NASCAR: Christopher Bell hit with massive penalty at Watkins Glen
By Asher Fair
Christopher Bell has been issued a significant penalty ahead of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International, the Go Bowling at The Glen.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell will be forced to start Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International from the rear of the field as a result of a pre-race infraction having to do with a rear window air deflector.
Bell was set to start this 90-lap Go Bowling at The Glen around the eight-turn, 2.454-mile (3.949-kilometer) natural terrain road course in Watkins Glen, New York in seventh place behind the wheel of his #20 Toyota due to the starting lineup formula.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. still annoys Martin Truex Jr.. light. Must Read
This penalty includes more than Bell dropping to the rear. He has been docked 10 points in the driver standings, and the #20 team has been docked 10 points in the owner standings.
More from NASCAR Cup Series
- NASCAR Cup Series: New team set to compete in 2024
- NASCAR: Surprising name continuously linked to new seat
- NASCAR driver at risk of missing the Daytona 500?
- NASCAR set for rare appearance last seen 13 years ago
- NASCAR team adds third car, names driver for 2024 Daytona 500
He still sits in 15th place in the standings, but with just 522 points as opposed to 532. He is still safe as far as the playoffs concerned, having won the race at the Daytona International Speedway road course back in February.
Additionally, crew chief Adam Stevens has been suspended for today’s race and fined $25,000 for the infraction. Car chief Chris Sherwood is set to replace Stevens for this race.
The same penalty was issued to Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott and #9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson for the same infraction. Both Bell and Elliott are set to drop to the tail end of the inside lane at the start.
As a result, here is the updated starting lineup for the 2021 Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International.
Starting Lineup
1st – Brad Keselowski
2nd – Joey Logano
3rd – Ryan Blaney
4th – Kyle Larson
5th – Kevin Harvick
6th – Denny Hamlin
7th – Martin Truex Jr.
8th – Aric Almirola
9th – Tyler Reddick
10th – Alex Bowman
11th – William Byron
12th – Ross Chastain
13th – Kurt Busch
14th – Matt DiBenedetto
15th – Cole Custer
16th – Austin Dillon
17th – Daniel Suarez
18th – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
19th – Ryan Preece
20th – Kyle Busch
21st – Michael McDowell
22nd – Erik Jones
23rd – Chase Briscoe
24th – Chris Buescher
25th – Corey LaJoie
26th – Bubba Wallace
27th – B.J. McLeod
28th – Ryan Newman
29th – Cody Ware
30th – Justin Haley
31st – Josh Bilicki
32nd – Anthony Alfredo
33rd – Quin Houff
34th – James Davison
35th – Christopher Bell
36th – Garrett Smithley
37th – Chase Elliott
Next. Top 25 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark
Tune in to NBC Sports Network at 3:00 p.m. ET this afternoon for the live broadcast of the Go Bowling at The Glen from Watkins Glen International.