TC Daily Pit Stop: Bell Breaks Creed's Heart; Bubba Wallace on Pole; Sunday's TV Schedule
TC Daily Pit Stop: Sunday, September 1, 2024
CROWN JEWEL RACING: Good morning! It doesn’t get any better than this. By the end of Sunday night, the Playoff field will be set for the NASCAR Cup Series, and a driver will have the supreme honor of being the Southern 500 champion.
Christopher Bell Drives Through Near-Disaster in Overtime to Win at Darlington
Christopher Bell scored the win in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway, but with three laps to go, it looked like the long await for Sheldon Creed’s first NASCAR Xfinity Series win was over.
Then, AJ Allmendinger cut a tire and went into the outside wall, which sent the race to overtime. In overtime, Bell’s pit crew won the race off of pit road, and with Creed lining up fourth, Bell took the win over Cole Custer.
“Once again I feel terrible for Sheldon [Creed] to essentially win the race passing me on the long run there and then lose the lead on pit road is a big bummer, but really, really happy to win in this Sports Clip [Supra]. Tyler Allen, what can I say, man, he’s been killing it this year, but I’m just lucky I get to drive one,” Bell continued.”
READ Joseph Srigley’s Race Recap
Post-Race Resources
Bubba Wallace Scores First Pole Award of 2024 in Last Effort to Join the Playoffs
What a time for Bubba Wallace to score his first pole position of the season. Heading into Sunday night’s Cook Ou Southern 500 at Darlington, Wallace, who sits 21 points below the Playoff cutline, knows he has a car capable of winning as he’ll lead the field to the green flag. He’ll try to secure his berth in the Playoffs
Rookie contender Carson Hocevar surprised by locking up the second starting spot, becoming the youngest driver to ever notch a front row start at Darlington.
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STARTING LINEUP
ICYMI NASCAR STORIES/HEADLINES:
Kaulig Racing Hires Christian Eckes to Drive No. 16 for 2025 Xfinity Season: Christian Eckes, who has been a standout in the NASCAR Truck Series over the last two seasons for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, will move to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2025 as the driver of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.
Richard Childress Disappointed in Dillon Penalty Appeal Results: On Saturday, Richard Childress met with the media to discuss the two failed appeal attempts by RCR to overturn the penalties handed to Austin Dillon after a win at Richmond last month. Childress says the rulings have changed NASCAR forever.
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Noses Inside Wall in Darlington Cup Practice: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. went for a spin and crash in NASCAR Cup Series practice on Saturday. Luckily, he didn’t hit the front of his car too hard into the inside wall in the incident.
A Late Race Caution at Darlington Destroys Sheldon Creed’s Chance for A Win: Sheldon Creed’s bid to win his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race will have to wait at least one more week after a late-race caution sent Saturday’s race at Darlington into overtime, and foiled his shot to win.
Ross Chastain’s Fate Rests in The Hands of The Lady in Black: For Ross Chastain, who enters the weekend behind the cutline, his Playoffs fate rests on a solid performance at a track, where he was first put on the map — Darlington Raceway.
NASCAR Trivia
Yesterday’s Question: Who was the last Brazilian driver to race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series?
CORRECT ANSWER: Miguel Paludo! The native of Nova Prata, Brazil piloted the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports in three races during the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, his last coming at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
SUNDAY’S NASCAR TV SCHEDULE
5:30 PM ET NASCAR Cup Pre-Race Show (USA/NBC Sports App)
6:00 PM ET NASCAR Cup Cook Out Southern 500 (USA/NBC Sports App)