Mother nature decided to do the double yesterday after delaying the Indy 500 for 4 hours she had to make her way to Charlotte to eventually end NASCAR’s night early after absolutely soaking what was shaping up to be a great event.
The race started with Ty Gibbs leading the field to green over William Byron after capturing his first pole earlier in the weekend. Tyler Reddick started his day with a pass through after his team was found to have made adjustments to the car after inspection and prior to qualifying this weekend. This would cost him a lap during the first pit cycle. Another driver who went a lap down was Justin Algaier, who was subbing for Kyle Larson in the HendrickCars Chevrolet while Larson was finishing up his duties in the Indianapolis 500. Algaier was able to get his lap back on lap 84 before BJ McLeod would spin out on lap 88, bringing out the first caution of the night. Jimmie Johnson would be the free pass, and Reddick would gain his lap back via wave around along with Ryan Preece, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Busch, and Shan Van Gisbergen. Denny Hamlin would go to the back after equipment interference during the pit stop cycle under caution. The race would restart with six laps to go in stage one, and Byron was able to get the lead off the restart and the stage win.
Stage One Results:
1. William Byron
2. Ty Gibbs
3. Alex Bowman
4. Christopher Bell
5. Martin Truex Jr.
6. Bubba Wallace
7. Ryan Blaney
8. Brad Keselowski
9. Josh Berry
10. Michael McDowell
During the stage break, Gibbs stayed out to retake the lead along with Hamlin, Noah Gragson, and Ross Chastain. Corey Lajoie got knocked for speeding, and Justin Haley had to pit a second time due to issues with his helmet. Gibbs led the field to green to start stage two, but Chastain would take the lead from the outside lane. Larson finished 18th in the Indy 500 just before Christopher Bell would make the pass for the led over Ross Chastain on lap 120. As we got into the green flag pit cycle, Ryan Blaney would have issues with his right front tire that would lead to him being stuck on pit road and the third caution of the night at lap 159. Berry, Martin Truex Jr., Daniel Suarez, and Chase Elliott would stay out having only about 10 or so laps on their tires after running long. Truex would keep the lead on the ensuing restart from the inside with help in the form of a massive push for Elliott’s NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet. Elliott quickly capitalized on the opportunity to take the lead but would only lead a few laps before Byron past him to retake the lead for the second time. We would have another caution on lap 172 as Noah Gragson would hit the inside wall after incidental contact with Stenhouse Jr. That would end Gragson’s race early. Byron and a dozen or so other cars would stay out, and Byron led the field back to green on lap 177 over his teamate Elliott and held the lead until Bell would make his way back to the lead on lap 189. Bell won stage two after Harrison Burton spun on lap 197, ending the stage.
Stage two results:
1. Christopher Bell
2. William Byron
3. Bubba Wallace
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Alex Bowman
7. Chase Elliott
8. Josh Berry
9. Ross Chastain
10. Tyler Reddick
Before what ended up being the final stage started, NASCAR brought the field down pit road to have a moment of remberence for Memorial Day. Mike Joy spoke very eloquently about the reason for what we do and why we take a moment to thank those who have served and lost their lifes protecting the freedoms we get to enjoy. Stage three would start with Bell leading over Byron after an intense battle on the restart. Corey Lajoie spun on lap 230, bringing out the sixth caution of the night. Bell and Keselowski would be first and second off of pit road and led the field to green on lap 236. Bell would maintain the lead despite Keselowski’s best efforts and would hold that lead until the caution for weather at lap 249. Just as the rain arrived, Larson made it to the track but unfortunately would not be able to make any laps in his double attempt as the race would be called at 11:30 PM. EDT. Algaier had managed to climb to the 13th position despite starting at the rear. Reddick fared even better after his adversity to start the night as he would bring his Toyota Camry home in the 4th position. Christopher Bell collected the stage three win and the race win, his second win of the season.
Stage three/race results:
1. Christopher Bell
2. Brad Keselowski
3. William Byron
4. Tyler Reddick
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Ty Gibbs
7. Chase Elliott
8. Ross Chastain
9. Alex Bowman
10. Josh Berry
Photo Credit: @Nascar on Twitter/X
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