Bell wins back-to-back NASCAR Cup races after thri...

NASCAR followers noticed a sensational battle 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 option to taking victory at Atlanta, but it surely was no shock to see him in Victory Lane Sunday at COTA by displaying 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 virtually a déjà vu of final yr,” mentioned Bell, who was additionally chasing the chief however got here up quick in final yr’s COTA race. “I had the observe 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 making an attempt to be so cautious. Clearly we all know what occurred final yr (Bell spun Busch, igniting a post-race dialog]. I did not need that to occur. I needed to go him clear. He was simply doing such a superb job at working his race, and he may 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 had been concerning the 5 or 6 sloppiest laps I’ve ever run.”

The battle 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. Nonetheless, 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 battle on his fingers.

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

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 everywhere in the rear bumper of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, however he wasn’t keen to shove him out of the best way.

Halfway by means 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 vast 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 at all times raced rather well collectively so I did not wish to transfer him blatantly and all that form of stuff,” mentioned Byron, who gained the Daytona 500 in February. “We got here a good distance this weekend. Actually pleased with that. We had been fairly far off to start out and received ourselves clearly raceable and ready to win. “So simply sucks to be so rattling shut, proper? You could be on the bumper of the man coming to the road, and that sucks. Loads of races forward, and hopefully we are able to simply preserve bringing the velocity.”

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 bunch of drivers who pitted for recent rubber throughout the closing 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.

Pictures from the COTA Race