Christopher Bell Sends Out a Statement of Intent for Cup Series Rivals With Third Straight Championship Shot in Sight

Christopher Bell put a marker down on this year’s NASCAR season. Thanks to his win in a rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 at CMS. Having led a race-high 90 laps, he was already making a strong statement in the race. The defining moment came when Bell made a run of 10 laps past Brad Keselowski, who was the only one who could overtake him before heavy rain brought the race to a halt after 249 laps. Thus, securing Bell his second win this season based on running order at the final lap.

The win, accomplished under controlled conditions, gave Bell good momentum for the season. In reality, it showcased the strategic prowess of team #20 of Joe Gibbs Racing. After his successful run at 600, Bell’s eyes are set on Championship 4 this season, and rightfully so. Remember that Bell has already been in the round of 4 in 2022 and 2023. But the real question remains, does the #20 team have enough momentum to back up its dreams? Has it learned from its mistakes in the past?

Christopher Bell: A Rising Star with Unfinished Business

Christopher Bell has recently revealed in an interview that Joe Gibbs Racing is moving in the direction of making improvements on themselves as a team. “Yeah, absolutely. I know that no matter what happens the next 12 weeks, whenever the playoffs start, I know that we’re going to be capable of going into the playoffs as a contender and making a run at it,” said Bell. This comes from an undeniable speed and potential within his team’s cars.

To say, “we haven’t been able to put weekends together consistently,” betrays a crucial self-appraisal by Bell. However, despite the difficulties they encountered, Bell and his group are focusing on improving their approach to earning the championship title this year.

There have been moments when #20 Toyota shined but there were also obstacles during his journey. In what was supposed to be a great event at the Phoenix race track at the end of the 2023 season, an unfortunate crash broke Belle’s hope of winning a title, showing how unpredictable the sport is.

“It’s just about getting tidy, getting tidy and consistent and eliminating mistakes.” These words summed up Christopher Bell’s point, emphasizing flawless execution throughout the season till its end. For better or worse, summer will make or break Bell’s crew, as they strive to turn their highs into long-term competitive advantages.

The shaky experiences of the past didn’t deter Bell as he made a bold yet conditional claim on behalf of JGR. “And we know that if all of us do our jobs, we’re going to be right there.”  But with so many hawks circling the sky, meat is not gonna come easy for JGR.

Rivals to have a look out for

One of the teams that can’t go unnoticed is Hendrick Motorsports. As Kyle Larson awaits his waiver, the team still has formidable players backing it. Chase Elliott behind the wheels of the #9 car is definitely one of them. This season, Elliott has claimed one victory. He was placed within the top five in five races and top ten in six races. Thus proving a constant menace during competitions at the speedway.

Kyle Busch, who drives the #8 Chevy, has been prominent for Richard Childress Racing this season. RCR has quite a lot of stratagems and Busch brings an amazing experience to the team. Agreed, Busch is not quite on par with his performance this year, but he can still make his way into the playoff with upcoming races. With multiple top 5 finishes, he is a driver to watch out for.

Even now, Team Penske is one of the unwavering and influential teams in NASCAR.

Ryan Blaney driving the #12 Ford has performed quite well this season. He has secured 4 top 5 finishes and 5 top 10 finishes. Joey Logano, the champion of Cup Series 2022, and the winner of the All-Star race this year, has already proved his might. These two drivers have both speed and strategy that can disrupt JGR’s strategies. This makes Penske a team to watch out for!

For RFK, they have stood out with

Brad Keselowski ending his three-year race drought with a deciding win at Darlington. Moreover, the performance of Chris Buescher cannot be overlooked. He was 0.001 seconds close to making his way into playoffs at Kansas.

Thus, the path of JGR, and especially Bell, is not gonna be easy. Christopher Bell needs to keep his focus steady and learn from the mishaps of last year. He needs to work closely with his crew chief, Adam Stevens. Will Bell get his Cup Series victory this year? The odds do seem to be in his favor.