After overcoming a Spin early in the race, Christopher Bell was able to hold off a hard charging Brandon Jones to pick up the Camping World Truck Series win at Kentucky Speedway. It’s his third win of the season.
The day started out wet for Bell and the others as the rain had plagued the track all day resulting in the cancellation of qualifying. As the day turned into the evening, the rain kept coming which delayed the start of the race.
When the race finally did get going, Bell was starting in the second place. However, he would find trouble early in the race.
On lap 28, Bell ached when he spun out in turn four. Bell would receive no damage from the spin and make the up the track position as the race continued.
He would regain the lead on lap 77 and would continue to hold the lead until lap 93 where John Hunter Nemechek would take the lead from Bell after he got stuck behind two lapped trucks. With Austin Cindric and Kyle Busch catching up, Bell would maintain the second position until a caution came out on lap 107.
On the restart, Bell would take control the lead once again but he would have to deal with Brandon Jones late in the race. In the final 20 laps, Jones would try everything to get by Bell. But, in the end, it wasn’t enough as Bell picked up the win.
🎉🎉🎉
Celebrate, @CBellRacing! pic.twitter.com/sW5qn3B0rJ
— NASCAR Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) July 7, 2017
Gragson rebounds for top 5 finish
🎉🎉🎉
— NASCAR Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) July 7, 2017
Celebrate, @CBellRacing! pic.twitter.com/sW5qn3B0rJ
It was an eventful night for Noah Gragson featuring some highs and some lows. However, Gragson rebounded from the lows to finish well tonight.
After finishing in the ninth at the end of the first stage, Gragson would take over the lead on lap 43.
Gragson dominated the stage and would hold off his boss, Kyle Busch to pick up the win at the end of stage two.
Gragson night would change when he spun out on the front stretch after contacting the man hole on the track. With no significant damage to the truck, Gragson rebounded nicely and finished in the fifth position. It his first top 5 in his truck career.
STAGE WINNER: @NoahGragson holds off @KyleBusch to take Stage 2!#NASCARonFS1 #BuckleUp225 pic.twitter.com/402Xq8XCDc
— NASCAR Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) July 7, 2017
Rhode’s race ends early at his home track.
If you were leaving Kentucky Speedway and heading down I-71 South, you would run into the town of Louisville, Kentucky, The birthplace of Ben Rhodes. Rhodes considers Kentucky Speedway his home track and would have loved to get his first career win at Kentucky.
The night started off promising for Rhodes. He was able to hold off Ryan Truex and pick up his first stage win of the season. After that, the rest of the night went south for Rhodes.
At the beginning of stage two, A major wreck happened in turn four involving Rhodes, Grant Enfinger, Matt Crafton and TJ Bell.
Rhodes picked up significant damage to his truck and was not able to continue for the rest of the night. He was credited with a 27th place finish.
"Just a big mistake on my part."- @benrhodes #NASCARonFS1 @KySpeedway https://t.co/z8rPsj2Pms
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) July 7, 2017