Date: June 23, 2017
Event: M&M’s 200 (Race 9 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS)
Location: Iowa Speedway in Newton (0.85-mile oval)
Format: Three Stages; 60 laps/60 laps/80 laps
Start/Finish: 2nd/5th (running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
Winner: John Hunter Nemechek of NEMCO Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Christopher Bell took the lead from his Kyle Busch Motorsports’ (KBM) teammate Noah Gragson on lap 17 and remained out front for remainder of Stage 1 of the M&M’s 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Iowa Speedway of Newton. The No. 4 Toyota Tundra was out front for the first 55 laps of Stage Two, but a one-truck spin with 11 laps changed the complexion of the strategy of the race.
Crew chief Rudy Fugle believed his best shot to collect another stage one and the playoffs points that go along with it was to stay on track and believed several series regulars would also wait for the stage break to pit. However, all but one lead-lap truck pitted for fresh tires leaving Bell at a disadvantage when the race restarted with six laps remaining in the stage. Bell would finish the stage fourth and then after making his pit stop restarted 12th for the final stage.
Bell methodically maneuvered his way back to the front and was scored in the fourth position when the final caution of the race occurred with 15 laps remaining. Everyone on the lead lap hit pit road when it opened, but misfortune struck once again when a pit gun didn’t function properly on the right-side only stop and the No. 4 Toyota Tundra was the sixth truck off pit road. He would pick up one more position in the closing laps to earn his sixth top-finish of the season.
Stage One Recap:
- Bell qualified second and worked his way around KBM teammate Noah Gragson for the lead on lap 17.
- As Stage One went caution free for its entirety, The Toyota Tundra cruised to the stage victory and earned valuable playoff points.
Stage Two Recap:
- After pitting for four tires and fuel with a trackbar adjustment, a speedy stop by the over-the-wall crew allowed Bell to maintain the lead when Stage Two went green on lap 69.
- The No. 4 Tundra remained out front until a one-truck spin slowed the field for the second time on lap 109. Fugle kept his driver on track while the majority of the lead-lap trucks hit pit road.
- When the field went back green, Bell fell back to the fourth spot succumbing spots to trucks with fresh tires. A three-truck accident on lap 119 ended Stage Two under caution.
Final Stage Recap:
- When pit road opened, Bell brought his Tundra down pit road for four fresh tires and fuel. With everyone who pitted near the end of Stage Two staying out this time around, the No. 4 Toyota restarted in the 12th position when the Final Stage went green on lap 132.
- Bell had a strong restart and by the time the field came back to the start-finish line he had advance up to the eighth spot. With 20 laps remaining in the event he returned to the top five and he was scored in the fourth position when a two-truck accident slowed the field for the final time on lap 186.
- All of the leaders hit pit road with Fugle calling for just right-side tires to try and gain spots on pit road with passing at a premium under green-flag conditions. A pit gun malfunctioning slowed the stop and left Bell scored in the sixth position when the field went back green with seven laps remaining.
- The No. 4 Tundra gained two spots on the ensuing restart, but lost a spot in the closing laps when he slowed his momentum to avoid a slow truck and crossed the finish line fifth.
CHRISTOPHER BELL, driver of the No. 4 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
How did you battle your way back from a pit decision that resulted in your losing positions?
“Well, it was – we had a really fast Toyota Tundra, man. Out front, it was lights out – we were really, really good on the long run and on the short run too, but the long run was where we excelled. I don’t know, man. It’s so tough to pass whenever it’s on the bottom and, finally, the top came in and then we could finally start passing guys, but still it’d take way too long to pass them and then – but the yellow came out and that gave us a shot at it and just didn’t work out.”
What was the difference in your Tundra between being out front and back in traffic?
“Well, I don’t know. Our Toyota Tundra was really good out front. We had really good long run speed, pretty good short run speed. I felt like once we got buried back in traffic there, we’d be able to just pick ’em off once the tires started wearing out, but once the sun went down, man, it just gripped up. That was a super fun race though – that was awesome the top came in. I ran my first K&N race here at Iowa and it was one of the most fun races I’ve had in a stock car because we got all the way to the fence and we were darn near there tonight, so that was a lot of fun. Bummed it didn’t work out, but I still had a blast out there.”
Drivin’ For Linemen 200 Recap:
- Nemecheck collected his second NCWTS win of 2017 and the fifth of his career. Johnny Sauter finished 1.652 seconds behind Nemechek in the runner-up position. Brandon Jones finished third, while Grant Enfinger and Bell rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured four cautions for a total of 34 laps. There were five lead changes among five drivers. Bell led once for 99 laps and continues to lead the Truck Series with 438 laps led on the season.
How Bell’s KBM Teammates Fared:
- Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished sixth
- Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 11th
NCWTS Driver Championship Standings:
Bell leaves the ninth race of the season second in the Truck Series championship standings, 42 tallies behind points leader Johnny Sauter. The Oklahoma native has earned 14 playoff points this season.
Next Race:
Bell will be behind the wheel of the No. 4 Toyota Tundra when the Truck Series resumes action on Thursday, July 6 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. Live coverage of the Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 begins with the NCWTS Setup Show at 7 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.
