During a caution for a spin by Corey LaJoie, Christopher Bell became the first car off pit road and took control of the race when it restarted on lap 236 of the scheduled 400 laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
With clear space ahead, Bell was able to increase his lead over Brad Keselowski while William Byron moved into third with a daring move on the frontstretch.
Light rain led NASCAR to caution the race on lap 246, and shortly after, lightning in the area caused the race to stop. Since more than half the race was completed, NASCAR declared Bell the winner around 11:30 p.m. EST.
Bell shared his emotional rollercoaster, saying, “I knew there was a chance the race would resume. I was ready to race again when suddenly, I saw the broadcasters on TV, and my phone rang, saying they called it. What a mix of emotions.”
Reflecting on his victory, Bell expressed, “This means everything. Memorial Day weekend is about honoring and remembering. I’m grateful for those who served, allowing us to do what we love. It’s been a tough eight weeks, and getting the second win of the year is meaningful.”
The track drying for a restart was expected to go on until well after 1 a.m. EST, too late to complete the race.
This win marks Bell’s second victory of the 2024 season, and his eighth career win. Despite a challenging season with crashes and poor finishes, Bell has secured a spot in the playoffs.
Brad Keselowski finished second, followed by William Byron, Tyler Reddick, and Denny Hamlin. The top-10 included Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman, and Josh Berry.
The early end to the race prevented Kyle Larson from getting on the track in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Larson had earlier raced in the Indianapolis 500 before arriving in Charlotte.
Justin Allgaier substituted for Larson at the start of the race. Larson finished 18th in Indianapolis before rushing to Charlotte.
In the race’s stages, Byron won Stage 1, and Bell took Stage 2. Stage 3 saw Bell maintain his lead until rain and lightning forced the race to halt.
