Christopher Bell celebrates a wicked victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (Photo: Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
In the waning moments of Sunday’s Ambetter 301 at New Hampshire, Christopher Bell knew he could win the race.
Much like Tony Stewart’s swagger in the 2007 Brickyard 400, the 27-year-old Norman, Oklahoma native informed crew chief Adam Stevens that he’d get the job done in the closing moments.
By all means, Bell capitalized and rung in an important victory in the 20th round of the NASCAR Cup Series season.
Before the Joe Gibbs Racing driver marched his way to the front, he started the race from the fifth position. While Bell’s teammate, Martin Truex Jr., dominated the first two stages, the quiet, unassuming racer placed sixth and ninth.
It was a magical 301 miles for Bell. (Photo: Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
As the race reached its waning moments, the driver of the No. 20 Rheem/WATTS Toyota Camry made some noise. Or in this case, he chimed his way toward the front of the pack.
After climbing up to the second spot, Bell charged his way within car lengths of Chase Elliott in the final 50 laps. By lap 260, Bell took the lead from Elliott and never looked back.
Indeed, Bell breathed a sigh of relief when he won the 301 lap race at the 1.058-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Namely, he’s no longer the bubble boy of the Playoffs standings.
Despite ranking eighth in the regular season standings, 13 different race winners relegated Bell to the 16th and final Playoffs spot. With the victory, Bell can take a deep breath.
Bell wasted little time getting by Chase Elliott for the win. (Photo: Josh Jones | The Podium Finish)
“Yeah, I mean, it’s been stressful,” Bell said. “After the first couple races of the year, I kind of wrote off pointing our way into the championship, and then we had a stretch of really good races and kind of turned that around to like, ‘Hey, we may be able to do this.’
“And then you’ve got guys that kept winning, and the cutoff line kept creeping up and up and up. So it feels really good to hopefully get myself above that cutoff line by a couple spots.”
With six races left in the regular season schedule, Bell has likely secured his Playoff spot. Likewise, the versatile racer ended a five race winless drought for Toyota, an observation that was not lost with his thoughts.
“Yeah, I mean, I think it’s just what organization hits it that weekend,” he offered. “There’s obviously a lot more Chevy and Ford teams than there are Toyota teams, so there’s a lot more opportunity for them to dominate the race than it is for us.”
Prior to Sunday’s race, Bell considered his best chances for a victory at the intermediates to superspeedways. Now, with the win, Bell does not have to sweat it out.
Considering the parity with the Next Gen car, Bell considered how his Joe Gibbs Racing or JGR comrades have been consistently in the hunt.
Perhaps Bell has found the butter for his trophy. (Photo: Josh Jones | The Podium Finish)
“Last week at Atlanta — well, it’s a speedway race so I’m not going to count that. Before that we had Road America; the JGR Toyotas have really struggled at road courses this year,” Bell recalled. “Then if you look back at Nashville, we were one of the best groups, probably the best group. It just comes in waves, and there’s racetracks we’re good at and racetracks we’re not good at yet.”
At least on Sunday afternoon, after a lightning delay in Loudon, New Hampshire, Bell was the best of the best at a track he’s been undefeated in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Above all else, Bell, Stevens and the No. 20 team checked off a highlight during an inconsistent stretch. The Oklahoman reduces the number of Playoff spots by virtue of points to two precious spots between Pocono and Daytona.
For now, Bell’s only question is where he’ll get the butter for his 21 pound prize lobster from the spoils of a New Hampshire win.
Stage 1 Top 10 Finishers
Truex Jr., Wallace, Larson, Elliott, Harvick, Bell, Kurt Busch, Almirola, Byron and Hamlin
Stage 2 Top 10 Finishers
Truex Jr., Harvick, Elliott, Logano, Larson, Kurt Busch, Chastain, Byron, Bell and Wallace
Ambetter 301 at New Hampshire Top 10 Finishers
Bell, Elliott, Wallace, Truex Jr., Harvick, Hamlin, Keselowski, Chastain, Suárez and Kurt Busch
