In an extra time sprint, Christopher Bell wins the NASCAR Xfinity Collection race at Darlington Raceway within the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Assist a Hero 200
DARLINGTON, S.C.—Christopher Bell survived a near-disaster with Cole Custer on the primary extra time lap and held on to win Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Assist a Hero 200 over Custer and snakebit Sheldon Creed.
In an Extra time Sprint, Christopher Bell Wins the NASCAR Xfinity Collection Race at Darlington
Throughout a green-flag run that began on lap 97 of 150, Creed caught and handed Bell for the lead on lap 139 and was poised to say his first NASCAR Xfinity Collection victory after a document 11 runner-up finishes within the sequence.
However Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger slapped the skin wall on lap 143, inflicting the sixth warning of the afternoon, and Creed misplaced the highest spot with a sluggish 15-second cease on pit highway, because of points with the fitting rear tire.
Creed restarted third behind Bell within the outdoors lane. Contact between the automobiles of Bell and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Custer on the backstretch bought each automobiles out of form beneath the traditional racing line, however the drivers recovered and held their positions.
“That was wild, for positive,” mentioned Bell, who began from the pole and led 108 laps. “I believed I used to be headed nose-first into the within wall… It’s a tricky race monitor, and off of (Flip) 2, whether or not you’re on the underside of the highest, it flushes you to the wall, and you then form of get somewhat little bit of a wiggle coming down.
“As soon as once more, I really feel horrible for Sheldon, to basically win the race on the long term there after which lose it on pit highway. It’s a giant bummer… It appeared like our automotive was actually good on the quick runs. Clearly, the 18, Sheldon, was actually good on the lengthy runs.
“Sadly for him, the race performed out in another way, and happily for us, we bought one other shot at it.”
The victory was Bell’s second of the season in as many begins, with the primary victory having come at New Hampshire in June. However Bell’s triumph got here on the expense of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate.
Sheldon Creed Displays on One other Race He ‘Virtually’ Gained
As anticipated, Creed was disconsolate as he mirrored on the race that bought away.
“I misplaced one the identical method a couple of years in the past right here,” lamented Creed, who led 30 laps and was pulling away from Bell earlier than the ultimate warning. “This has been a very good place for me. I’ve all the time cherished racing right here. Man, I don’t know if we could possibly be any higher than that.
“I felt like I put in certainly one of my finest performances at the moment… Man, it’s a bummer. I’m so happy with everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing on this 18 workforce. I took an opportunity on myself and introduced all the cash we might. I’m actually not even making a greenback this yr.”
Creed will go away Joe Gibbs Racing to drive a Ford for the Haas Manufacturing facility Staff subsequent yr.
NASCAR Cup Collection driver Chase Elliott completed fourth, adopted by Sammy Smith, who leap-frogged Ryan Sieg into the ultimate Playoff-eligible place on factors. Smith leads Sieg by ten factors with three races left within the Xfinity common season.
Jesse Love, Shane van Gisbergen, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, and Justin Allgaier accomplished the highest ten.
Creed did decide up his first stage win of the season, beating Bell to the end line in Stage 2. Bell gained the opening 45-lap stage over Hill.
Justin Allgaier holds a 28-point benefit over Cole Custer in second place. Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, and Sheldon Creed rank within the prime 5.
Subsequent Up
Atlanta Motor Speedway is the subsequent cease for the NASCAR Xfinity Collection on Saturday, September seventh at 3 pm ET. Protection is accessible on USA, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. John Hunter Nemechek gained the race at Atlanta final yr.
