One thing is for sure. When NASCAR Cup Series star Christopher Bell makes a prediction, he makes good on it.
After winning at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Feb. 23, Bell had Circuit of the Americas (COTA) marked as a prime opportunity for another victory. On Sunday, he delivered, passing Kyle Busch and holding off William Byron in the final laps to claim the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix title.
Bell edged Byron by 0.433 seconds, earning his first career back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series victories. Tyler Reddick, the pole winner, finished third, followed by Chase Elliott, who recovered from an early spin and car damage. Busch, who led the most laps, fell to fifth after late-race contact with Bell.
The win was Bell’s first at COTA and the 11th of his Cup career.
Determined to race cleanly after his 2024 COTA incident with Busch, Bell exercised patience before making his move.
“I wanted to pass Kyle the right way,” Bell said. “He was making it tough, but when he bobbled, I took advantage and got out front. Those last few laps were nerve-wracking, but I’m so proud of this team.”
Busch had taken control of the race after pitting two laps earlier than Bell during the final green-flag cycle. He led by 4.0 seconds when a caution for Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon reset the field. On the Lap 83 restart, Busch initially held the lead, but Bell’s fresher tires proved decisive.
Byron had a shot at victory but ran out of time. “I was waiting for one of them to make a mistake,” Byron said. “Bell’s car was super loose at the end, and I had a few chances, but I couldn’t get beside him. It’s frustrating to be so close.”
Busch lamented how the caution and tire strategy altered his race.
“I wish that yellow hadn’t come out,” Busch said. “I was managing my tires and felt good about my lead. But once Bell got fresh air, it was tough to defend. He raced me hard but fair.”
Elliott’s race began with a Lap 1 spin after contact with Ross Chastain, breaking a toe link. He fell to 36th place before climbing back into contention. A final-stage tire strategy helped him surge to fourth place.
“It was a wild day,” Elliott said. “We had damage early, but the team did an incredible job fixing it. The late pit strategy helped, and while I wish I was battling for the win, I’m happy with our recovery.”
Connor Zilisch, an 18-year-old road course specialist, saw his NASCAR Cup Series debut end in a Lap 50 crash with teammate Daniel Suárez.
Suárez lost control in Turn 19, and as Zilisch attempted to avoid the wreck, Suárez’s car spun into his path, causing a heavy collision. Both cars were too damaged to continue.
“It’s disappointing because we had one of the fastest cars in the second stage,” Zilisch said. “We made huge gains, but it ended in a tough way.”
Bell’s victory establishes him as a strong early contender in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, with Byron, Reddick, and Elliott showing strong pace in the championship race.
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