Bell Rings Up Victory in Rain-Shortened Coca-Cola 600

Christopher Bell in Victory Lane

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(CONCORD, NC – 26 MAY, 2024 – RIS) Christopher Bell was leading the 2024 Coca-Cola 600 at the right time Sunday evening as rain and lightning sent the race under caution and then the red flag on lap 249 with heavier rain starting a short time after the race halted. The rain forced the decision not to restart the race, as a restart might not have been possible before 1:00 AM, meaning the race could have extended beyond 2:00 AM.

America’s biggest day of racing opened with rain on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, delaying the start of the ‘Indy 500’ and keeping Kyle Larson from starting the Coca-Cola 600 in his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro. 

The first stage ran green until BJ McLeod spun in the fourth turn, then ran to the finish of the stage with William Byron taking the stage points.

Ryan Blaney’s car stalled on pit road to cause a yellow while the car was moved clear and then Harrison Burton spun on the back straight to cause the fourth caution. Stage Two ended with Christopher Bell leading as the field was parked on pit road for the track’s moment of remembrance, honoring all veterans. Byron told his crew that the car was getting loose late in a tire run and tapped the wall, with the driver commenting that the steering wheel was a little bit off to the right after the hit.

The third stage started with Christopher Bell and William Byron on the front row, Bell got the lead from Byron after a handful of laps, Brad Keselowski got around Byron for second place and Tyler Reddick, after starting last and having to take a pass-through penalty at the race’s start due to an unauthorized change made to the underwing before qualifying, CoreyLaJoie’s spin in the second turn opened the opportunity to race to the end of the stage without making another start. William Byron lost a couple of positions in the pits, with Christopher Bell and Brad Keselowski leading Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs at the restart.

Lap 246 saw the track go under the yellow flag for lightning in the area and then rain on the surface, just as Kyle Larson’s helicopter arrived. Justin Allgaier had started the race for Larson, with Larson hoping for a waiver from NASCAR’s rule requiring that drivers start every race to be eligible for the championship. The rain became a near deluge, soaking the track and delaying the restart until the track and pit road could be restored to racing condition.

The race eventually got called as official after officials determined that a restart could not occur before 1:00 AM, giving the win to Christopher Bell with Brak Keselowski second and William Byron earning third place. Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman and rookie Josh Berry completing the top ten.

Unofficial Results: Coca-Cola 600, May 26, 2024 - Charlotte Motor Speedway
Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Laps, St1, St2, Tms Led, Laps Led, Playoff Pts, Pts, Status
1) 3, Christopher Bell, No. 20 Rheem Toyota, 249, 4, 1, 6, 90, 7, 67, Running
2) 30, Brad Keselowski, No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 249, 8, 5, 1, 1, , 53, Running
3) 2, William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Patriotic Chevrolet, 249, 1, 2, 5, 49, 1, 61, Running
4) 8, Tyler Reddick, No. 45 The Beast Unleashed Toyota, 249, , 10, , , , 41, Running
5) 11, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Mavis Tire Toyota, 249, , 4, , , , 45, Running
6) 1, Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Monster Energy/Interstate Batteries Toyota, 249, 2, , 4, 74, , 45, Running
7) 5, Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Patriotic Chevrolet, 249, , 7, 1, 2, , 38, Running
8) 7, Ross Chastain, No. 1 Jockey x Folds of Honor Chevrolet, 249, , 9, 1, 10, , 34, Running
9) 6, Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Patriotic Chevrolet, 249, 3, 6, , , , 43, Running
10) 13, Josh Berry #, No. 4 Overstock.com Ford, 249, 9, 8, 1, 7, , 33, Running
11) 12, Bubba Wallace, No. 23 MoneyLion Toyota, 249, 6, 3, , , , 39, Running
12) 4, Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 249, 5, , 1, 8, , 31, Running
13) 10, Justin Allgaier(i), No. 5 HendrickCars.com H1100 Chevrolet, 249, , , , , , 0, Running
14) 28, Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 249, , , , , , 23, Running
15) 15, Kyle Busch, No. 8 zone Chevrolet, 249, , , , , , 22, Running
16) 9, Michael McDowell, No. 34 Walmart/RTIC Ford, 249, 10, , 1, 6, , 22, Running
17) 35, Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Quincy Compressor Ford, 249, , , , , , 20, Running
18) 24, Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet, 249, , , , , , 19, Running
19) 34, Erik Jones, No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota, 249, , , , , , 18, Running
20) 17, Austin Cindric, No. 2 Menards/Duracell Ford, 249, , , , , , 17, Running
21) 20, Carson Hocevar #, No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, 249, , , , , , 16, Running
22) 22, Justin Haley, No. 51 The Cleaning Authority Ford, 249, , , , , , 15, Running
23) 39, Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 249, , , , , , 14, Running
24) 14, Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, 249, , , , , , 13, Running
25) 18, Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors Ford, 249, , , , , , 12, Running
26) 31, Ryan Preece, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 249, , , , , , 11, Running
27) 27, Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, 249, , , , , , 10, Running
28) 36, Shane Van Gisbergen(i), No. 16 WeatherTech Chevrolet, 249, , , 1, 2, , 0, Running
29) 29, * Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 AdventHealth Toyota, 249, , , , , , 8, Running
30) 26, John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota, 249, , , , , , 7, Running
31) 23, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/Irish Spring Chevrolet, 249, , , , , , 6, Running
32) 32, Harrison Burton, No. 21 DEX Imaging Ford, 249, , , , , , 5, Running
33) 25, Zane Smith #, No. 71 Focused Health Chevrolet, 249, , , , , , 4, Running
34) 33, Kaz Grala #, No. 15 N29 Ford, 249, , , , , , 3, Running
35) 21, Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Chili's Catch-a-Rita Chevrolet, 249, , , , , , 2, Running
36) 38, * Ty Dillon(i), No. 50 AmeriVet Securities Chevrolet, 247, , , , , , 0, Running
37) 37, * BJ McLeod(i), No. 66 Truan Equipment Ford, 241, , , , , , 0, Running
38) 19, Noah Gragson, No. 10 Bass Pro Shops Winchester Ford, 170, , , , , , 1, Accident
39) 16, Ryan Blaney, No. 12 BodyArmor Flash I.V. Ford, 143, 7, , , , , 5, Accident
40) 40, * JJ Yeley(i), No. 44 Beard Vet Coffee Chevrolet, 114, , , , , , 0, Steering
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Race Length: 249 Laps, 373.5 Miles
Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 2 Mins, 7 Secs.
Average Speed: 123.053 MPH
Margin of Victory: Under Caution

Stage 1 Top 10: 24, 54, 48, 20, 19, 23, 12, 6, 4, 34
Stage 2 Top 10: 20, 24, 23, 11, 6, 48, 9, 4, 1, 45
Stage 3 Top 10: 20, 6, 24, 45, 11, 54, 9, 1, 48, 4

Comments: Christopher Bell won the Coca-Cola 600, his eighth NASCAR Cup Series victory.
Prior to the start, the following cars dropped to the rear of the field prior to the green for the reasons indicated: No. 22 (unapproved adjustments), No. 17 (backup car), No. 5 (driver changes), No. 45 (inspection violation).

Cautions: 7 for 46 laps;
Laps: 88-93 (No. 66 spin turn 4 [84]);
102-110 (Stage 1 Conclusion [71]);
159-164 (No. 12 stopped on pit road [15]);
172-176 (No. 10 , 47 incident backstretch [15]);
197-206 (No. 21 spin backstretch / Stage 2 Conclusion [7]);
230-235 (No. 7 incident turn 2 [21]);
246-249 (Precipitation [7]).
Lead Changes: 21 among 10 drivers;
T. Gibbs 1-42;
M. McDowell 43-48;
S. Van Gisbergen(i) 49-50;
T. Gibbs 51-71;
W. Byron 72-89;
T. Gibbs 90-93;
W. Byron 94-103;
T. Gibbs 104-110;
R. Chastain 111-120;
C. Bell 121-146;
J. Berry # 147-153;
C. Bell 154-159;
M. Truex Jr. 160-167;
C. Elliott 168-169;
W. Byron 170-188;
C. Bell 189-201;
W. Byron 202;
C. Bell 203-206;
W. Byron 207;
C. Bell 208-230;
B. Keselowski 231;
C. Bell 232-249.