Christopher Bell gets first NASCAR Cup win at the DAYTONA Road Course: For the second consecutive week, Daytona International Speedway crowned a first time NASCAR Cup Series race winner. Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Christopher Bell, earned the honor Sunday on the track’s road course, taking the lead from Joey Logano with two laps to go and pulling away to a comfortable 2.119-second victory over the former series champion. Bell, 26, is the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and this is his second season at the premier level – his first driving for the championship Gibbs organization. His work Sunday, however, was more reminiscent of a veteran. There were eight caution flags, eight race leaders and a whole lot of action in the waning laps to contend with. He pulled around Logano in the chicane just yards before the white flag and easily stretched the lead to earn his first career NASCAR Cup Series trophy. Bell’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin finished third, followed by Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski.[Read More](2-21-2020)
#20-Christopher Bell won the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. The win is his 1st career win in the Cup Series. He took the lead from #22-Logano in the front stretch chicane coming to the white flag and pulled away to win by more than 2 seconds.
#22-Logano finished 2nd followed by #11-Hamlin, #1-Busch, #2-Keselowski, #4-Harvick, #16-Allmendinger, #34-McDowell, #37-Preece, and #48-Bowman.
Pole sitter #9-Elliott finished 21st after a late race spin.
Stage 1 was won by #9-Elliott. Stage 2 was won by #11-Hamlin.
There were 12 lead changes among 7 drivers and 8 cautions for 12 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 84.452mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Race Fast Facts – Daytona:
Christopher Bell won the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 At DAYTONA, his first victory in 38 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2021.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in two races at the DAYTONA Road Course.
Joey Logano (second) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at the DAYTONA Road Course. It is his first top-10 finish in 2021.
Denny Hamlin (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at the DAYTONA Road Course. It is his second top-10 finish in 2021.
Anthony Alfredo (22nd) was the highest finishing rookie.
This is Joe Gibbs Racing’s 186th NASCAR Cup Series victory.
This is crew chief Adam Stevens’ 29th win in the NASCAR Cup Series.
This is the third time in NASCAR Cup Series history the first two races of the season were won by firsttime winners; joining 1949 and 1950.
(NASCAR)(2-21-2021)
Daytona Paint Schemes
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Daytona Road Course:
1) #20-Christopher Bell [1 win], 82 pts
2) #34-Michael McDowel, [1 win], 75
3) #11-Denny Hamlin, 104
4) #22-Joey Logano, 92
5) #4-Kevin Harvick, 83
6) #9-Chase Elliott, 79
7) #37-Ryan Preece, 74
8) #1-Kurt Busch, 65
9) #3-Austin Dillon, 64
10) #2-Brad Keselowski, 64
11) #41-Cole Custer, 54
12) #5-Kyle Larson, 53
13) #23-Bubba Wallace, 52
14) #19-Martin Truex Jr., 47
15) #7-Corey LaJoie, 38
16) #47-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 38
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.
Cars to the rear: #43-Jones (engine change, penalty carried over from Daytona 500), #77-Haley (failed pre-race inspection twice), #53-Smithley (unapproved adjustments)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #9-Elliott chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #34-McDowell took the 19 stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on Pit Stall chart.(2-17-2021)
#9-Chase Elliott will start from the pole for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
#34-McDowell will start the race in second, followed by #3-Dillon, #11-Hamlin, #4-Harvick, #37-Preece, #7-LaJoie, #5-Larson, #42-Chastain, and #23-Wallace.
The lineup was set by the qualifying metric, based on race finish, points position, and fastest race lap.
See the complete O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 Starting Lineup.(2-17-2021)
There will be no practice or qualifying for the Daytona Road Course race.
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tires Notes
Entry List for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is posted, 40 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Davidson, #16-Allmendinger, #53-Gase, #66-Hill, #77-Haley, #96-Dillon.
UPDATE: Garrett Smithley will be in the #52; Scott Heckert will drive the #78.
Since 40 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 Entry List page.
2021 O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona Road Course TandemDraft Stats
