Jun 22, 2024; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Collection driver Christopher Bell (20) celebrates successful the Sci Aps 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Obligatory Credit score: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports activities Christopher Bell began final week in Loudon by letting the cat out of the bag then ended it as he all the time appears to do at New Hampshire Motor Speedway: First to the checkers.
On a historic day when NASCAR ran wet-weather tires on an oval to offer the followers their cash’s price — really just a few laps greater than the deliberate 301 circuits — Bell confirmed that he had discovered learn how to maneuver his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota across the New England monitor higher than another driver.
That got here after inadvertently revealing that Chase Briscoe can be becoming a member of him as a JGR teammate subsequent season, letting the confidential data slip out final Friday in an interview within the infield media heart.
Profitable Sunday helped erase the oopsie.
Bell’s second profession Cup Collection win at Loudon got here on the heels of successful his fourth straight Loudon Xfinity Collection race Saturday.
In all, the Norman, Okla., native has received seven of his 11 begins at NHMS, together with a Truck Collection triumph in 2017.
Now it is on to Nashville Superspeedway, which might be internet hosting its fourth consecutive Cup race this Sunday, the Ally 400 on the 1.333-mile tri-oval in Lebanon, Tenn.
Even with top-10 finishes in every of the three occasions held there because the 2021 marketing campaign, the JGR sizzling shoe has not had the nice fortune there he has sought.
“It is good to go into Nashville having three top-10 finishes but it surely’s been a spot the place I have never been tremendous snug,” stated Bell, who’s tied with Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and William Byron with three victories to date within the Cup Collection. “Since we have gone again with the Subsequent Gen automotive, we simply have not been nice, and I have been the again half of the top-10 and missing a bit velocity in comparison with the winners.
“I do know we try one thing new to try to enhance on that, and I am going there with a unique mindset and a unique mentality than I’ve the final couple of years.”
Race No. 19 within the Cup Collection simply outdoors of Nashville might be 300 laps, and Hendrick Motorsports has performed it fairly nicely for the crowds within the Music Metropolis by successful two of the three races.
Within the inaugural occasion in 2021, Larson dominated by main 264 laps. Within the course of, the No. 5 Chevrolet driver beat Ross Chastain by 4.335 seconds for Larson’s third straight win.
Additionally of word in that one, Chase Elliott scored a Thirteenth-place end however was disqualified after it was found in post-race inspection that he had 5 unfastened lug nuts. He was scored in final place and stripped of his Stage 1 win.
Elliott rebounded by taking the checkers in 2022, however Chastain broke the Hendrick stranglehold on the trophy by placing his No. 1 Chevy Camaro on the pole and beating Martin Truex Jr. final 12 months.
On Thursday night time on the previous Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway brief monitor, Chastain warmed up for the race weekend by ending fourth, one spot forward of hometown favourite Josh Berry, within the inaugural Battle of Broadway 150.
–Discipline Degree Media