For the second straight week, Christopher Bell was there when it mattered most.
Two-time Cup Collection champion Kyle Busch had the dominant automotive Sunday throughout the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, however his No. 8 Chevrolet started to falter within the closing laps after a late restart. With 5 laps to go, Bell — who had a slight tire benefit — was in a position to maneuver round Busch.
Bell’s job wasn’t carried out, nonetheless. A tough-charging William Byron and Tyler Reddick additionally acquired round Busch and had been in a position to shut as much as the again bumper of Bell’s No. 20 Toyota.
Regardless of Byron and Reddick’s finest efforts, Bell was in a position to maintain on to earn his second consecutive win and the eleventh of his Cup Collection profession.
Bell completed runner-up to Byron at COTA a yr in the past however bested the two-time Daytona 500 winner on Sunday.
“Every time Kyle (Busch) was main, I used to be attempting to be cautious,” Bell advised Fox Sports activities. “I used to be attempting to cross him clear.”
Regardless of the excessive depth of the second, all 4 contenders raced one another cleanly.
Byron, Reddick, Chase Elliott and Busch rounded out the top-five, with Shane van Gisbergen, Chris Buescher, Noah Gragson, Alex Bowman and Todd Gilliland finishing the highest 10.
Bell will go for a 3rd consecutive victory on March 9 when the Cup Collection visits Phoenix Raceway. A yr in the past, Bell received the spring race at Phoenix on a dominant day for Toyota. He’ll possible be one of many favorites in NASCAR’s return to the desert.