WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.: Christopher Bell was fast in Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International but contact from eventual race winner Kyle Larson in Stage 3 rocked the rhythm of the Joe Gibbs Racing driver who was unable to fully recover.
Much like runner-up finisher Chase Elliott, Bell did to have to start the race from the rear of the field after a L1 infraction for an issue with the rear-window air deflector sent crew chief Adam Stevens home early along with the loss 10 driver and owner points, a $25,000 fine and Bell was forced to give up his seventh place starting position.
Starting deep in the field, Bell didn’t stay there. With a rock solid No. 20 Stanley Tools Toyota Camry underneath, the Daytona Road Course Cup winner quickly made moves throughout the field but used strategy during Stage 2 to showcase himself as a race contender.
After pitting before the end of Stage 1 for routine service, Bell restarted fifth and was able to work his way to second with a pass on Kevin Harvick on Lap 29 but fell short of snatching the stage win away from teammate Truex at Lap 40.
Exercising strategy from interim crew chief Chris Sherwood – Bell stayed out for the start of Stage 3 – but on Lap 54, Bell’s race took a dramatic turn.
Entering Turn 1 battling Truex and Kyle Larson for the race lead, contact between Larson sent Bell’s Toyota Camry around costing him precious time on the track.
Dropping to eighth on the track after the contact, Bell made his final pit stops a few laps later.
A caution-free race though prevented Bell from recovering from the spin and contending for his second Cup Series win of the season and his career.
Instead, the former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion settled for seventh for his 10th top-10 finish of the year.
“I haven’t seen it so I don’t know if I crowded him (Kyle Larson) at all, but he shouldn’t have been in there in the first place,” explained Bell.
“He didn’t really have a run coming off of (turn) seven. We were all packed up. I was faster than the 19 (Martin Truex Jr.) but never could make a run on him to get by him, and same thing with him.
“It’s very disappointing. Our STANLEY | Pristine Auction Camry was extremely fast and definitely capable of winning the race today. Extremely frustrating, but a lot more racing to go.”
Larson who recorded his fifth win of the season immediately apologized for the contact with Bell and said it was unintentional.
“I want to say a big apology to Christopher Bell,” remarked Larson. “I was inside but I wasn’t inside enough, and I didn’t — I needed to have the nose a few feet further ahead, and the angles just caught there in the middle and I ended up turning him.
“I hate that. I race with him a lot. He’s probably the one guy that I race with the most in all my racing, so hate to turn him like that. We’ve had incredible races together.”
Despite the circumstances surrounding his Cup Watkins Glen debut, Bell is optimistic heading to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course on August 15.
“It should be good,” added Bell. “Indy, we have practice so have a little more time to tune on it and make it better, but been really proud of Adam (Stevens, crew chief) and this 20 group to give us really fast Camrys and I expect that to be similar next week.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
