{"id":11059,"date":"2017-07-07T07:47:11","date_gmt":"2017-07-07T12:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=11059"},"modified":"2017-07-07T07:52:59","modified_gmt":"2017-07-07T12:52:59","slug":"christopher-bell-holds-off-brandon-jones-in-kentucky-nascar-camping-world-truck-series-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2017\/07\/07\/christopher-bell-holds-off-brandon-jones-in-kentucky-nascar-camping-world-truck-series-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Christopher Bell holds off Brandon Jones in Kentucky NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Reid Spencer<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

SPARTA, Ky. \u2013 Christopher Bell<\/strong> survived an accident and an early spin to win Thursday night\u2019s Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series<\/a> race at Kentucky Speedway.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Christopher Bell, driver of the #4 Toyota Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 6, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Bell picked up his third victory of the season, his first at Kentucky and the fifth of his career, holding off runner-up Brandon Jones by .187 seconds at the end of a closing 32-lap green-flag run.<\/span><\/p>\n

“This is pretty special,” Bell said in Victory Lane. “We had our ups and downs. Practice (on Wednesday) didn\u2019t go very well, but we had a really fast Tundra, and (crew chief) Rudy Fugle made great calls from the pit box after I made a mistake and spun out.”<\/span><\/p>\n

That mistake came on Lap 27, with Bell sliding out of control in his No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota. But by the time divergent pit strategies sorted out for a restart on Lap 83, Bell was back at the front of the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Christopher Bell, driver of the #4 Toyota Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 6, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Jones had his own issues, going a lap down after NASCAR penalized him for failure to line up in proper position for a restart. But he returned to the lead lap with a free pass as the highest scored lapped car and took the fight to Bell for the final 35 laps of the race after passing John Hunter Nemechek for the second spot on Lap 114 of 150.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the final 10 laps, Jones closed to the rear bumper of Bell\u2019s Toyota, but couldn\u2019t find a way around his rival.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I was trying everything I knew to do in there,” said Jones, who has three second-place finishes in the Truck Series but hasn\u2019t won a race. “Just trying to play mind games with him and trick him out some, but he had a hotrod, too.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Christopher Bell, driver of the #4 Toyota Toyota, waits for the start of qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 7, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Robert Laberge\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Rookie Justin Haley finished third, followed by Austin Cindric and Stage 2 winner Noah Gragson, who passed his boss, Kyle Busch, in the closing laps to nail down the fifth spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Defending series champion Johnny Sauter finished ninth and retained the series lead by 28 points over Bell. <\/span><\/p>\n

Kentucky native Ben Rhodes won the first 35-lap stage, but elation soon turned to abject disappointment after a restart on Lap 42, after Rhodes made a pit stop and took the green flag in 13th.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the restart lap, Rhodes made a move on the bottom, creating a three-wide logjam with Christopher Bell in the middle and TJ Bell on the outside. The trucks ran out of room as they entered Turn 3, with Christopher Bell moving down slightly on Rhodes\u2019 Tundra, which had gotten loose entering the corner.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Christopher Bell, driver of the #4 Toyota Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 6, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Matt Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Rhodes spun up the track into the path of ThorSport Racing teammate Grant Enfinger, and both trucks were destroyed in the collision.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I was underneath the 4 (Bell) trying to make a move,” Rhodes said. “Then I saw him start to come down on me so I started backing out, and as we were going down to the groove we just all ran out of room. I was trying to give everybody as much room as I could. Just unfortunate. I know all the restarts everybody was going as hard as they can.<\/span><\/p>\n

“They were four-wide in front of me, so I was trying to do what I could with what I had. Just unfortunate we couldn\u2019t come out a little bit better for our Safelite team. We had a lot of people here tonight to watch the race. Sorry I let them down. Just a big mistake on my part. Miscalculated it, and just need to reevaluate our situation this year and try to get us in the playoffs.”<\/span><\/p>\n

For Enfinger, the wreck ended a string of four straight top-five finishes.<\/span><\/p>\n

“They just crashed in front of us there,” Enfinger said. “I think it was everybody just aggressive on restarts, but you\u2019ve got to be. It\u2019s so hard to pass. It\u2019s just crazy on these restarts. It\u2019s what makes the Camping World Truck Series so exciting, but you\u2019ve got to go for it on those restarts, unfortunately.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Christopher Bell and crew chief Rudy Fugle – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/KS_RaceWinnerCBell_07062017.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Brandon Jones and Justin Haley – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/KS_Jones_Haley_07062017.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race – Buckle Up In Your Truck 225<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kentucky Speedway<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sparta, Kentucky<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thursday, July 6, 2017<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. (2) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. (16) Brandon Jones(i), Chevrolet, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. (10) Justin Haley #, Chevrolet, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. (13) Austin Cindric #, Ford, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. (11) Noah Gragson #, Toyota, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. (27) Kyle Busch(i), Toyota, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. (30) Parker Kligerman, Toyota, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. (4) Matt Crafton, Toyota, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. (1) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. (18) Austin Hill, Ford, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  11. (3) Chase Briscoe #, Ford, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  12. (29) Stewart Friesen #, Chevrolet, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  13. (15) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  14. (20) Regan Smith, Ford, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  15. (14) Cody Coughlin #, Toyota, 150.<\/span><\/li>\n
  16. (6) Myatt Snider, Toyota, 149.<\/span><\/li>\n
  17. (25) JJ Yeley(i), Chevrolet, 149.<\/span><\/li>\n
  18. (9) John H. Nemechek, Chevrolet, 148.<\/span><\/li>\n
  19. (21) Wendell Chavous #, Chevrolet, 145.<\/span><\/li>\n
  20. (23) Josh Reaume, Chevrolet, 144.<\/span><\/li>\n
  21. (22) Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, 142.<\/span><\/li>\n
  22. (32) Austin Wayne Self, Toyota, 130.<\/span><\/li>\n
  23. (8) Ryan Truex, Toyota, Accident, 114.<\/span><\/li>\n
  24. (12) Kaz Grala #, Chevrolet, Accident, 114.<\/span><\/li>\n
  25. (24) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, Suspension, 62.<\/span><\/li>\n
  26. (19) TJ Bell, Chevrolet, Accident, 54.<\/span><\/li>\n
  27. (5) Ben Rhodes, Toyota, Accident, 41.<\/span><\/li>\n
  28. (7) Grant Enfinger #, Toyota, Accident, 41.<\/span><\/li>\n
  29. (28) Matt Mills, Chevrolet, Accident, 20.<\/span><\/li>\n
  30. (26) Camden Murphy, Chevrolet, Electrical, 10.<\/span><\/li>\n
  31. (31) BJ McLeod(i), Chevrolet, Overheating, 1.<\/span><\/li>\n
  32. (17) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, Engine, 0.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Average Speed of Race Winner:  112.703 mph.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Time of Race:  01 Hrs, 59 Mins, 47 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.187 Seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Caution Flags:  8 for 42 laps.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Lead Changes:  10 among 8 drivers.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Lap Leaders:   J. Sauter 1-26; G. Enfinger # 27-31; B. Rhodes 32-36; J. Haley # 37-40; N. Gragson # 41-72; M. Snider 73-76; C. Bell 77-92; John H. Nemechek 93-108; C. Bell 109; John H. Nemechek 110-113; C. Bell 114-150.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  C. Bell 3 times for 54 laps; N. Gragson # 1 time for 32 laps; J. Sauter 1 time for 26 laps; John H. Nemechek 2 times for 20 laps; G. Enfinger # 1 time for 5 laps; B. Rhodes 1 time for 5 laps; J. Haley # 1 time for 4 laps; M. Snider 1 time for 4 laps.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Stage #1 Top Ten: 27,16,88,98,8,24,33,66,18,02<\/span><\/p>\n

    Stage #2 Top Ten: 18,46,24,29,51,4,19,21,33,8<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Matt Mills, driver of the #44 Thompson Electric Inc. Chevrolet, stands by his car prior to qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 7, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 Allegiant Airlines Chevrolet, waits for the start of qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 6, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Crew members of the #8 Fire Alarm Services Inc. Chevrolet cover the truck due to rain during qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 7, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 Allegiant Airlines Chevrolet, takes the green flag to start the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 6, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Matt Crafton, driver of the #88 Jack Links\/Menards Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 6, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Matt Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Austin Cindric, driver of the #19 LTi Printing Ford, and Chase Briscoe, driver of the #29 Cooper Standard Ford, lead a pack of trucks during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 6, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

     <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service SPARTA, Ky. \u2013 Christopher Bell survived an accident and an early spin to win Thursday night\u2019s Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway. Bell picked up his third victory of the season, his first at Kentucky and the fifth of his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11068,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[451,282,16,160,268],"class_list":["post-11059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-christopher-bell","tag-kentucky-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-camping-world-truck-series","tag-ncwts"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/NCWTS_KS_BellOnTruck_07062017.jpg?fit=2460%2C1596","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-2Sn","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11059","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11059"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11059\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11077,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11059\/revisions\/11077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}