Bell and SiriusXM Tundra Team Overcome Early Adversity to Finish Third

For the second straight race and third time in five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races this season, Christopher Bell started from the pole. Bell maintained the lead on the initial start of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but his lead would be short lived as he suffered a flat left rear tire after leading the first two laps and was forced to hit pit road under green-flag conditions on lap 5.
 
After the over-the-wall put on fresh left side tires on the No. 4 SiriusXM Tundra, the Oklahoma native returned to the track scored one lap down in the 31st position. Bell would be the recipient of the “Lucky Dog” after the fourth caution of the night on lap 61 and then began his march back to the front of the field. He would make it all the way back to the runner-up position, where he was scored for the final three-lap shootout of the event, but would have to settle for an eventful third-place finish after losing one spot on the final restart of the night.
 
Stage One Recap:
  • Bell started from the pole and led the first two laps before surrendering the lead to KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch when he suffered a flat left-rear tire. After a visit to pit road, Bell would go one lap down to the leaders and finished the first stage in the 26th position. 
Stage Two Recap: 
  • After a four-tire and fuel stop, Bell was scored one lap down in the 26th position when the field went back green on lap 47.
  • When a two-truck accident slow the field for the fourth time on lap 61, the No. 4 Tundra was in the “Lucky Dog” spot and returned to the lead lap. Already having to start at the back of the field, crew chief Rudy Fugle summoned Bell to pit road for four fresh tires, a full load of fuel and a trackbar adjustment.
  • By the time the fifth caution flew on lap 69, Bell had already maneuvered his way up to the 11th position. He picked up four spots on the lap-74 restart and when the field took the green-white-checkered flag at the completion of Stage Two was in the fifth position. 
Final Stage Recap:
  • Bell pitted for four fresh tires and fuel with a trackbar adjustment when pit road opened. The SiriusXM Tundra was scored in the fifth position when the Final Stage went green on lap 87. Five laps later he had worked his way up to the third position when the seventh caution flew.
  • On the ensuing restart the 22-year-old made his way to the runner-up position behind his boss. Busch had pulled out to over a two-second lead when a one-truck accident slowed the field and set up a three-lap shootout. Bell lost one spot in the final laps, but brought home his fourth top-five finish across five races this season.

KBM PR