Chase Elliott won’t get a chance to earn his third victory of the 2026 NASCAR Cup season at Michigan International Speedway.
Meanwhile, Christopher Bell is still seeking win No. 1 of the year. But Bell nearly knocked down the wall at Michigan after he and Elliott were in a violent crash of Lap 148 of the FireKeepers Casino 400 on June 7.
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Elliott and Bell, racing for second place after a restart, collided and ended both their races.
The crash came when Bell and Elliott got side-by side through the corner. Elliott got loose and jerked up the track, collecting Bell. Bell hit the wall solidly in the turn, which forced NASCAR officials to do repair on the wall and SAFER barrier in turns 3 and 4.
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – JUNE 07: Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, (R) and Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, talk during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 07, 2026 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – JUNE 07: Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, (R) and Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, talk during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 07, 2026 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
June 7, 2026; Brooklyn, Michigan, USA; A pit crew member of NASCAR Cup Series driver Zane Smith (38) checks and fills the tires prior to the running of the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Paul Barnick-Imagn Images
June 7, 2026; Brooklyn, Michigan, USA; A pit crew member of NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell (20) talks with fans prior to the running of the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Paul Barnick-Imagn Images
June 7, 2026; Brooklyn, Michigan, USA; Members of the crew for NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Briscoe (19) move their car prior to the running of the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Paul Barnick-Imagn Images
June 7, 2026; Brooklyn, Michigan, USA; Fans observe the cars of NASCAR prior to the running of the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Paul Barnick-Imagn Images
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – JUNE 07: A general view of the reserved chair held in honor of the late Kyle Busch at the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 07, 2026 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – JUNE 07: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Autotrader Ford, (R) share a laugh with Ryan Preece, driver of the #60 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 07, 2026 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – JUNE 07: A detail view of the reserved chair held in honor of the late Kyle Busch at the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 07, 2026 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – JUNE 07: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #7 NationsGuard Chevrolet, (L) and Michael McDowell, driver of the #71 Garner Trucking Chevrolet, share a laugh during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 07, 2026 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – JUNE 07: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Solar Boost Chevrolet, (C) looks on during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 07, 2026 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
“I was just trying to run on the bottom and take use of our new tires,” Elliott said to Amazon Prime Video. “I got in there and got free.”
Elliott took the blame for the crash and acknowledged Bell’s massive hit into the wall.
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Elliott entered the race fourth in points, 197 points behind Tyler Reddick. Bell was seventh, 258 points behind Reddick. Reddick was involved in a crash earlier in the race and suffered his first DNF of the 2026 NASCAR Cup season.
Elliott had earned 17 stage points earlier in the race, including a stage 2 victory.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott crash at NASCAR Michigan race, wall damaged
