HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Last week’s Las Vegas runner-up, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell conceded his near miss – by a slight .662-second to Team Penske’s Joey Logano, who gambled and won on fuel strategy – definitely stung. But by Monday, he said he was over it.
Bell led the most laps – 155 of 267 – but wasn’t ultimately able to catch Logano in the final frantic push to the checkered flag. And regardless of the race outcome, the finish puts the 29-year-old Oklahoman in the Playoff standings lead – 42 points above the cutline with the top four drivers advancing to compete for the title on Nov. 10 in Phoenix. A victory would have been an automatic ticket for Bell, but he is optimistic about his chances this weekend as the defending Homestead race winner.
“You’re never really safe, the three of us William (Byron), Kyle (Larson) and myself have kind of, the way that the cards fell, we’re kind of essentially point racing each other, and the guys below that are far enough below, they’re basically out of the points and essentially racing for wins,” Bell said. “Certainly, we’ll know more once we get through Homestead on Sunday night, but, right now, we’re planning on there being three winners and the three of us – William, Kyle and myself – are racing for that last points spot.”
“There’s a good chance William, Kyle or myself could win this weekend and it could change. But plus 42 (points) sounds great until you realize every time someone wins, that cutline shrinks more, more and more, or that gap to the cutline. You’re never safe and it’s going to be a battle.”
Source: Holly Cain | NASCAR Wire Service
