Close Call Christopher

Christopher Bell takes the checkered and yellow flag over Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (AP/Photo: Mike Stewart)

Ambetter Health 400:

Christopher Bell won the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday evening edging out Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson on the last lap when the caution flew. The win was Bell's first win of the season and first at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bell has now locked himself into the playoffs earlier in the season than he has in previous years. The win does come with some controversary (not at Bell's fault) due to a late last lap caution flag thrown by NASCAR. Either way, Bell leaves Atlanta with the trophy, check, and points as he turns his sight to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) next week.

Atlanta, the new and revised version, delivered yet again. And once again, after the checkered flag waved, I feel bad for ever being skeptical about this change. It has not missed once. Couple that with an aging track and the ability for drivers to change lines and make a difference with the draft and mechanical grip, Atlanta may be the best stop on the circuit for the Cup Series.

All day, aside from a few times when they got single file or a well-mannered double file driving, I was on the edge of my seat. Drivers were one small mistake away from putting it in the wall, spinning out, or making contact with others. Drivers had to manage runs in the draft, the mechanical grip of their car, and fuel mileage. A few drivers busted their ass and wrecked themselves, and at times, others out. There was natural attrition, tires made a difference, drivers falling from the back and moving their way back up the field, drivers who couldn't move because their runs didn't work or they get hung out to dry in the draft, and capped off with an exciting finish. Atlanta delivered and gets my vote as a "Yes" on the "Was it a good race poll?" from Jeff Gluck.

My only gripe is yet again the inconsistency from NASCAR officiating. Christopher Bell won the race, and won it fairly. He earned it and the finish is not an indictment on him or on his team. The fought hard, capitalized, and put themselves in position to win, and they did. They should be celebrating hard this week on a huge win early in the year. Sure, he only led one lap and it was, at times, a shoe in that a Ford (likely a Penske Ford) was going to win. But as the race naturally played out, Bell put himself in position to capitalize at the end. No, my beef was yet again the inconsistency and just weird race control and officiating from the tower. I get that, objectively, the last lap incident was a caution. But the day before and the week before it wasn't. And the talking heads from NASCAR have and will continue to wordsmith it to make it seem like everything is fine. But it's not. The tower has for years been inconsistent and needs to tighten up their act. We cannot routinely be talking about officiating that leaves many dazed and confused. We should solely be talking about the on-track product. For Atlanta, that product has been and continues to be too good to not talk about.

Next up NASCAR invades Austin, Texas for two races at COTA. The Truck Series enjoys an early off weekend so the Xfinity Series gets the weekend kicked off on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. EST on The CW with the Focused Health 250. The Cup Series caps off the weekend on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EST on FOX with the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.

COTA Picks:

Trucks = Off Week

Xfinity = Connor Zilisch

Cup = SVG