Toyota not slick enough in Chicago again

CHICAGO — Toyota dominated the streets of Chicago for the second year in a row but again left empty-handed.

A Toyota was out in front for 31 of the first 43 laps. Then, in what became the final 15 laps, Toyota lost control as around 10 drivers stayed out on wet weather tires at the end of stage two, banking on the end of the race looming.

Alex Bowman led the group on wet weather tires. Drivers on slick tires, like Christopher Bell, Ty GIbbs and Tyler Reddick, started swallowing them up. Eventually, with one lap to go, Reddick was two seconds behind Bowman and was around three seconds faster than him.

The win was his without a mistake.

Reddick hit the inside wall in turn five. He conceded for second behind Bowman.

“I clearly just screwed up. Trying to stay in the dry groove and I had more than enough room of dry groove. Yeah, I cut the wheel a little too hard — just not focused enough, I guess,” Reddick said. “I knew I was going to get to him and the earlier I could get to him the more options I would have, and it was going to get a little bit more slick off line beyond turn 8. Yeah, just didn’t even give ourselves a shot to race him unfortunately. I hate it.”

Before Reddick was Ty Gibbs, who finished third after leading a race-high 17 of 58 laps.

Gibbs needed just one more lap. He finished 2.93 seconds behind Bowman and was 2.88 seconds faster than him on the final lap.

“We’re just so close, super close both days. I mean, all I can ask for is a win, but we’re right there. It’s been really fun running the Cup Series. Just appreciative of what I get to do and thankful for what I get to do,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs finished second Saturday to Shane van Gisbergen in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ The Loop 110.

So, where was Christopher Bell at the finish? He was out of the race.

Bell led twice for 14 laps and was the guy to charge through the field on slick tires and challenge Bowman for the win. As Bell looked to crack into the top-5 with four laps to go, he crashed with Carson Hocevar after Ricky Stenhouse Jr. bumped Martin Truex Jr. into him.

Bell finished 37th, three laps down.

Chicago has been kind and unkind to Bell. He swept the stages and led 37 of 78 laps last year and then finished second in stage one and led the second-most laps Sunday — but only has a best finish of 18th last year to really show for it all.

Toyota also has no trophies to show for after their dominating performance Sunday and leading 46 of 78 laps last year (Bell – 37, Reddick – 8, Gibbs – 1).

Luckily, Toyota is going to Pocono Raceway where they’ve won three of the last five Pocono races. Last year, they took the top three spots, fifth, sixth and 11th.