“Just ready to get back into my Cup car, finally,” said an enthusiastic Christopher Bell as he entered Bowman Gray for The Clash earlier in the season. What was the secret to this added excitement to race? Well, Joe Gibbs had signed off on a chance to go dirt-racing. Historically, Joe Gibbs Racing enforced strict restrictions on its drivers participating in dirt racing in an effort to minimize injury risks and maintain focus on NASCAR. However, when the policy was lifted, there was a change in the air.

It was visible in the way Bell raced in the Tulsa Shootout. Going up against Kyle Busch, Bell stunned everyone and managed a victory! It was his first since last winning a race for JGR at New Hampshire.

Even Coach Gibbs saw the impact of the change. “They love it, and they talked about the offseason being able to get a chance to race in dirt stuff would help fill their time and get them excited about things. And so, we’ll kind of see where it leads, but I made that decision, and we’ll see what happens with it,” he said. Now even Bell is seeing the difference.

Bell succinctly summarized the impact of racing outside of NASCAR, stating, “The more you race, the better you get.” This mantra reflects his belief that increased racing experience sharpens his decision-making skills and improves his overall performance. To begin the 2025 season, Bell competed in the Tulsa Shootout and Chili Bowl Nationals. He won the Tusla Shootout in a photo finish with Kyle Larson. At the Chili Bowl, Bell managed a decent 10th position, but the impact of racing there is already visible in his Cup Series career.

Bell’s recent success in NASCAR is attributed, in part, to his experience racing outside of the Cup Series. At Daytona, Bell was in a commanding second position. But, with just 5 laps to go, Bell got involved in a wreck after Cole Custer got into his bumper. However, it’s Bell’s recent wins at Atlanta and COTA that have positioned him as the driver to beat in the Western Swing. He is the defending champion of the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix. Moreover, Bell’s recent performance since mid-2024 is historic. He has 10 top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in the last 15 races, but that’s not even the most impressive part.

Bell now has the chance to go for an incredibly rare record if he can manage a win in Phoenix and subsequently Las Vegas. If he does so, he’ll join an elite group of only 8 drivers who have achieved this feat in the last 6 decades! What’s the secret you ask outside just constantly racing? Well, Bell has revealed that too in other interviews. The pressure of bringing a trophy to the JGR garage is pushing him and it shows. “It’s time to start putting it all together. I’m sitting here 30 years old and (have) the opportunity of a lifetime in front of me. I’ve had this team for a long time, and I haven’t been performing to the standards that I hold myself and this team holds everybody,” Bell said.

Even Joe Gibbs can’t help but smile at the energy the #20 team is carrying this season. 2 wins already with less than five races is a success story, especially since their last Cup Series win came at the New Hampshire Speedway back in June 2024. “I think in football every now and then you have a team that really had a great feeling about themselves, were really confident, and a great chemistry,” the 84-year-old Gibbs said after Bell’s latest victory. It doesn’t happen very often, and it doesn’t carry over from one year to the other. But when you kind of get that, I think it’s a great feeling when you see it as a coach or an owner. I think that’s what we have with the 20 team.” 

The results are clear. Whether it’s Joe Gibbs’ masterstroke in bringing dirt racing back to JGR or Christopher Bell’s renewed sense of competition, the #20 has a shot of beating Penske dominance. Even Kevin Harvick knows it.

Kevin Harvick chooses Christopher Bell as Phoenix favorite

As the winningest driver on the Phoenix Raceway with 9 wins, Kevin Harvick knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the track. And after Bell’s wins at Atlanta and COTA, the driver is confident it will be him repeating a visit to the victory lane. As someone who’s won on the track before and with the momentum of wins, Bell could easily snap up victory number three this season.

As Kevin Harvick put it, “This is a pretty important race to be able to put yourself in a position to understand where you stand for the championship race. How many of those details can you stack… because until you can prepare at that level all year, it makes it really difficult.” 

For Bell, it won’t just be about another win. Phoenix has been a Penske stronghold in the last few seasons, especially when it comes to the November Championship race. Both of their drivers finish in the top five regularly. If Christopher Bell puts on a win for JGR on Sunday, it will be a clear statement for the rest of the garage. Joe Gibbs Racing is back in title contention and they need to be taken seriously. After having no driver in the Championship 4 last season, this will certainly be a change.