TULSA, Okla. — Expo Magic.
Three-time Chili Bowl winner Christopher Bell may have coined a new term Thursday night at Tulsa Expo Raceway, following his third-place finish in preliminary feature action.
While Bell could have been sullen after trading the lead throughout the 30-lap event, to fall to third at the checkered flag, the Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR driver was far from it.
Bell was second to eventual winner Tanner Thorson when the yellow came out late in the race, but fell to third behind Ryan Bernal during the final run to the finish.
“I don’t know what I did right and what I did wrong,” Bell said. “There were so many things going on those last couple of laps there. There is something about this place that just brings it out. We always have barnburners. The races are amazing. That’s incredible.”
Bell was excited when the final yellow flag waved.
“Looking back at it, I wish the yellow wouldn’t have come out because I would have gotten second place,” he said. “I was excited about it at the time because it was going to give me another shot at it. I’m bummed because I lost second coming to the line. That’s what this place is all about. You have excellent races every single time. Expo Magic, that’s what it is.”
Bell will have to race his way into Saturday’s main event from the B main.
“I feel good about it,” he said. “The car is doing what I need it to do. I need to drive a little bit better. If I drive a little bit better, we’ll be alright.”
