Bell earns spot in NASCAR playoffs with Cup victory
Christopher Bell crashed the NASCAR playoffs, winning Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to become the 14th Cup Series winner this season.
“That one was much needed right there,” the 27-year-old Bell said.
Bell mastered the track where he won Xfinity Series races in 2018, 2019 and 2021, holding off Chase Elliott — last week's winner at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Bell is the 14th driver to earn a spot in the 16-driver playoff field. With six races left in the regular season, it leaves open the possibility that more than 16 drivers could win a race and the final playoff spot or spots would be decided on points.
That's a worry for another day for Bell.
Bell chased down Elliott late and led the final 42 laps in the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. His only other Cup win came in the second race of the 2021 season in the Daytona road course race.
Elliott finished second for Hendrick Motorsports and Bubba Wallace was third for 23XI Racing. Martin Truex Jr. dominated early and finished fourth. and Kevin Harvick completed the top five.
“We had no idea what we were running there at the end,” Wallace said. “I knew it was inside the top five. But just tire management there at the end, and we were able to capitalize. Just proud of everybody. Happy. It's been hell for me the last month, so good to come out with a top five.”
Elliott, who had led 13 laps overall when he was caught by Bell, finished first or second for the fourth straight race.
“We were in a position where guys at this level really should close out a race if you've got the lead like that,” Elliott said. “Just poor effort on my part.”
Bell led JGR to its fourth win this season and 12th at New Hampshire.
Bell was one of those drivers who would have had to worry about his playoff chances during the rest of the summer stretch. He entered the race in 16th place in the points standings — 19 above the cutline. Bell reeled off five straight top-10 finishes over May and June before he ran into a recent hiccup with only one finish better than 18th over his last four.
JGR, who supplies pit crews to 23XI Racing, swapped team members earlier this month with Wallace's crew.
Bell's biggest concern Sunday was trying to handle the 21-pound lobster awarded to the winner.
“Earlier in the year, I felt like we were right on the verge of winning,” Bell said. “In the last couple of weeks, I thought we were pretty far away. Now, here we are today.”
NHRA
Leah Pruett raced to her first Top Fuel victory for Tony Stewart Racing, powering past Shawn Langdon in the final of the NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.
Pruett, who is married to Stewart, had a 3.884-second run at 316.38 mph in the final for her 10th career victory and second at Bandimere.
“This is absolutely everything,” Pruett said. “We have the best fans in the entire nation. This is my favorite track. I've been trying to be emotionless all day just to do my job, but this is for my entire crew that has been flawless all weekend. I told you guys a long time ago it was coming and couldn't be prouder than to do it at a place like this. Thank you, Bandimere.”
Robert Hight won in Funny Car, Matt Hartford in Pro Stock and Matt Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Hight, the Funny Car points leader, raced to his second straight victory and fifth of the season, topping Bob Tasca III with a 4.065 at 311.92 a Chevrolet Camaro. Hight has 58 career victories. Hartford raced to his first win of the season and fifth in his career, topping Aaron Stanfield with a 6.967 at 196.36.