Bell rings in at USAC Four Crown Nationals

Two years ago at the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, the man who introduced Kyle Larson to the United States Auto Club and instant stardom was asked if there were any more kids in the pipeline with Larson's abilities.

"Keep your eye on Christopher Bell," responded Keith Kunz, whose Toyota-powered armada has dominated midget racing the past decade. "He's going to be a great one."

Kunz's prophecy was fulfilled Saturday night as Bell put on a driving clinic and captured the midget and Silver Crown features in the 34th annual USAC Four Crown Nationals.

The only legitimate reason the 20-year-old native of Norman, Okla. didn't sweep the evening like Larson did in 2011 is because he didn't have a sprint-car ride. And that was fine by Thomas Meseraull (RIGHT), because he charged to victory in the 30-lap sprint car show for his first-ever USAC win.

But the evening belonged to Bell as he drove flawlessly on the legendary half-mile dirt track where you either run against the wall or into it.

"I'd finished a close second a couple times in the midget races here so it was nice to finally close the deal," said Bell (BELOW), who stormed from fourth to first on the opening lap and was never threatened in capturing the 25-lap lap main event by five seconds in Kunz's car.

"And I've been quick in the Silver Crown cars but couldn't get the job done until tonight and this feels great."

The opening race had a great duel for second between Rico Abreu, Tracy Hines, Tanner Thorson and Kevin Thomas Jr. and that's how they finished behind Bell.
The 30-lap sprint feature looked like it was Bryan Clauson's as he grabbed the top spot from Chase Stockton on lap 9 and was driving away when he banged the Turn 2 wall and flattened his right-rear tire.

Stockton inherited the lead but it was short-lived as Mereraull used the high line to snatch first place and held off Swanson and Dave Darland with Clauson charging from 22nd to fourth.

Thomas escaped unharmed from a nasty flip.

In the 50-lap finale for dirt cars, Bell started on the pole and disappeared – leading every lap and cruising to the checkered flag ahead of Kody Swanson, Chris Windom and Shane Cottle.

"That was mighty impressive," said Kunz of Bell, who also won last summer's NASCAR Truck race here at Rossburg, Ohio. "I knew he was real good and he might even be better than Kyle in some ways."

And, just like Larson, another open-wheel star is going to be lost to NASCAR as Toyota was wise enough to sign Bell and he's got four Truck Series races left in 2015 before likely moving up to Xfinity in 2016.