NASCAR playoffs are soon to commence, and the discussion for the championship contenders is on! Kyle Larson is one; and, obviously, Tyler Reddick can’t be missed after he just won the regular season championship. Additionally, Denny Hamlin is a default on that list, as the veteran has been searching for his first NASCAR Cup Series championship for a long time.

Another name that should be on the list but is often overlooked is Christopher Bell! However, the #20 believes ‘actions speak louder than words.’ C. Bell is clearly tired of being in the underdog narrative as he is eyeing his third consecutive championship race, which he believes he can finally win.

What are Christopher Bell’s championship chances this year?

After winning the Phoenix race, Bell diagnosed why he is considered the underdog despite having a stellar career so far. He had previously said, “I’m kind of this Underdog because I’m not the guy that’s leading all the laps like Martin (Truex Jr, led 228 laps) did at Richmond or you know just leading laps and controlling the race, we haven’t been able to do that yet.” According to him, what he needs is more dominating performances, where he’s qualifying on the pole and then leading the pack to victory.

Poll of the day

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Is Christopher Bell ready to dethrone Denny Hamlin in NASCAR?

Absolutely

Not a chance

Too early to tell

Only time will tell

Should Dale Earnhardt Jr. take a tougher stance on Sammy Smith's reckless behavior?

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No, it's part of racing

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Do you believe NASCAR officials were covering up something during the Denny Hamlin car fire incident?

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Do you agree with Kyle Petty's criticism of the new generation of NASCAR drivers?

Yes, they lack the respect and grit of past drivers

No, they're just adapting to a new era

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The number #20 was true to his word when, in the next Charlotte race, he dominated it, leading 90 laps and taking the chequered flag. He did not stop there but upped his performance even more after leading 149 laps on the New Hampshire Motor Speedway as he bagged his third victory of the season. As we enter round one of the playoffs, Bell is full of confidence in his championship chances this year. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he said, “This year definitely I feel like we’ve showcased more of our capability and I feel good about where we are at and I think we got what it takes. And his Phoenix win has increased that confidence!

“It absolutely does.. every Pheonix style race track that we’ve gone to at Richmond, Loudon, Gateway, that’s been our bread and butter this year. If we can get there, I would feel as confident as I ever have going into the championship event, “ C. Bell added.

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With 32 playoff points, three wins, and an average finish of 15th, Christopher Bell has proven himself. If he makes it to Phoenix, it’ll be his third consecutive appearance, though he fell short in the previous two finals due to pit crew errors and mechanical issues. Bell’s success poses a threat to Denny Hamlin, who, despite two decades in the NASCAR Cup Series and coming close in 2010, has yet to win a title. While Hamlin has more experience, C. Bell leads with 38 playoff points compared to Hamlin’s 18.

Both JGR drivers have had similar seasons, each with three wins and an average finish of 15th. However, both have faced disappointing qualifying results for Atlanta—Bell starting 26th and Hamlin 38th. Despite this, NASCAR veterans still consider both Bell and Hamlin strong championship contenders.

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Hamlin vs. Bell, veterans weigh in

When it comes to the NASCAR playoffs, it all comes down to making it to the championship race at Phoenix and then pulling off a win. This task is not simple, as both have to survive the 10 races. Bell has shown he can do it! This season, he’s shown dominance, especially strong on shorter, flatter tracks, which is exactly what Phoenix is known for. In the spring race there, Bell started 20th on the last restart but managed to fight his way through the field and win by a massive 5.5 seconds. A repeat of this in the final 4 would do the job.

On the other hand, Hamlin comes with his massive experience. After all, he is the winningest driver to never win a championship. His 54 Cup Series wins so far are enough proof of his prowess. However, during this year’s Phoenix race, Hamlin finished in P10. Regardless, he is a strong contender, as Kevin Harvick agrees!

In the recent podcast episode of ‘Happy Hour’ making his pick, Harvick said, “I’m sticking to my guns, Denny Hamlin. I think when Denny looks at the way that they run this year, the way that they ran at Phoenix, he’s got to know he’s running out of shots. When he sees that regular-season trophy in the shop of 23XI, I just got to believe there’s some sort of motivation there.” 

On the other hand, Dale Jr. feels Christopher Bell has a strong chance, although he has Hamlin on his list too. Junior, on the Dale Jr. Download, as he picked his championship 4, said, “My championship four is (Joey) Logano, (Kyle) Larson, Hamlin, (Ryan) Blaney and Blaney wins back to back. I do want to say this if I am wrong if this does not happen, Christopher Bell wins the championship.” 

The veterans have clearly made their pick. Who is yours? Let us know in the comments below.