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via Imago

Despite not clinching the championship, Joe Gibs Racing’s No.20 Christopher Bell will look to build on positives from the 2023 season. One area where he will look fondly is his draft racing technique. Even though he recently admitted to this not being his forte. However, after having a good look at his draft racing skills at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, he was in shock by how good he was on the track that day and expressed his astonishment online.

Christopher Bell had a seemingly successful 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season with Joe Gibbs Racing. He was consistent throughout its course, racking up two wins and 10 top-five finishes. However, his championship hopes were shattered at Phoenix after his brakes exploded which resulted in a wreck early in the race and he had to be content with a 4th place overall finish. But his exploits at Atlanta earlier in the season were a sight to behold.

Christopher Bell in disbelief after watching his drafting footage from the 2023 Atlanta Motor Speedway

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Atlanta Motor Speedway is known for its 1.5-mile quad oval circuit with sharp banking of 28 degrees on the turn and 5 degrees on the straights. The spectators have a spectacle to witness as if they are sitting in a bowl watching the racers having a go at each other. However, in 2023, all the hype and expectations for the racing was washed away by the rains. With 75 laps still to go, NASCAR ordered cars to pit road due to severe weather conditions.

Christopher Bell came into this race on the back of top-ten finishes at Sonoma and Nashville but he could not better his standing as rains played spoiler. But Bell was left impressed by how the race went about in such severe conditions and how he managed to draft behind the opposition. Although he is not a fan of drafting, he did enjoy the particular encounter at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

After a fan shared the car camera footage from the Atlanta race, Christopher Bell shared his opinion on the thrilling encounter. In a tweet on X, he wrote, “Normally I hate drafting speedway racing. But this race was bonkers 🔥”. In the video, Bell is seen making the most of the track by using the drafting technique well, whizzing past his opponents while remaining in sync with his spotter.

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For a generational talent like Christopher Bell, a fourth-place finish does hurt after all that hard work and consistent run throughout the season. So what needs to change at JGR so that Bell can make the most of his potential?

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Shortcomings both Bell and JGR need to overcome for the 2024 Cup Series

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It has to be noted that Bell was in contention for the championship throughout the playoffs. He even registered a win at Homestead Miami Speedway in the round of 8. Everything was going smooth sailing for the racer until the Championship-4 race. The brake debacle in the race at Phoenix resulted in a 36th-place DNF that led him to miss out on the title for the second year in a row.

Having made playoffs each season with Joe Gibbs Racing, perhaps a tad bit better coordination and teamwork could see them over the finish line. But this is easier said than done as expectations are riding high for the driver all thanks to his impressive stints in the Cup Series so far.

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With luck on his side along with his customary consistency who knows, Christopher Bell might be able to get his hands on the Championship in 2024.

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