Christopher Bell Scores Overtime Victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta, Georgia – In a thrilling display of superspeedway racing, Christopher Bell emerged victorious in the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, securing his tenth career NASCAR Cup Series win.
Starting from the back of the grid in 32nd place, Bell displayed remarkable patience and determination throughout the race. As the green flag waved for the overtime restart, Bell found himself in the lead and engaged in a tense battle with Kyle Larson and Carson Hocevar.
With Hocevar attempting to upset the front-runners by driving three-wide, Bell remained resolute and held on to his advantage. However, a multi-car crash on the final lap brought the race under caution, allowing Bell to seal the victory.
"That right there is what you dream of," exclaimed Bell after celebrating with his wife on the track. "I love superspeedways. We were stuck way in the back earlier, but we were at our best in the last half of the race."
Behind Bell, Hocevar finished in second place, marking his highest Cup Series result. Larson crossed the line in third, followed by pole winner Ryan Blaney and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Stage 1: Ford Dominates, Berry Takes the Win
The opening stage of the race showcased the strength of Ford drivers. Ryan Blaney led the field from the pole, while teammate Austin Cindric led multiple laps. Joey Logano also ran near the front for most of the segment.
However, Chevrolet drivers gradually made their presence felt, with Daytona 500 winner William Byron finishing third and reigning series champion Chase Elliott taking fifth. Bubba Wallace emerged as the top Toyota driver in Stage 1, securing fourth place.
The stage was won by Josh Berry, driving the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing. Berry led a strong showing for Ford drivers in the first 60 laps.
Stage 2: Larson Prevails in Late Restart
Kyle Larson used a late restart to win Stage 2, marking his first stage victory on a drafting track. As the green flag waved with three laps remaining, Larson pushed Alex Bowman to the lead over Joey Logano.
Larson then surged alongside Bowman with Logano directly behind. Logano attempted to make it three-wide on the final lap, but Larson received a strong push from Bubba Wallace to secure the stage win.
Hendrick Motorsports dominated the closing laps of Stage 2, with Larson, Bowman, and Byron claiming the top three spots. Wallace and Tyler Reddick rounded out the top five.
Chaos Erupts in Stage 2 Restart
Georgia native Chase Elliott triggered a multi-car crash with 11 laps remaining in Stage 2, bringing out a caution and leading to the late restart. Elliott was turned into the outside wall after Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Chase Briscoe made contact in front of him.
Elliott lost control of his No. 9 Chevrolet and spun, hitting Brad Keselowski and Corey LaJoie. Both drivers were forced out of the race.
NASCAR Penalties Chase Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing
Prior to the race, NASCAR penalized Chase Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing for modifying a spoiler on the No. 19 Toyota at the season-opening Daytona 500 last weekend.
Briscoe lost 100 driver points and 10 playoff points, dropping from 10th to 39th in the driver standings. JGR was fined $100,000 and docked 100 owner points and 10 playoff points. Crew chief James Small was suspended for four races.
The issue in question involved modifications to the spoiler base during the assembly process, resulting in a violation of NASCAR’s single-source parts regulations.
Conclusion
Christopher Bell’s victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite starting from the back of the pack, Bell fought his way to the front and capitalized on his opportunity to lead the final laps.
The race also highlighted the strength of Chevrolet and Ford at superspeedways, with NASCAR’s top teams showcasing their competitive nature. As the 2023 Cup Series season continues, fans can expect more thrilling and unpredictable racing on the circuit’s fastest tracks.
