Motorsports
Christopher Bell okay after massive head-on crash from the lead at Talladega
The NASCAR field was setting up for a final run to end the opening stage at Talladega, just minutes after three Cup champions collided at pit entry under green. On this restart, Christopher Bell led the outside lane and Chris Buescher led the inside lane. Neither driver would complete another full lap under green.
With their teammates pushing, the field sped through Turns 1 and 2 on the 52nd lap of the race. But at the corner exit, Bell abruptly spun to the inside, taking Buescher with him as they careened towards the inside wall. Buescher hit it with the driver’s door while Bell slammed the inside wall — which is protected by SAFER Barrier — nose-first, destroying the front of his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
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Denny Hamlin, who was pushing Bell when he lost control, seemed confused on the radio. “What in the hell?” he radioed his team. “We weren’t even up to speed yet.”
While it didn’t look as violent as Bell’s impact, Buescher’s hit was fairly severe as well. “That [expletive] hurt,” he radioed to the #17 team. “Dumba****.”
Despite the severity of the impacts, both drivers were okay as they were checked and released from the infield care center. However, their race was over. Buescher finished 34th and Bell 35th in the final results.
“I think I feel really good,” said Bell. “I don’t know, my HANS device, my seat, my belts, everything seemed like it did well. It was a big one, that’s for sure.”
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There wasn’t much Bell could do in that situation as he was just along for the ride. “Whenever you’re the car getting pushed, you’re completely at the mercy of the guy behind you,” said Bell. “You know, Denny (Hamlin) didn’t do anything wrong. You have to push, you have to push to be successful. It’s a product of the cars we race with this rules package.”
Connor Zilisch, who was leading on the final of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race, took a similar impact with the inside wall. He was able to escape uninjured as well.
Photos from Talladega – Race
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, Team Penske FordSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
General view
General viewLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports FordSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
The Bobby Allison ribute car takes a ceremonial lap
The Bobby Allison ribute car takes a ceremonial lapSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Team Penske FordLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
General view
General viewLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
General view
General viewSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
General view
General viewLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
General view
General viewLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
General view
General viewLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
General view
General viewLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Anthony Alfredo, Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Anthony Alfredo, Beard Motorsports ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford
Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team FordLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports FordSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney crash, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney crash, Team Penske FordLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports FordLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, Team Penske FordSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, Team Penske FordLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, Team Penske FordLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, Team Penske FordSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
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