Chris Buescher, Noah Gragson, Alex Bowman, and Todd Gilliland rounded out the top-ten.