Christopher Bell leads the field to Turn One in the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway. (Photo: Josh James | The Podium Finish)
MADISON, Ill. – Christopher Bell‘s No. 20 DeWalt Toyota was so fast that the only thing that could beat it was itself. Unfortunately for Bell, that is exactly what happened.
While battling Ryan Blaney for the lead, and likely the win, Bell started to experience motor issues with less than 30 laps to go, sputtering the final laps and salvaging a seventh-place finish in the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Last week’s win in the Coca-Cola 600 did little to ease the sting of Sunday’s outcome for Bell.
“Something in the engine department let go,” Bell said dejectedly. “I’m surprised that it hung on for those last 15 laps or whatever.
“That one sucks. There’s no way around it. That one sucks.”
On a track that is notoriously hard to pass on, Bell did not get the memo, as he led a race-high 80 laps and had little issue carving his way through varying strategies.
Starting fourth, Bell made his way to second before the first lap came to an end.
After two early cautions in the first stage, Bell set his sights on pole sitter Michael McDowell.
Bell changed his line in Turns 1 and 2, arcing high to get a strong run down the backstretch.
He completed the pass on lap 41, just in time to score a stage win.
Christopher Bell led 80 laps in the Enjoy Illinois 300. (Photo: Josh James | The Podium Finish)
Bell was one of the first to explore the high line before the groove started to widen out as the race progressed.
“They’ve got a hidden gem here in St. Louis,” Bell said. “This track is really, really cool. You can move around. You can make passes. It’s a great race track.”
The following run would show just how strong Bell was, as he had to make his way through a group of cars who pitted midway through the first stage, as well as the two-tire strategies of Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Preece.
It took 15 laps for Bell to finish the charge, clearing Kyle Busch for the lead in Turns 1 and 2 and holding on through another caution to sweep the stages. Bell has now won four consecutive stages going back to last week at Charlotte.
After restarting the final stage in 14th, Bell made his way into the top-five before teams on the alternative strategy started to pit. Austin Cindric led the group into the pits, but Blaney took over the presumptive lead after the cycle. It was clear that these two were who Bell would be contending with for the Enjoy Illinois 300 trophy.
As Bell surrendered the lead on Lap 193, crew chief Adam Stevens said that he would catch Blaney on Lap 225, with 15 laps to go.
Christopher Bell has two wins on the 2024 season. (Photo: Josh James | The Podium Finish)
That prediction did not take into account Blaney getting held up by Bubba Wallace, allowing Bell to catch the No. 12 with more than 30 laps remaining.
The 2023 Championship 4 contender followed the 2023 Champion closely, getting to the inside of Blaney several times in the corner but unable to side-draft down the straightaways. Bell took the lead for one lap on Lap 221, as part of a thrilling back-and-forth crossover duel that had fans on their feet.
However, before Bell could regroup and try to capitalize on fresher tires, he keyed the microphone to tell Stevens that he was blowing up. Bell stayed in the gas as much as he could, even getting a helpful push down the straightaways from Truex.
“It probably saved us a top-10,” Bell said. “I owe [Truex] a dinner.”
As Blaney ended up running out of fuel, giving the win to Cindric, Bell limped to the checkered flag in seventh place.
Bell’s best finish following a win was fourth, scored at Pocono in 2022 following a New Hampshire win and lobster dinner. Sunday’s performance surely tops that, but the finish does not.
Christopher Bell has two wins on road courses in his career. (Photo: Josh James | The Podium Finish)
“I’ve never gone back-to-back in my career,” Bell said. “We had an opportunity to right there. I don’t know what else to say.”
These two strong runs have moved Bell back to eighth in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings. His 16 playoff points are tied for third most in the series.
The NASCAR Cup Series heads West for the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway next Sunday.
Bell has two road course wins in the NASCAR Cup Series and finished second earlier this year at Circuit of the Americas.
