Bell gets off the mark at New Hampshire 19.07.2022: The Nascar season is well underway, and followers have already been treated to some spectacular races and upset results. Nascar is one of the world’s favourite forms of motorsports and continues to attract new customers every season, with followers loving

The Nascar season is well underway, and followers have already been treated to some spectacular races and upset results. Nascar is one of the world’s favourite forms of motorsports and continues to attract new customers every season, with followers loving the unpredictability. The top races and drivers attract attention from across the globe, with the thousands in attendance at every race boosted by the millions watching the action on television and live streaming apps.



While the likes of Formula 1 and Rally have been criticised in recent times for not being competitive enough - some critics even calling them boring - fans of Nascar have enjoyed some memorable races with a sprinkling of surprise winners. We saw another shock result recently at the Nascar Cup: New Hampshire event that was won by Christopher Bell, who chimed in with only the second victory of his career and first of this season. That result caught many Nascar fanatics by surprise, especially the top Nascar betting apps, but it was nothing less than the champion deserved.



It was far from a dominant display from the eventual race winner, and it looked for long periods of the contest like Martin Truex would end on the top step, but, as has become the norm in recent seasons, there was late drama. Bell staged a late smash and grab on the race, laying down his challenge in the closing stages and piping the Toyota racer to the flag as the crowd watched on in shock.
 




Bell didn’t look back


Bell wasn’t one of the pre-race favourites with the experts, and he didn’t carry the support of pundits either, but the result served as a reminder that this sport is as unpredictable as you are likely to find. Every season fans watch race after race that refuses to follow a script, with crashes, dropouts, breakdowns and poor tactics from the early favourites. That’s just one of the reasons Nascar continues to pull in a steady stream of new followers.



In a race that had everything, Elliott - a former Cup Series champion - edged another former champ Kurt Busch on lap 247 to take the lead, and it looked from there like we would see a procession to the finish line with Elliott calling on his skills and experience to hold onto the lead.


That’s exactly what he planned to do, and the pilot made a solid effort at winning the race but was eventually undone by an opponent who refused to accept defeat. Bell’s determination was the driving force that saw him jump the queue into pole position and win the race.


With little over ten tours to complete, Bell made his move by passing Elliott into the lead, and from there, he couldn’t be caught. With the scent of victory in his nostrils, the eventual winner stuck to the task and continued to pull away from the chasing pack, ending 5.767 seconds ahead of the runner-up.



He may have looked like an old pro when taking the lead and protecting it, but the win in New Hampshire was Bell’s first of the season and only his second ever, winning the Daytona road course event last year against all expectations.



Roller Coaster ride


That win in New Hampshire means that 27-year-old Bell is the 14th different winner of a season that has been like a rollercoaster ride for all involved, not least of all fans attempting to make predictions. He has secured a place in the playoffs, where Bell will face 15 other drivers for a shot at glory.



The driver was delighted to have won the race and secured his playoff place, telling members of the press and fans during a post-race interview that it was a much-needed win and one that came at exactly the right time in his career. He will be eager to use that success as a launchpad to catapult himself towards the big time.



How has this result affected expectations for the season? The top pundits remain hot on the chances of Chase Elliott, who remains the most likely champion, but we already know that doesn’t mean anything. The main danger is expected to come from Kyle Larsson and Ross Chastain.




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