March 19, 2024

Bell wins wild NASCAR Truck race at Gateway

MADISON, Ill. (AP) — Christopher Bell had a few chances to get it right, and he made the most of the last of three re-starts.

Bell kept the lead in a two-lap sprint for his first victory of the season in the rain-delayed NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Saturday night.

“I knew I had to get a good launch, and I did,” Bell said.

Bell earned the 50th victory in the series for Kyle Busch Motorsports, tied for the most with Roush Fenway Racing, and the third this season by three drivers. Ben Rhodes, the pole sitter in the 200-mile race, finished second.

“I learned a long, long time ago you’re only as good as the race cars you’re sitting in,” Bell said.

Bell’s second career victory in 16 truck series starts was his fifth top-10 finish this year. He finished eighth and 32nd the previous two races and worked his way up from ninth on Saturday.

“I think we’ve been kind of stressed,” Bell said. “We’ve been fast but we just haven’t been able to capitalize. I’ve been making a lot of mistakes lately and used my fair share of mulligans.”

The runner-up finish was a career best for Rhodes, and Daniel Hemric was third.

“I had a really good run-off and he was coming up to try to block it, which is fine — it’s the last lap,” Rhodes said. “I got close to him but we had a good run.”

The final delay at Gateway Motorsports near St. Louis lasted more than 12 minutes. It had entertainment value when John Wes Townley and Spencer Gallagher grappled with wrestling-style takedowns and punches.

“What a crazy race,” Rhodes said. “Crazy incidents on the track, crazy race. I don’t know what else to say. Just crazy.”