Christopher Bell punches ticket to NASCAR championship race; wins rollercoaster race at Homestead

Christopher Bell took his first le with 15 laps to go and held off Ryan Blaney for a win at Homeste-Miami Speedway that locked him into next month's NASCAR Championship finale on Sunday.

Bell, who entered race below playoff cutline, scored his second win of season. He beat Blaney by 1.651 seconds and only led 26 of 267 laps during a chaotic race in which three playoff drivers did t finish.

Blaney, who led for 53 laps, moved above cutline — up from seventh. Tyler Reddick and William Byron finished third and fourth and are still vying for a spot in v. 5 title-deciding finale.

remaining spots will be determined next week in final race of round of eight at Martinsville Speedway.

Kyle Larson, last year's Homeste winner, was out of race at Lap 214 after he slammed into pit ro barriers trying to overtake Blaney for le. Larson was going too fast after heing into pit lane and said he didn't expect Blaney to slow down as early as he did.

“I was just maximizing all I could,” said a frustrated Larson afterward. “I hate it for Ryan more than anything. He was doing a super good job out front. That was t my intention. I was just trying to get as close to his back bumper as I could, hopefully have a good cycle and have a better pit stop, n come out in front of him and control race from re.”

Larson's . 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet clipped back right of Blaney's Ford, but Blaney was able to pit as caution flag came out and continued.

Larson h been dominating race, in which he was a favorite to win. He led for 93 laps before Blaney nudged ahe of him late in St 2 for le. That ending is largely inconsequential for Larson as far as playoff goes. He is alrey locked into finale with his victory in opening race of round of eight in Las Vegas.

crash briefly me it a race between Blaney and Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin, who took le on restart. But JJ Yeley, Br Keselowski and Ross Chastain were all involved in a wreck seconds later, causing caution flag to come out for fifth time in race.

After restart, Hamlin slammed into wall on Turn 1 and rioed that something broke in steering and sent him into wall. He was out of race with 32 laps to go in an unfortunate turn of events for Joe Gibbs Racing — Hamlin's teammate Martin Truex Jr., ar playoff driver, left with an engine issue moments later.

race was named 4EVER 400 presented by Mobil 1 in a d to Stewart-Haas Racing's Kevin Harvick, who will retire from NASCAR at end of this season after 60 career victories and three NASCAR national series championships.

Sunday was Harvick's last race at track where he won NASCAR Sprint Cup championship nine years ago. He finished 11th Sunday.

RFK Racing's Chris Buescher, who entered race at eighth in playoff field, h trouble with his . 17 Ford from start. Buescher was only playoff driver Sunday without St 1 points, and his 21st-place finish puts him in a must-win situation next week at Martinsville.

Buescher dropped from seventh to eighth in playoff standings entering race after Blaney's disqualification from Las Vegas race was reversed. Buescher said Saturday that reversal didn't change much for him.

“We’re in a spot where we’re within striking distance still from really strong points days,” Buescher said after Saturday's practice.

Grammy-winning artist and Trackhouse Racing co-owner Pitbull was horary pace car official. Trackhouse racing is in its third season and is home to Daniel Suarez in . 99 Chevrolet and Chastain driving . 1 Chevrolet.

“My schedule (is thing) compared to se NASCAR drivers and what y'all got going on,” Pitbull said. “Do we relate to each or? Absolutely. Are we both hard workers? Clearly.”

NASCAR goes to Martinsville Speedway next Sunday for final race in round of eight. Bell is defending race winner.