Christopher Bell wins wild NASCAR Truck race at Gateway
MADISON, Ill. - Christopher Bell prevailed in a two-lap sprint after the last of three re-starts for his first victory of the season in the rain-delayed NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Saturday night.
The 20-year-old Bell held on to beat Ben Rhodes, the pole sitter in the 200-mile race. It was the 50th victory in the series for Kyle Busch Motorsports and the third this season by three drivers.
The final re-start at Gateway Motorsports Park near St. Louis lasted more than 12 minutes. It had entertainment value when John Wes Townley and Spencer Gallagher grappled with wrestling-style takedowns and exchanged punches.
The start was delayed about 1 1/2 hours by showers. Qualifying was canceled and practice times determined the grid.
Johnny Sauter was in the second position and passed Rhodes right away, then led the first 26 laps of the 160-lap event on the 1.25-mile oval. Tyler Reddick, who led for 41 laps, was knocked out in a chain reaction collision with 11 laps to go.
The series takes a week off before resuming in July 7 in Sparta, Kentucky.