RACE: B&L Transport 170
TRACK: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
START: 3rd
FINISH: 2nd
LAPS: 75

Bell continues to prove his versatility as he takes home a 2nd place finish two weeks in a row on two different road courses.

Bell Finishes Second at Watkins Glen

Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-20)

• Christopher Bell advanced to the final round of qualifying Saturday at Mid-Ohio to earn the third starting position.
• The No. 20 Rheem Supra felt good maneuvering the road course right from the start and by lap 11 Bell had taken over the second position.
• Utilizing pit strategy, crew chief Jason Ratcliff called Bell down pit road under green three laps before the first Stage ended for four tires and fuel.
• Bell closed out Stage 1 12th but lined up as the leader for Stage 2 after the rest of the field visited pit road at the Stage break.

Stage 2 Recap (Laps 23-40)

• Bell started first, finished second.
• Bell led the field for the first 15 laps of Stage 2.
• Multiple cautions for the field happened over the second Stage as cars made contact on restarts and went off course.
• The field took the green with four laps remaining in Stage 2 and the No. 18 had just made his way around Bell when another caution came out.
• With not enough laps remaining to go back green, Stage 2 ended under caution with Bell scored second.
• At the Stage break Bell came down pit road for four tires and fuel.
• Bell pitted for four tires and fuel at the break while some competitors opted for fuel only. Bell lost precious time having to remain in his box once service was complete while another car got into the pit stall ahead of him. The four tires and extra seconds on pit road left Bell starting the final Stage from 10th.

Stage 3 Recap (Laps 42-75)

• Bell started 10th, finished second.
• By lap 46 Bell had raced his way up to second and help that position.
• Under caution on lap 56 Bell brought his No. 20 Rheem Supra down pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment.
• Bell had his sights on the leader but never could get there, ultimately crossing the finish line second for the second week in a row.

Additional Notes

• Bell remains second in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Championship Standings, 28 points behind the leader.
• The second-place finish ties Bell’s previous best NXS road course finish of second last weekend at Watkins Glen.
• Bell led a total of 15 laps at Mid-Ohio.

Do you feel like you’re becoming a better road course racer after two straight runner-up results?
“I don’t know about that. I do know we’re going to Bristol next week and I can’t wait. Just really thankful to be able to drive for this Rheem group. They bring really, really fast Supras to the race track every single time. They make me look good, that’s for sure.”

What was the on-track contact like during the race?
“I guess it’s just normal – normal road course racing with stock cars. Especially here at Mid-Ohio. Whenever they drop the green flag, it’s a full contact sport.”

Do you find any relief knowing you maintain your playoff points position?
“Absolutely, the last two weeks have been really great for us point-wise. Road course racing is obviously not my strong suit. To get out of there and maintain points is good for us.”

Up Next: The Xfinity Series returns to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 300 on Friday, August 16, 2019. Coverage will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, SIRIUS XM Channel 90 and PRN radio.