Christopher Bell showcased his short track prowess on Sunday night. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
BRISTOL, Tenn. – It is not a stretch of the imagination to recognize that Christopher Bell’s stock is on the rise in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Since joining the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota entry in 2021, Bell has five wins, 24 top fives, 42 top-10s, four poles and 827 laps led in his past 80 starts.
A batting average of .062 may not sound exciting. However, in today’s NASCAR, a winning percentage just over 6% should captivate one’s attention.
Consider Bell’s probability of earning a top five, 30%, his chances of nabbing a top-10 finish, 52.5%, and it is easy to see how Bell is highly underrated in a Cup car. If anything, it may be time to genuinely consider the 28-year-old Norman, Oklahoma native as a bonafide stock car sensation.
Certainly, when Bell was tabbed as the driver of the No. 20 ride ahead of the 2021 season, succeeding the popular Erik Jones, the move may have not been well received. Then again, Joe Gibbs Racing knew that they had a star for the present and future, their genuine answer to Chevrolet’s Kyle Larson with Hendrick Motorsports.
On Sunday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, Bell was a steady contender for the victory. Placing sixth and fourth in Stages 1 and 2, Bell raced methodically, patiently and like a seasoned veteran waiting for his proper time to strike.
Inheriting the race lead when he elected to stay out for track position ahead of Stage 3, Bell staved off the hard charging Tyler Reddick. Moreover, he nabbed an early season victory, a huge boost for the No. 20 DeWalt Powerstack Toyota Camry team compared to last year’s tepid start.
As with any great driver, an equally quality crew chief sits atop the pit box to help their team achieve their goals. The combination of Bell and Adam Stevens has been a genuinely incredible sight to behold as both channel off each other with superb communication and chemistry so indelible for success in motorsports.
Bell strives to deliver for his No. 20 team each week. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
“Adam has been able to instill confidence in me by giving me fast racecars and cars that I know are going to handle good enough for me,” Bell said. “He’s probably the best leader that I’ve ever driven for, and he knows how to manage the highs and lows of a season, and he definitely can bring out the best in me.”
By all means, Bell and Stevens compliment each other in terms of elevating each other’s craft and potential in this highly competitive, intense series. There is not a lot of time to dwell on what is said on the radio or written about a recent race in an outlet like this for a driver and team.
Instead, it is about focusing on the mission at hand on a weekly basis – pursue victories. Then again, are there times in which one has to wonder if a driver like Bell gets enough acknowledgement and recognition for his skillful ways in his No. 20 car.
“I don’t know. I don’t know how to justify that or quantify that, to be honest with you,” Stevens said. “Do I feel a little bit of that? I’d say probably. But you have to produce the results, right? Do I think that we’re consistently producing the results? Yes. Do I think we need more wins to go with it? I do. Is he capable of it? Certainly.”
Like the adage goes, teamwork makes the dream work. Undoubtedly, it takes a village for a cohesive unit like the No. 20 team to consistently contend and battle against the best in NASCAR Cup Series racing.
“We have to do everything right as a team,” Stevens said. “We have to have good pit stops, we have to have good strategy. He’s got to do his job, which by and large he does. We have to bring good cars. When we can check those boxes, he proves that he can lead laps and win races.”
It will not be the last time that Bell performs a Polish Victory Lap in 2023. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
Presently, Bell’s latest focus is on beating his manufacturer’s rival, Chevrolet, at the tracks that work best for the Camry and venues where there is still a bit of work to do. Nevertheless, Bell is ready to take on the challenge.
“I hope so,” Bell said. “The Chevrolets have been super fast to start off the year. And there was no doubt that we were behind them. But we’re in a really good stretch of races for our cars.
“If you look at Richmond, Bristol Dirt, and Martinsville, I would expect us to be really strong at. Then when we get back to the mile and a halves, I’m not really sure where we’re at. So with that being said, we know that there is room to improve, and hopefully that comes sooner rather than later.”
Editor’s Notes
Jasmine Sharpe contributed to this feature directly on-site from Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.
