Christopher Bell capitalized on a late-race opportunity to secure his second consecutive NASCAR victory, holding off William Byron to win the season’s first road course race at Circuit of the Americas.
With five laps remaining, Bell overtook Kyle Busch and maintained his lead despite intense pressure from Byron and Tyler Reddick.
This win marks Bell’s 11th career victory and makes him a multi-race winner for the fourth straight season. Busch, who led 43 of the 95 laps, dropped to fifth as his winless streak extended to 60 races.
Bell praised the clean, hard-fought battle, especially given his history with Busch at the Austin track.
Byron also acknowledged the challenge, noting he never had a clear opportunity to pass Bell without making aggressive contact. Even Busch commended Bell’s performance.
Bell’s crew chief, Adam Stevens, emphasized the team’s confidence in contending for wins every week, pointing to their success on both superspeedways and road courses.
Elsewhere in the race, Chase Elliott rebounded from an early setback after contact with Ross Chastain, climbing back to finish fourth.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Connor Zilisch had a dramatic Cup Series debut, recovering from early contact before crashing out after teammate Daniel Suárez spun, causing his car to catch fire.
NASCAR’s future at COTA beyond 2025 remains uncertain, with Speedway Motorsports evaluating ticket sales, fan feedback, and competition quality before discussing a renewal. The recent switch to the National Course layout was aimed at increasing action for spectators.
