Austin Dillon’s reputation doesn’t do him any favors, does it? The Richard Childress Racing driver came under plenty of criticism after a dramatic collision with Christopher Bell at Watkins Glen International. The 34-year-old drove aggressively at the 2.45-mile road course and crashed into the back of C. Bell’s No. 20 Toyota Camry during Lap 62 of the 2024 Go Bowling at The Glen, causing the Joe Gibbs Racing driver to spin just before the pit road entry.

However, Bell, currently leading the Cup Series driver standings, has absolved Dillon of any blame, citing miscommunication as a key factor in the incident that contributed to him finishing the race in 14th place.

Christopher Bell admits mistake after the Watkins Glen incident

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is having quite a season. The 29-year-old went all the way to Championship 4 last year and is set to replicate that deep playoff run this time around. He is currently 46 points above the playoff cutline with just one Round of 16 race remaining at Bristol Motor Speedway. However, one can’t help but feel just how much of an advantage Bell would have had if he secured a top-ten result at ‘The Glen’.

While the incident with Austin Dillon may have played a role in Christopher Bell’s disappointing result, the Oklahoma native graciously set the record straight after fans took to social media to criticize Richard Childress’ grandson. Speaking to FOX Sports journalist Bob Pockrass, Bell said, “You know, my incident at Watkins Glen was honestly a mistake on my part. I got called to pit road late and didn’t do a good job of getting myself in position to come to pit road.”

“I just don’t think Austin saw my hand signal getting into 7th and then he thought we were still contesting for the position. Bristol could be more of the same for sure, once you understand people are going to be pitting, giving them a little more leeway and stuff. I think if everyone communicates on track, there will be no issues,” he further added.

Unsurprisingly, Austin Dillon faced the wrath of the NASCAR community after the incident, having built a reputation following the events at Richmond Raceway, where Dillon wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in the final lap of the Federated Auto Parts 400, going on to secure the first win of his season. While NASCAR let him keep the victory after a thorough investigation, Richard Childress’ grandson was stripped of playoff eligibility due to the controversial win and was docked 25 points from the drivers and owners’ standings.

Despite Christopher Bell’s place in the Round of 12 being all but assured, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver will hope for a better outcome at the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

With the finest of margins making all the difference in the postseason, securing valuable playoff points could ultimately make all the difference in whether he lifts the elusive championship trophy at Phoenix Raceway later this year. However, Bell will be keen to avoid any wrecks going forward, as driving cleanly gives him the best chance of entering Victory Lane in the upcoming races.

Bell blames Next-Gen car for falling driver standards

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There was plenty of controversy after the 2024 Go Bowling at The Glen, with Christopher Bell’s teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin speaking about a lack of ‘respect’ amongst drivers in the way they raced on the track. Truex Jr., who finished second in qualifying and won the opening stage, was forced to settle for a 20th-place finish after being at the receiving end of an incident involving Kyle Larson during the closing stages of the race. The veteran didn’t hold back his words in the post-race interview, slamming NASCAR drivers for their lack of consideration for others.

Echoing that sentiment, Christopher Bell blamed the robustness of the Next-Gen car as the reason for falling driving standards in the Cup Series. The 29-year-old said, “The biggest thing that I have noticed as far as respect on the track and etiquette is that it really changed, probably, midway through the 2022 season. The NextGen car came out and it, as we started to run it, we drivers learned how durable it is. You’re able to get away with contact and not damage your car and hinder your own race. It has definitely enticed people, especially on road courses, to make sure you’re the one on offense and not defense.”

Bell’s logic seems to have some merit. To prioritize driver’s safety, NASCAR has ensured that the Next-Gen car can take a severe beating and continue racing on the track.

An example of this was when Ross Chastain slammed into the wall at Martinsville Speedway in 2022 but faced no consequences after the incident. Similarly, a horrific crash occurred between William Byron and Brad Keselowski at Watkins Glen International, but not only did both drivers appear to be unscathed, but they also continued with the race.

• Do you think drivers are lacking accountability because of the durability of the Next-Gen car?
• What can be done to improve the falling driver standards in the Cup Series?