NASCAR drivers were bracing themselves for a hectic run on Sunday. Keeping your stuff together for 600 miles is not for the faint-hearted. However, Mother Nature entered the scene and took away all the thrill. Thunderstorms inflicted the Charlotte area in the late evening. This forced NASCAR to pull the plug eventually, declaring Christopher Bell as the winner.
This irked a vast swathe of motorsport fans who had gathered to witness the Coca-Cola 600 race. They were shocked at NASCAR and Fox for ruining the race and Kyle Larson’s Double ambitions. In a twist, the race winner was equally surprised.
Christopher Bell ran well till the weather intruded
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 driver clinched an early season win in 2024. Christopher Bell won the Phoenix race in March. He followed it up with a second victorious run yesterday in Charlotte but under unusual circumstances. Nonetheless, the run was impressive as he ducked advances from some strong drivers.
Starting third, Bell led a race-high 90 laps and won the second stage. Drivers like Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott battled with him at first. After Corey Lajoie’s caution, Brad Keselowski was close at Bell’s heels. The JGR driver pulled off a consistent lead when NASCAR waved the red flag at lap 249.
Soon, the Charlotte ended up being the Coca-Cola 373.5 as officials called it a night at 11:30 PM. The trophy was handed to Christopher Bell by default. The reasons cited were “inclement weather, high humidity, and the likelihood of resuming action after 1 a.m. with the drying process.”
Due to inclement weather, high humidity and the likelihood of resuming action after 1 a.m. with the track-drying process, the race has been declared official.
Christopher Bell is the winner of the 65th Coca-Cola 600.#CocaCola600 | #AmericasHomeForRacing pic.twitter.com/280NnKi37i
— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) May 27, 2024
Christopher Bell could hear loud boos ringing across the grandstands. “It was getting booed out of the place,” Bell said with a laugh. Then he added, referring to the Fox’s poor coverage at his Phoenix victory, “It seems all of my wins come with an asterisk.”
Now Fox is again under the radar for having a finger in the pie. NASCAR journalist Stephen Stumpf updated Christopher Bell’s opinion regarding his puzzling victory. “Christopher Bell: “Never in a million years I thought I would win a rain-shortened event after it stopped raining.” #CocaCola600”
Christopher Bell: “Never in a million years I thought I would win a rain-shortened event after it stopped raining.” #CocaCola600
— Stephen Stumpf (@stephen_stumpf) May 27, 2024
This honest statement attracted the good faith of fans. They applauded Bell for humbly reflecting on his strange win. But they weeded out the culprit behind a truncated Coca-Cola 600 race.
NASCAR community launches attack at the media giant
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Trending
Historic NASCAR Track Shutting Its Door After Final Run Has Racing Community Heartbroken
How Late NASCAR Legend Was Forced to “Sell Everything” After Losing $10,000 to Mafia
Tony Stewart’s Business Partner Sells Off Iconic ‘Mini Eldora’ Racetrack
Kenny Wallace Left Baffled by an Anonymous NASCAR Executive’s Response to Michael Jordans’ In-Court Victory
“You Will Live to Regret It”- Insider Reveals Dale Jr.’s Hesitance Behind Accepting His Late Father’s Award
Having a Coca-Cola 600 victory on your record is like a badge of honor. Christopher Bell’s late-night glory stamped his eighth career win, spelling a major win for JGR. Even then, Bell chose an honest approach to the weather-dampened situation. One fan was heartwarming and commented, “Great to see fans, drivers, media members, etc. all calling NASCAR out for this…Biggest blunder in recent memory.”
And the culprit behind this blunder was obviously NASCAR, aided by Fox as well. One fan commented: “good guy Christopher Bell,” appreciating Bell’s honesty. Others continued the thread: “Bad guy nascar” and then another corrected, “Bad guy FOX*”.
When NASCAR called the weather delay, lightning pounded the Charlotte track. The clouds cleared after a while, and the track drying process began. But soon it was clear that the race could not start before 1 AM. Hence, around 11:30 PM, Bell was handed the trophy.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
One fan smelled FOX’s hand in this, explaining why. “Fox had no plans to continue the broadcast after midnight and Nascar doesn’t have the equipment on hand to take over themselves, so they had to call it.” Another fan took the winner’s opinion as proof of the disastrous occasion. “When the guy who won the race is shitting on the choice to end it you know you screwed up.”
Hence FOX is under some bad raps yet again among the race fans. Yet Christopher Bell’s glory is still no mean feat, as the No. 20 team celebrates.