Christopher Bell Outduels Kyle Busch for Back-to-Back NASCAR Cup Wins at COTA
Christopher Bell secured his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), outdueling Kyle Busch and William Byron in a thrilling road course battle. Bell made the decisive pass on Busch with five laps remaining, demonstrating exceptional skill in a close-quarters battle for the lead.
NASCAR racers battling on speedway
The victory marks Bell's 11th career Cup Series win and his first at COTA. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver led eight crucial laps, successfully holding off William Byron's late charge. Tyler Reddick finished third, followed by Chase Elliott in fourth and Kyle Busch settling for fifth after leading a race-high 42 laps.
Busch attributed his late-race fade to contact-induced damage to his right rear, which significantly altered his car's handling. Despite this setback, he praised Bell's clean racing style and acknowledged the impact of tire strategy on the final outcome.
Notable performances included Shane van Gisbergen's sixth-place finish after leading 23 laps, and strong showings from Chris Buescher (7th), Noah Gragson (8th), Alex Bowman (9th), and Todd Gilliland (10th).
The 95-lap race featured four cautions for 15 laps, including a dramatic first-lap incident involving Daniel Suarez and Elliott in Turn 1. Stage victories went to Bubba Wallace (Stage 1) and Ryan Preece (Stage 2).
Key incidents affected several contenders:
- Kyle Larson finished 32nd after a two-lap penalty for a loose wheel
- Trackhouse Racing teammates Suarez and Zilisch were eliminated in a lap 50 collision
- Denny Hamlin finished 20th after multiple incidents, including contact with Austin Dillon
NASCAR Cup Series driver standings table