Christopher Bell Scores First NASCAR Truck Win Since 2017

Bell overtakes Christian Eckes late to claim victory at Bristol

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:43am

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An abstract, expressionist painting featuring bold, neon-colored brushstrokes that capture the raw speed and movement of a NASCAR Truck Series race, with the individual trucks blending together into a blur of color and energy.The chaotic energy of a NASCAR Truck Series race comes alive in a vibrant, expressionist painting.Bristol Today

Christopher Bell, a NASCAR Cup Series regular, won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway, his first Truck Series victory since the 2017 season. Bell passed Christian Eckes, who led a race-high 132 laps, with 63 laps remaining and held off Chandler Smith for the win.

Why it matters

This win marks Bell's return to the Truck Series after several seasons focused on the Cup Series. It also highlights the competitive nature of the Truck Series, where Cup regulars can still come in and win against the full-time Truck Series drivers.

The details

Eckes dominated much of the race, leading 132 laps, but a late-race incident with Corey Heim allowed Bell to take the lead. Heim was attempting to pass Eckes for the lead when the two made contact, sending Heim crashing and also collecting points leader Kaden Honeycutt. This opened the door for Bell to take the lead and hold on for the victory.

  • The race took place on Friday, April 11, 2026 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
  • Bell took the lead from Eckes with 63 laps remaining in the 250-lap event.

The players

Christopher Bell

A NASCAR Cup Series regular who claimed his first Truck Series win since the 2017 season.

Christian Eckes

The McAnally-Hilgemann Racing driver who led a race-high 132 laps but faded to a fifth-place finish after the late-race incident with Corey Heim.

Chandler Smith

Finished second and regained the Truck Series points lead after a disqualification last week.

Corey Heim

Was running second and looking to claim a $350,000 Triple Truck Challenge payout before crashing out of the race.

Kaden Honeycutt

The Truck Series points leader who was also caught up in Heim's crash, finishing 31st.

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What they’re saying

“We've had a lot of speed in our Truck this year, and it's just a matter of putting it all together. I'm really proud of this team and what we were able to accomplish tonight.”

— Christopher Bell

“It's really frustrating to have a dominant truck like we did and not be able to capitalize on it. We'll go back, regroup, and come back stronger next time.”

— Christian Eckes, Driver, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing

What’s next

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will head to Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, May 1 for the SpeedyCash.com 250, which will be televised on FS1.

The takeaway

This race showcased the competitive depth of the NASCAR Truck Series, where Cup Series regulars can still come in and win, but also highlighted the challenges of maintaining a dominant truck throughout the entire race distance.