Christopher Bell on NASCAR shortening N.H. race: "It stings"
Christopher Bell got better the longer Sunday’s race at New Hampshire went on, but it never went the scheduled distance.


Due to darkness and an earlier 1 hour, 42-minute rain delay, NASCAR finally called Sunday’s race eight laps short of its scheduled 301 laps.
Unfortunately for Bell, that was eight fewer laps in which he had the opportunity to run down and pass eventual winner Aric Almirola and he had to settle for second place.
“Whenever I saw the board and saw that we were eight laps short, it stings, man. I felt like I probably had a little better pace than him and I was able to get to him,” Bell said. “I know lapped cars were giving him a bad time, but I was able to get to him.
“It was going to be a heck of a race. We didn’t start out the greatest and then we were really good, probably the best we were all day right there at the end of the race.
“That’s all you can ask for is to have a shot at it and just wish we had eight more laps.”
Read Also:
After Almirola had cleared Brad Keselowski for the lead on Lap 274, he appeared to have clear sailing while waiting to see if NASCAR would call the race early.
Bell – who won Saturday’s Xfinity Series race – came strong at the end of the race in his No. 20 Toyota, moving into the runner-up position and gaining on Almirola but always with the possibility NASCAR could give the ‘10 to go’ call at any time.
“I’m happy for Aric, that’s cool for him to win,” Bell said. “He’s been close a couple times. Building on our program, too, so hopefully we can knock off a couple more wins here soon.”
Asked if he thought it was too dark to race, Bell said, “I don’t know, I had a dark shield on (my helmet) so I had to flip that thing up 50 laps ago.
“It was pretty dark for the last however many laps of the race. What’s eight more?”
Related video

Almirola scores upset win in chaotic New Hampshire race
NASCAR signs off Next Gen car, chassis released to teams this week

Latest news
Rolex 24: Ganassi Cadillacs top final GTP practice at Daytona
Renger van der Zande produced fastest lap for Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac in the new GTP class’s final systems check before tomorrow’s 61st Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.
Harvick still 'the guy' at SHR, but Briscoe finding his voice
It wasn’t that long ago Chase Briscoe was just hoping to secure a fulltime ride in the NASCAR Cup Series and he could soon be the veteran driver at one of the sport’s top organizations.
WEC assessing Sebring alternative for US round from 2024
The FIA World Endurance Championship has admitted that it is examining alternatives to Sebring for the US round of the series from 2024.
Taylor: "Worn out" error reset button better than Rolex 24 limp mode
Ricky Taylor has zero worries over the pace of the new Acura ARX-06, but believes the new GTP cars will encounter several sensor issues over the course of the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.
The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team
Saddled with uncompetitive Minardi machinery, Tarso Marques didn't manage to score points in his three partial seasons of Formula 1. But now the Brazilian has the chance to show what he can do in NASCAR, and explains the story of his comeback with new Cup Series entrant Team Stange
The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car
NASCAR’s new stock car generation is encouraging an influx of fresh blood into its top tier. But there are concerns that parts are in short supply as the entire paddock tries to build up stocks at the same time
How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style
After holding his nerve and hip-checking his teammate on the run to the line, Austin Cindric made a perfect start to life as a full-timer in the NASCAR Cup Series by winning the Daytona 500. Here's how the Penske Ford man emerged first across the line in the first points-scoring race for the much-anticipated Next Generation cars
Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season
There are plenty of uncertainties ahead of the 2022 NASCAR Cup season as an all-new fleet of cars take to the track for the first time. Ahead of this weekend's Daytona 500, our experts explain what you need to know
How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of Next Gen arrival
The NASCAR Cup kicks off with the Daytona 500 this weekend, but a major engine overhaul and a subsequent mountain of work has been required to be ready for the arrival of the Next Gen cars.
How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory
From villain to hero, Kyle Larson had to reach his lifelong goal the hard way and go through a very public shaming after a ban for using a racial slur, but his talents shone long before his name grabbed the headlines...
How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022
It’s not just Formula 1 that’s set for upheaval in 2022, as the NASCAR Cup series adopts its Next Gen cars that will cast any in-built advantages aside and require teams to adopt a totally new way of operating. Far more than just a change of machinery, the new cars amount to a shift in NASCAR's core philosophy
Why Bubba Wallace’s Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR
Bubba Wallace claimed his maiden NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega on Monday to become the first Black victor in the category since Wendell Scott in 1963. Both Wallace and Scott had faced obstacles and racism in their paths to their breakthrough wins, and NASCAR is trying to put it right with its range of diversity programmes
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.