Christopher Bell Wins NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

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The NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway ended in a thrilling overtime finish, with Christopher Bell emerging as the winner. Bell, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, led only the final lap in his Toyota and had a slight edge on the outside when the caution light came on in overtime following a wreck by Josh Berry. This marks Bell's 10th career Cup Series victory and his first on a drafting-type track like Atlanta, Daytona, or Talladega.

The race was dominated by the Ford contingent early on, with 10 of the top 11 qualifiers, including pole position holder Ryan Blaney in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford. However, it was Bell who capitalized on the opportunities presented in the overtime finish. Austin Cindric led in his Team Penske Ford before he and William Byron, the Daytona 500 winner, wrecked with three laps remaining, setting up the overtime. Kyle Busch finished seventh, ending his hopes of snapping a winless streak in the Cup Series. Busch won the Atlanta Truck Series race on Saturday but is still looking for his first Cup win since 2023.

The top finishers in the race were:

• Christopher Bell
• Carson Hocevar
• Kyle Larson
• Ryan Blaney
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Other notable drivers, such as Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez, were involved in accidents during the race. Elliott finished 18th, while Suarez was sidelined in a seven-car crash early in the third stage. The NASCAR Cup Series now moves to Austin, Texas, and Circuit of the Americas next Sunday for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. Billy Gibbons, the lead guitarist and singer for the rock group ZZ Top, served as the grand marshal and gave the "start your engines" command at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The 23XI Racing team announced a multi-year deal with Corey Heim as a development driver. Heim will drive a limited number of Cup Series races in the No. 67 Toyota and also will compete in Xfinity races, including next week at Circuit of the Americas. His first Cup race on the new deal will be at Kansas Speedway on May 11. Heim made three Cup starts for 23XI last year and has a Truck Series win at Daytona this year. The NASCAR Cup Series is set to continue with exciting races, and fans can look forward to more thrilling finishes like the one at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The drivers will face new challenges at Circuit of the Americas, and it will be interesting to see who emerges as the winner. With the season still in its early stages, there is much to look forward to in the world of NASCAR.

The NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a testament to the skill and determination of the drivers. The race was filled with twists and turns, and the overtime finish was a thrilling conclusion to an exciting day of racing. As the series moves forward, fans can expect more of the same, with drivers pushing themselves to the limit in pursuit of victory. The combination of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck will ultimately determine who emerges as the champion at the end of the season.