Sunday, November 11, 2018

Christopher Bell Triumphs In a “Must Win” Situation

Christopher Bell Triumphs In a “Must Win” Situation

#NXS ‘Whelen Trusted To Perform 200’ at ISM Raceway (11/10/18)



Facing a must-win situation, Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 GameStop Just Cause 4 Toyota, had a dominant win in Saturday’s Whelen Trusted to Perform 200 at ISM Raceway to earn his spot in the Championship 4 in Miami.

“I guess the biggest thing for me is that I accepted that we might not be going to Homestead and knew that we would have really fast race cars for the last few races,” Bell said. “I just tried to execute and not beat myself. I just get to drive really fast race cars, so that’s why I’m able to win races. It was more so the team coming through than me this weekend. Our backs were against the wall, and they show up here with arguably one of our fastest race cars we’ve brought to the race track all year. That’s why we got the results we got here today.”

Bell came into ISM Raceway 34 points behind fourth place, which meant, barring disaster for the drivers in front of him, the 23-year-old would need a win to be a part of the Championship 4. To start the race, he was in the back due to failing inspection and not posting a lap during qualifying. But not only did Bell claim victory, he made a statement while doing it, grabbing the lead on lap 108 and never looking back.

Bell’s win meant one less spot was available for the final round via points. Elliott Sadler, in his final season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, was on the outside looking in after an 11th place finish on Saturday. His JR Motorsports teammate, Justin Allgaier, was the car to beat at one point in the race, but contact between him, teammate Tyler Reddick and John Hunter Nemechek caused major damage to the right front, and eventually his brakes gave out. Allgaier finished 24th, one lap down, and did not advance to Homestead.


Joining Bell in the Championship race is last week’s race winner Cole Custer, who finished eighth, as well as Daniel Hemric, the runner-up on Saturday, and Reddick, who finished sixth. Matt Tifft earned a third-place finish, but did not advance to the final round.


“I knew the way the stages played out early on, we were going to have to win,” said Tifft, driver of the No. 2 Go Green Chevrolet. “I thought we had a chance, but just with that last caution, the 20 really took off and I just got a little too tight there. So, valiant effort. Like I said before the race, we’re going to have to go down swinging and on offense, and we were. That’s all you can do.”

Photo Gallery

John Hunter Nemechek (#42 Fire Alarm Services Inc. Chevrolet)  and Cole Custer, (#00 Haas Automation Ford) lead the field to the  green flag to start the NASCAR Xfinity Series Whelen Trusted  To Perform 200 at ISM Raceway.
John Hunter Nemechek (#42 Fire Alarm Services Inc. Chevrolet)
and Cole Custer, (#00 Haas Automation Ford) lead the field to the
green flag to start the NASCAR Xfinity Series Whelen Trusted
To Perform 200 at ISM Raceway.
John Hunter Nemechek poses with the Pole Award after posting  the fastest lap during qualifying. (November 10, 2018)
John Hunter Nemechek poses with the Pole Award after posting
the fastest lap during qualifying. (November 10, 2018)
John Hunter Nemechek and Cole Custer lead the field to a restart.
John Hunter Nemechek and Cole Custer lead the field to a restart.
Christopher Bell (#20 GameStop Just Cause 4) leads Ryan Truex  (#11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection) during the #NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
Christopher Bell (#20 GameStop Just Cause 4) leads Ryan Truex
(#11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection) during the #NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
(L-R)Tyler Reddick (#9 BurgerFi Chevrolet), Spencer Gallagher (#23 ISM  Connect Chevrolet), John Hunter Nemechek (#42 Fire Alarm Services  Inc. Chevrolet), and Ross Chastain (#4 Flex Seal Chevrolet).
(L-R)Tyler Reddick (#9 BurgerFi Chevrolet), Spencer Gallagher (#23 ISM
Connect Chevrolet), John Hunter Nemechek (#42 Fire Alarm Services
Inc. Chevrolet), and Ross Chastain (#4 Flex Seal Chevrolet).
Christopher Bell poses with the winner's decal on his car in Victory  Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series ‘Whelen Trusted To  Perform 200’ in Phoenix, Arizona.
Christopher Bell poses with the winner's decal on his car in Victory
Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series ‘Whelen Trusted To
Perform 200’ in Phoenix, Arizona.
Christopher Bell takes the checkered flag for the #NXS win in Phoenix, Arizona.
Christopher Bell takes the checkered flag for the #NXS win in Phoenix, Arizona.
Daniel Hemric (#21 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet) leads a  pack of cars during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Event
Daniel Hemric (#21 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet) leads a
pack of cars during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Event
Christopher Bell leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Xfinity Series  Whelen Trusted To Perform 200 at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona.
Christopher Bell leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Xfinity Series
Whelen Trusted To Perform 200 at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona.
Cole Custer races Daniel Hemric during the NASCAR Xfinity Series  Whelen Trusted To Perform 200 at ISM Raceway.
Cole Custer races Daniel Hemric during the NASCAR Xfinity Series
Whelen Trusted To Perform 200 at ISM Raceway.
Tyler Reddick (#9 BurgerFi Chevrolet) leads Spencer Gallagher.
Tyler Reddick (#9 BurgerFi Chevrolet) leads Spencer Gallagher.


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