Bell Secures Sixth Career Victory at Pocono

Christopher Bell was able to pass John Hunter Nemechek with only seven laps remaining in the Overton’s 150 to secure his sixth career victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and first at Pocono Raceway.

Ben Rhodes and Kyle Busch led the field to green, but the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran took the lead in turn two and never looked back for Stage 1. Busch led every lap en route to victory in the first stage. Busch brought the field down pit road and came off first with Ryan Truex behind.

Busch and Truex led the field to green to start Stage 2. Busch shot out to the lead, but Truex wouldn’t let him get too far out front. Truex rode in second while Bell sat third. Bell began making strides toward Truex with less than 35 laps remaining in the race.

Matt Crafton, Johnny Sauter, Justin Haley and Cody Coughlin all came down pit road shortly before the end of the second stage while Busch continued to lead and earn his second stage win of the day. Bell was able to win the race off pit road with Nemechek coming out in second. Busch exited the pits in third, falling two spots which would mean the No. 51 would have to deal with traffic for the first time of the day.

Sauter and Crafton, two of the drivers who pitted before the end of the second stage, would be declared the leaders with Haley and Grant Enfinger, Austin Hill and Coughlin who all stayed out.

The restart would get mucky as Haley made contact with Busch, turning the dominant driver around. Busch backed the truck into the outside wall, ending his run for the victory.

On the next restart, Sauter and Nemechek would lead the field to green and within a couple laps chaos ensued again when Noah Gragson went into the outside wall due to contact from Kaz Grala.

Nemechek and Sauter would again lead the field to green. While Sauter seemed to have the stronger truck, Nemechek would shoot out to the lead with a push from Crafton.

With just over 10 laps to go, Bell would make the pass on Sauter and quickly Bell caught Nemechek with 10 laps to go.

With seven laps remaining, Bell would take the lead but Nemechek wouldn’t give up as they ran side by side for a lap. The No. 8 would take back the lead in the tunnel turn but Bell wouldn’t fall off. With those two battling hard, it allowed Rhodes the opportunity to make strides. Eventually Bell would be able to clear the No. 8, leaving Rhodes to try and work his way around Nemechek.

In the closing laps of the race, Rhodes was able to make his way around what appeared to be an ailing Nemechek who would drop to fourth behind Truex. While Rhodes made his way around, he would have to settle for second as Bell zoomed out to a two second race lead.

Sauter finished fifth followed by Crafton, Cindric, Coughlin, Chase Briscoe and Haley.