Bell Leads Toyota In POWRi Turnpike Challenge Finale At Port City

By:
On:
In: Xfinity Series News

Toyota driver Christopher Bell fell just short of his second win of the week, placing second in a thrilling race with Jonathan Beason at the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League’s Turnpike Challenge finale at Port City Raceway in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sunday.

Bell, who won Thursday night’s opener of the four-race Challenge, started from the pole and immediately went to the lead with Beason on his tail from the start. The two battled throughout the race with Beason hounding Bell through the first 10 laps before Bell started to pull away as they hit lapped traffic, only to see a yellow flag fly on lap 11 to close up the field.

Bell led the next two laps before another yellow waved with 18 laps remaining. On the ensuing restart, Beason dove low while Bell continued to run the high side with Beason taking the lead on lap 15. The two battled for the point position over the next two laps before Bell reclaimed the top spot on lap 18, shortly before another caution flag waved.

Bell led the field back to the green and began to open up his lead after encountering lapped traffic on lap 25. Unfortunately for Bell, the yellow flag waved once more on lap 28, bunching the field back up for a two-lap shootout between the two Oklahoma drivers.

At the green flag, Bell committed to the top, while Beason stuck to the bottom. The two were side-by-side at the white flag with Beason inching ahead to lead the lap. The battle continued on the final circuit with Beason taking the checkered flag by just 0.02 seconds with the two making contact at the flag stand as Bell climbed over the right rear of Beason’s car, flipping at the flag. Bell would quickly walk away uninjured.

Overall, Bell led 25 of the 30 laps in earning his fourth consecutive podium finish of the Challenge. Over the course of the four races, he registered one victory, two seconds and a third.

In addition to Bell’s efforts, Logan Seavey captured a pair of wins at I-44 Riverside Speedway to give Toyota-powered drivers a victory in three of four races.

The Toyota midget car program is back in action with a USAC double-header at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway, April 5-6, while POWRi is returns to the track April 26 at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill.

TRD PR

Speedway Digest Staff
Follow Me
Latest posts by Speedway Digest Staff (see all)
Post Views: 34