RELATED: Bell feted at Xfinity, Trucks Awards
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Christopher Bell toasted his 23rd birthday with a special treat Saturday night, winning the Junior Knepper 55 race for USAC Midgets in Du Quion, Illinois.
Bell started third and led just the final four laps in the 55-lap feature on a 1/6-mile dirt track inside the Southern Illinois Center. The Oklahoma native edged runner-up Chase Briscoe, the Truck Series’ Most Popular Driver and Sunoco Rookie of the Year from last season.
“To be able to win the last race of the year like that is pretty cool,” Bell told USAC’s website. “I’ve been pretty close and really fast here in the past, but I just haven’t been able to win. The team’s always been really good here too, but finally, it all came together tonight.”
Bell also prevailed in the Turkey Night Grand Prix in November at Ventura, California.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished 20th out of 21 drivers in the main event. Former Truck Series champion Matt Crafton, making his midget debut, finished 13th in the second B-Main and did not qualify for the final.