Christopher Bell came out on top of a dramatic 13-lap fight with Kyle Busch, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick to win the 2025 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. It was Bell’s second win in as many weeks, but he might not have foreseen the intense competition he had to overcome. Like most of us, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was left in awe after the brilliant race.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reacts to EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix Thriller
In a dramatic conclusion to the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, Bell fended off a crowded field to win the race. He ultimately edged out William Byron by a mere 0.433 seconds.
BACK-TO-BACK. Christopher Bell holds off William Byron to WIN at Circuit of the Americas! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/oq0Dd2hHCu
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 3, 2025
Everybody watching was at the edge of their seats until the end. It was one of the most thrilling NASCAR races in recent memory, and Earnhardt’s concise response lends credibility to that claim.
“Hell of a race today,” he posted on X.
Hell of a race today. @COTA @NASCAR
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 3, 2025
Earnhardt was also caught by surprise when Supercross rider Aaron Plessinger, who finished third, paid him a tribute.
“Yeah, I am pretty satisfied after the start of the season… Gotta give it up to the whole team, they’ve been behind me, believing in me,” Plessinger said. “After two 22nd-place finishes, a seventh, an eighth, and a ninth; it’s been a ride. But we pulled it off (a podium finish), and I love this track, I love this place. And you know, we’re always doing it for Dale.”
"You know we're always doing it for Dale."
Aaron Plessinger honored NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt after securing his first podium of the Supercross season. pic.twitter.com/RCWtKrfKsx
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 2, 2025
Earnhardt was seemingly blown away by the gesture.
What is going on!!??!! https://t.co/V9jaDAYAFS
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 2, 2025
He replied, with a series of gracious exclamation points and question marks, “What is going on!!??!!”
Christopher Bell Delighted To Pick Up ‘Expected Win’
Bell, after his Feb. 23 win at Atlanta, had specifically marked Circuit of The Americas as a track where he believed he could win again.
Living up to his expectations, Bell secured victory at COTA, passing Busch for the lead and holding off Byron in the final five laps. This is his first ever back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series victory.
“Whenever Kyle was leading, I was just trying to be so cautious,” Bell said after the race. “Obviously, we know what happened last year. I didn’t want that to happen. I wanted to pass him clean. He was just doing such a good job at running his race, and he could get off the corners just good enough that I couldn’t get inside of him.
“But there I started peeking a nose, and he bobbled and allowed me to get out front. Whenever I did, I’m, like, ‘OK, just don’t beat yourself.’ Those were about the five or six sloppiest laps I’ve ever run.
“Just super proud for everyone on this DeWalt No. 20 team. We didn’t count last week. Last week was a speedway. We didn’t have that one circled. We definitely had this one circled. I’m ready to keep adding to it.”
