Christopher Bell had confrontations with Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson in the NASCAR Cup race at COTA on Sunday. Bell, who gained momentum with a win in the Xfinity Series race, was hoping for a double victory. However, his Cup race did not go as planned due to several factors, including a clash with Larson.
During the second stage of the race, Bell in the JGR No. 20 Toyota Camry tried to pass Larson in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevy. Bell made a move on the inside lane, but there wasn’t enough room, causing Larson to spin out and lose 30 positions. Bell, on the other hand, was relatively unaffected and finished in second place, narrowly missing out to Larson’s teammate, the race winner.
After the race, Bell apologized to Larson and took responsibility for the incident. However, NASCAR fans on social media were not impressed with Bell’s actions. They criticized him for ruining Larson’s chances of finishing in the top five and pointed out his mistakes.
Some fans used Bell’s clash with Larson as evidence of his aggressive and unproductive driving throughout the day. Others defended Bell, stating it was just a mistake. The incident sparked a heated debate among fans.
Before the next Cup event, Bell will need to resolve any issues with Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. Busch has already promised retaliation, but Larson has not commented on the situation yet. It is crucial for Bell to have productive conversations and maintain good relationships to ensure a smooth season in 2024.
In case you missed it, here is a summary of the race: