Christopher Bell used a late charge on a green-white-checker finish to score the ARCA Racing Series victory Thursday night at Chicagoland Speedway. Photo: ARCA Media
They may not have had the best car, but they had the best strategy.
Christopher Bell bolted on four fresh tire during the final caution. He then used a bold, bonsai move on the high-side to charge from the eighth starting position to the front over a green-white-checker finish to win the ARCA Racing Series SCOTT 150 Thursday night at Chicagoland Speedway.
Bell, in the No. 25 Venturini Motorsports Toyota, had barely a top-five car but got a big break with 10 laps to go when leader Michael Self, who led 29 laps, cut a right-front tire and brought out the final caution. Bell, under the direction of his crew chief Dave Leiner, came down pit road for his last set of tires, which gave the Norman, Oklahoma driver the magic he needed to get the lead.
“I was getting nervous,” said Bell. “I knew we were running out of time…I’m just glad I was able to capitalize on those tires. Today was big for me. I was able to practice for the (NASCAR) Truck race and race this car. Don’t know if we had the fastest car but my crew kept four tires laying there for us to bring it home. Obviously an awesome advantage to have tires over everyone at the end.”
It also gave Venturini Motorsports, which grew its roots in the Chicago area, a hometown win and the team’s first victory of the season.
“Really special day,” Bell said. “The Venturinis have always been really fun to race with. To be able to win again for them and to see how happy they were in victory lane was really special.”
Bell, the current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series leader, used the ARCA race as practice for Friday night’s Truck race.
“Don’t know how it happened…I was just told I was going to run the ARCA race and I’m glad I did. I know that it helps me for tomorrow…just gives me the confidence I need going into tomorrow.”
Bell, with a big surge on the outside on the last restart, was running second by the time the pack came off turn two. With a big head of steam, Bell dived to the bottom and drove underneath leader Austin Theriault for the lead. Theriault finished second, two-lengths away after leading one lap.
“I was really tight and then Christopher Bell passed me,” said Theriault. “Can’t thank everyone enough at Ken Schrader Racing. We’ve been working so hard to get our intermediate program better. We knew some of it was aero and some was the car…we had to balance the two. We’ve turned the corner. We wanted a solid run this weekend and we got one. We ran over some debris in that last caution and smashed the front bumper in. With all the variables and all the damage, I’m pretty happy with second place.”
Atlanta, Georgia’s Brandon Jones finished third after leading the first eight laps from the pole.
“I thought we were going to have a Michigan repeat,” said Jones, who’s won the last two ARCA races at Michigan. “Honestly, it was just too loose in the end…just couldn’t hold onto it. Everything was there…just needed a little more in the end. This was one of the more competitive races we’ve had here in ARCA and I was grateful to be in it tonight. I was cooling the tires under caution…just needed to get the rears cleaned off a little better. We had one of the more dominant cars here today.”
Ty Majeski showed his might early on, driving past Jones for the top-spot to lead the ninth lap. Majeski dominated much of the race with 50 laps led before Self surfaced at the front and drove away from everyone.
Self built a three-seconds lead before his right-front tire went down causing extensive damage to his car. It also gave Bell the chance to get four fresh tires and ultimately compete for the win.
Travis Braden led 12 laps in the back half of the race after forgoing a pit stop for track position. Braden held tough until the final caution came out, which allowed several front-runners to pit for tires. Braden fell back to 11th in the final running order.
Noah Gragson finished fourth.
“It was definitely challenging,” said Gragson. “We were 10th on the final restart and got up to fourth. We needed a little bit better track position. Very thankful for the opportunity. We’ll take this and move on to the Truck race tomorrow…hopefully win it and get in the playoffs.”
Chad Finley finished fifth. Dalton Sargeant, Majeski, Shane Lee, Myatt Snider and Bret Holmes rounded out the top ten.
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ARCA Racing Series
Chicagoland Speedway – Joliet IL
Scott 150 – September 14, 2017
1. Christopher Bell
2. Austin Theriault
3. Brandon Jones
4. Noah Gragson
5. Chad Finley
6. Dalton Sargeant
7. Ty Majeski
8. Shane Lee
9. Myatt Snider
10. Bret Holmes
11. Travis Braden
12. Kyle Benjamin
13. Riley Herbst
14. Gus Dean
15. Justin Fontaine
16. Tom Berte
17. Bryan Dauzat
18. Mike Basham
19. Michael Self
20. Eric Caudell
21. Nick Higdon
22. Zach Ralston
23. Mike Senica
24. Andy Seuss
25. Mark Meunier
26. Brad Smith
27. Con Nicolopoulos
28. James Swanson
29. Codie Rohrbaugh
30. Sheldon Creed
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