{"id":42435,"date":"2023-04-09T22:30:40","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T03:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=42435"},"modified":"2023-04-26T16:33:33","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T21:33:33","slug":"dirt-guy-christopher-bell-wins-intense-nascar-cup-race-on-bristol-dirt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/09\/dirt-guy-christopher-bell-wins-intense-nascar-cup-race-on-bristol-dirt\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cDirt guy\u201d Christopher Bell wins intense NASCAR Cup race on Bristol dirt\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 DeWalt Power Stack Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 09, 2023 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em> <\/p>\n

BRISTOL, Tenn. \u2013 Before Sunday night\u2019s Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell lamented that a \u201cdirt guy\u201d hadn\u2019t won the NASCAR Cup Series\u2019 only race on the red clay in Thunder Valley.<\/p>\n

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Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 DeWalt Power Stack Toyota, takes the checkered flag under caution to win the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 09, 2023 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Bell fixed the problem\u2014in a race that also saw hard feelings between pole winner Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece boil over. <\/p>\n

Holding off charging Tyler Reddick in the final stage of the 250-lap race, Bell held a slim lead over Reddick when NASCAR called the 14th<\/sup> caution with 200 yards left in the final circuit.<\/p>\n

A dirt-track aficionado who won three straight Chili Bowl Midget Nationals from 2017-2019, Bell collected his first victory of the season and the fifth of his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cMan, let me tell you, these are some of the longest laps of my entire life,\u201d Bell said of the lates stages of the race. \u201cThis place is so much fun, whether it\u2019s dirt or concrete. Whenever the cushion got up there on the top, it was very tough, because you couldn’t drive it super hard. Otherwise, you’d get sucked in.<\/p>\n

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Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 DeWalt Power Stack Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 09, 2023 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIf you got your right front into it, you’d push a little bit. If you got your right rear into it, you’d slide. It was a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bell used his experience on dirt to negotiate the two ends of the half-mile track, which featured markedly different racing characteristics.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Turns) 3 and 4, that was the scary corner for me, because if you got into it too far, you lost all your momentum,\u201d the driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota explained. (Turns) 1 and 2, I think I kept hitting the wall a couple times.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems like there was a little bit more moisture up there\u2014it would hold me better. I\u2019m like, \u2018OK, I can really attack 1 and 2.\u2019 But 3 and 4, I had to be careful\u2026 Definitely the track tonight favored experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 DeWalt Power Stack Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 09, 2023 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Staying out on old tires after the end of Stage 2, Bell led the last 100 laps. Reddick, on the other hand, forewent a pit stop after Stage 1 and won Stage 2, but paid the price with a pit stop at the second break and rested 12th<\/sup> on Lap 151.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until Lap 223 that Reddick passed eventual fifth-place finisher Chase Briscoe for the second position, as Briscoe scraped the outside wall in Turn 4. Reddick began his pursuit of Bell, but the final caution foiled any opportunity he might have had.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, towards the end there definitely feel like I had a little bit more,\u201d Reddick said. \u201cI thought I had the edge, but I wasn’t quite there in the last couple laps. Definitely found it.<\/p>\n

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Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 SiriusXM Radio Toyota, William Byron, driver of the #24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, Justin Haley, driver of the #31 Tide Chevrolet, Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, Michael McDowell, driver of the #34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford, and Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald’s\/Dr Pepper Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 09, 2023 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cJust hate it for everybody on this (No. 45 23XI Racing) Toyota. Just needed to be a little bit closer than I was. I think with two (laps) to go, it would have been really bold to try to make that move work. Obviously, on the white flag coming into (Turns) 3 and 4, I was going to see. We\u2019ll never know if it (would have) worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Larson won 75-lap Stage 1 wire-to-wire, but he angered Preece with a move that forced the Stewart-Haas Racing driver into the outside wall. On Lap 175, 20 circuits after Larson spun and fell to the rear of the field, Preece returned the favor in Turn 4. Larson\u2019s No. 5 Chevrolet then shot to the inside into the door of Preece\u2019s No. 41 Ford before spinning into the outside wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m guessing he was paying me back for whatever I did earlier,\u201d said Larson, who exited the race with suspension damage to his car. \u201cHe ran me straight into the fence, and my car was broke and we crashed.<\/p>\n

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Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 Kroger\/Irish Spring Chevrolet, Erik Jones, driver of the #43 Club Wyndham Chevrolet, and Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Interstate Batteries Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 09, 2023 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt sucks, but I should just be mad at myself for spinning out earlier and putting myself back there. Just sucks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Austin Dillon ran third, followed by Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Briscoe and Justin Haley, as drivers with dirt-track backgrounds claimed the top six finishing positions. Martin Truex Jr., Todd Gilliland, Kevin Harvick and Ty Gibbs completed the top 10.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just have to thank (Speedway Motorsports Inc.) for all of the hard work they\u2019ve done with this dirt racing,\u201d Dillon said. \u201cI don\u2019t care what anybody says, that was an amazing show throughout the field. I felt like it was some great racing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

NCS Race Winner – Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) –<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BMSDirtNCSChristopherBell040923-1.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NCS Race Winning Team – Adam Stevens (No. 20 crew chief) and Heather Gibbs (Team Owner)-<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BMSDirtNCSHeatherGibbsAdamStevens040923-1.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NASCAR Cup Series Race – Food City Dirt Race<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bristol, Tennessee<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, April 9, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    1. (4)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 250.<\/p>\n

                    2. (6)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 250.<\/p>\n

                    3. (2)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                    4. (22)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                    5. (14)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    6. (25)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                    7. (27)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 250.<\/p>\n

                    8. (15)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    9. (26)  Kevin Harvick, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    10. (23)  Ty Gibbs #, Toyota, 250.<\/p>\n

                    11. (13)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    12. (11)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 250.<\/p>\n

                    13. (10)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                    14. (18)  Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                    15. (20)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    16. (29)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                    17. (33)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    18. (28)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    19. (7)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    20. (3)  JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    21. (32)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                    22. (30)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 250.<\/p>\n

                    23. (9)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    24. (8)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                    25. (34)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                    26. (37)  BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                    27. (31)  Josh Berry(i), Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                    28. (16)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                    29. (17)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 248.<\/p>\n

                    30. (35)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 247.<\/p>\n

                    31. (19)  Aric Almirola, Ford, 240.<\/p>\n

                    32. (5)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, Suspension, 236.<\/p>\n

                    33. (36)  Noah Gragson #, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                    34. (24)  Matt Crafton(i), Ford, Engine, 185.<\/p>\n

                    35. (1)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Accident, 177.<\/p>\n

                    36. (21)  Jonathan Davenport, Chevrolet, Accident, 176.<\/p>\n

                    37. (12)  Joey Logano, Ford, Accident, 96.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  46.68 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 40 Mins, 40 Secs. Margin of Victory:  Under Caution Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  14 for 71 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  4 among 4 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   K. Larson 1-75;T. Reddick 76-134;K. Busch 135-140;T. Reddick 141-150;C. Bell 151-250.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Christopher Bell 1 time for 100 laps; Kyle Larson 1 time for 75 laps; Tyler Reddick 2 times for 69 laps; Kyle Busch 1 time for 6 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 5,3,8,41,12,20,14,45,31,24<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 45,3,5,20,8,14,19,12,31,10<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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  By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service  BRISTOL, Tenn. \u2013 Before Sunday night\u2019s Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell lamented that a \u201cdirt guy\u201d hadn\u2019t won the NASCAR Cup Series\u2019 only race on the red clay in Thunder Valley. Bell fixed the problem\u2014in a race that also saw hard feelings between […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":42581,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_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}},"categories":[11],"tags":[177,451,16],"class_list":["post-42435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-bristol-motor-speedway","tag-christopher-bell","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/GettyImages-1481088694-1-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-b2r","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42435"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42587,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42435\/revisions\/42587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}