NASCAR Race Mom: Christopher Bell Wins the 2017 Chili Bowl

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Christopher Bell Wins the 2017 Chili Bowl

Bell Becomes Second Native Oklahoma to Win in Race’s 31 Year History

Starting from the outside of the front row, Bell stayed near the front of the field for much of the fifty-five laps to capture the prestigious Golden Driller trophy.

“You know, I’ve been in this position before,” Bell said. “I think this is the third time I’ve started on the front row and I would run into trouble because I was pushing too hard.

Pole sitter Justin Grant led the first 25 laps in the Clauson-Marshal No. 39BC (in memory of 2014 Chili Bowl champion, the late Bryan Clauson). But from that point on, it was Bell’s race.

“I’m speechless right now,” Bell told ChiliBowl.com. “I’ve been coming to this building for so long trying to win one of these things, and I thought I was really close to one at the Shootout a couple weeks ago, but we had a lot of bad luck but I’ll trade all that bad luck in for this Driller right here. This means the world to me.”

Tony Stewart making track repairs at @cbnationals after Gary Walker's end over end flip in Turn 3. pic.twitter.com/6bkJg5bz8N
— Reid Spencer (@Reid_Spencer) January 15, 2017

RESULTS:

Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire
Tulsa Expo Raceway – Tulsa, Okla.
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Lucas Oil/General Tire Championship Night
Event Count: 365 (New Record)

A-FEATURE (car number, driver name, starting position):
A Feature (55 Laps):

71W-Christopher Bell [2]
21-Daryn Pittman [8]
39BC-Justin Grant [1]
67-Tanner Thorson [20]
68W-Jake Swanson [5]
7BC-Tyler Courtney [3]
5D-Zach Daum [11]
5-Jerry Coons Jr. [15]
68-Ronnie Gardner [9]
71G-Damion Gardner [16]
97-Rico Abreu [25]
31-Travis Berryhill [4]
99W-Larry Wight [7]
25C-C.J. Leary [10]
17W-Shane Golobic [13]
17BC-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. [14]
91T-Tyler Thomas [18]
35F-Michael Faccinto [23]
51X-Colby Copeland [12]
(DNF) 8J-Jonathan Beason[19];
(DNF) 47-Danny Stratton[6];
(DNF) 5CB-Chase Briscoe[22];
(DNF) 1R-Thomas Meseraull [21];
(DNF) 5X-Justin Peck [24];
(DNF) 05T-Gary Taylor [17].

Although there were six NASCAR drivers entered in the record 365-driver overall Chili Bowl field, only two made the championship race: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who finished 16th, and K&N Pro Series driver Chase Briscoe, who finished 22nd (DNF).

Other NASCAR drivers Kyle Larson, J.J. Yeley and Justin Allgaier fell short in their efforts to reach the main event.

Climbing from his car, @CBellRacing exults in his long-awaited @cbnationals victory. pic.twitter.com/sdABEiYOQK
— Reid Spencer (@Reid_Spencer) January 15, 2017