{"id":46382,"date":"2024-05-26T23:45:23","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T04:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=46382"},"modified":"2024-05-27T08:49:24","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T13:49:24","slug":"christopher-bell-wins-rain-shortened-coca-cola-600","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/26\/christopher-bell-wins-rain-shortened-coca-cola-600\/","title":{"rendered":"Christopher Bell wins rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning a weather-shortened NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

CONCORD, N.C. \u2013 A lightning delay that turned into a heavy rainstorm made a winner of Christopher Bell in Sunday\u2019s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

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Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Mavis Tire Toyota, and Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Not that Bell didn\u2019t deserve the victory in the rain-shortened race, which NASCAR was forced to call after 249 of 400 laps were complete.<\/p>\n

The driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota started third, led a race-high 90 laps and won the second stage of the 14th NASCAR Cup Series race of the season.<\/p>\n

The decisive juncture in the Memorial Day weekend race came when Bell held off Darlington winner Brad Keselowski during a 10-lap run after a caution for Corey Lajoie\u2019s spin in Turn 2 on Lap 229.<\/p>\n

On the ensuing Lap 236 restart, Bell and Keselowski lined up side-by-side at the front of the field, with Bell prevailing and pulling out to a lead of roughly six car-lengths before NASCAR called the seventh caution for lightning in the area.<\/p>\n

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Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning a weather-shortened NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After the lightning came heavy rain, and though NASCAR attempted to dry the track when the rain subsided, heavy humidity thwarted efforts to do so in a timely manner.<\/p>\n

As a result, Bell collected his second victory of the season, his first on the 1.5-mile Charlotte oval and the eighth of his career.<\/p>\n

The victory was a welcome momentum shift for Bell, who had finished outside the top 10 in five of his previous six races.<\/p>\n

\u201cMan, it feels so good\u2014to win or lose\u2014just to have a great race to go off of,\u201d Bell said. \u201cA race where we led laps. We were able to pass cars. We lost the lead at times and were able to drive back to the lead.<\/p>\n

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Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWe had great pit stops. It was a team effort, and it was amazing to have a good race. Hopefully, this is something we can build on and get back to being more consistent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keselowski, who posted his third runner-up finish of the season, was convinced he had the fastest car.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just didn\u2019t have time for it to play out,\u201d said the driver of the No. 2 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford, who pressured Bell throughout the final 10-lap run before weather intervened.<\/p>\n

Stage 1 winner William Byron ran third behind Bell and Keselowski, with Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.<\/p>\n

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Justin Allgaier, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com H1100 Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Pole winner Ty Gibbs finished sixth after leading 74 laps, including the first 42 of the race. Chase Elliott finished seventh, followed by Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman and Josh Berry.<\/p>\n

After finishing 18th in his Indianapolis 500 debut, Kyle Larson arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway just before weather forced the stoppage. Larson intended to take over his No. 5 Chevrolet from Justin Allgaier, who had started the race at Charlotte because the Indy 500 was delayed by rain.<\/p>\n

Allgaier was running 13th when the race was called, and Larson never had a chance to drive the car.<\/p>\n

Defending race winner and reigning series champion Ryan Blaney slammed the outside wall in the second stage and exited the event after 143 laps.<\/p>\n

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Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 MoneyLion Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have to look if I hit something or\u2026 I don\u2019t know,\u201d Blaney said.  \u201cI just went into (Turn) 3 getting up to speed and blew a tire and hit the fence.  It\u2019s an unfortunate end to our night. That sucks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not even halfway and just wanting to work on your stuff all night. I thought we were getting it a little better here and there, but won\u2019t get a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ll have to look if I hit something or\u2026 I don\u2019t know,\u201d Blaney said.  \u201cI just went into (Turn) 3 getting up to speed and blew a tire and hit the fence.  It\u2019s an unfortunate end to our night. That sucks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not even halfway and just wanting to work on your stuff all night. I thought we were getting it a little better here and there, but won\u2019t get a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Interviews:<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NCS Race Winner – Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – <\/p>\n

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NCS Race Winning Crew Chief & Owner – Adam Stevens & Joe Gibbs (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/NCSCMS1AdamStevensJoeGibbsRaceWinningCCOwner052624.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

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NASCAR Cup Series Race – Coca-Cola 600<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charlotte Motor Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Concord, North Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, May 26, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

                1. (3)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 249.<\/p>\n

                2. (30)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                3. (2)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                4. (8)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 249.<\/p>\n

                5. (11)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 249.<\/p>\n

                6. (1)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 249.<\/p>\n

                7. (5)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 249.<\/span><\/p>\n

                8. (7)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 249.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. (6)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                10. (13)  Josh Berry #, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                11. (12)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 249.<\/p>\n

                12. (4)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 249.<\/p>\n

                13. (10)  Justin Allgaier(i), Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                14. (28)  Joey Logano, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                15. (15)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                16. (9)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                17. (35)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                18. (24)  Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                19. (34)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 249.<\/p>\n

                20. (17)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                21. (20)  Carson Hocevar #, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                22. (22)  Justin Haley, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                23. (39)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                24. (14)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                25. (18)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                26. (31)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                27. (27)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                28. (36)  Shane Van Gisbergen(i), Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                29. (29)  Jimmie Johnson, Toyota, 249.<\/p>\n

                30. (26)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 249.<\/p>\n

                31. (23)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                32. (32)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 249.<\/p>\n

                33. (25)  Zane Smith #, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                34. (33)  Kaz Grala #, Ford, 249.<\/span><\/p>\n

                35. (21)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 249.<\/span><\/p>\n

36. (38)  Ty Dillon(i), Chevrolet, 247.<\/p>\n

                37. (37)  BJ McLeod(i), Ford, 241.<\/p>\n

                38. (19)  Noah Gragson, Ford, Accident, 170.<\/p>\n

                39. (16)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, Accident, 143.<\/p>\n

                40. (40)  JJ Yeley(i), Chevrolet, Steering, 114.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  123.053 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 2 Mins, 7 Secs. Margin of Victory:  Under Caution Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  7 for 46 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  21 among 10 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   T. Gibbs 1-42;M. McDowell 43-48;S. Van Gisbergen(i) 49-50;T. Gibbs 51-71;W. Byron 72-89;T. Gibbs 90-93;W. Byron 94-103;T. Gibbs 104-110;R. Chastain 111-120;C. Bell 121-146;J. Berry # 147-153;C. Bell 154-159;M. Truex Jr. 160-167;C. Elliott 168-169;W. Byron 170-188;C. Bell 189-201;W. Byron 202;C. Bell 203-206;W. Byron 207;C. Bell 208-230;B. Keselowski 231;C. Bell 232-249.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Christopher Bell 6 times for 90 laps; Ty Gibbs 4 times for 74 laps; William Byron 5 times for 49 laps; Ross Chastain 1 time for 10 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 1 time for 8 laps; Josh Berry # 1 time for 7 laps; Michael McDowell 1 time for 6 laps; Shane Van Gisbergen(i) 1 time for 2 laps; Chase Elliott 1 time for 2 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 24,54,48,20,19,23,12,6,4,34<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 20,24,23,11,6,48,9,4,1,45<\/p>\n

Stage #3 Top Ten: 20,6,24,45,11,54,9,1,48,4<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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  By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service CONCORD, N.C. \u2013 A lightning delay that turned into a heavy rainstorm made a winner of Christopher Bell in Sunday\u2019s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Not that Bell didn\u2019t deserve the victory in the rain-shortened race, which NASCAR was forced to call after 249 of 400 laps […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":46392,"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":[233,451,16],"class_list":["post-46382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-charlotte-motor-speedway","tag-christopher-bell","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-2154811267-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-c46","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46382","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\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46382"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46400,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46382\/revisions\/46400"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}