Christopher Bell Talks About the Mental Struggles He Went Through During the “Longest Period of Bad Races” in His Career

One top-10 finish in his last six races, five finishes on 33rd or worse, and three retirements. It’s fair to say that Christopher Bell isn’t exactly having the season he hoped for. Although Bell is already qualified for the playoffs thanks to his win earlier in the season at Phoenix, and the recent victory at the Coca-Cola 600, that has earned him extra points toward the playoffs, which will help him in his fight for the series championship.

However, the inconsistency of his performances, especially in the first half of the season, has taken a toll on Christopher Bell’s mental health. Especially because he realizes that he and his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team are capable of so much more.

Down but not out

It’s no secret that Christopher Bell and Joe Gibbs Racing have had their fair share of setbacks in the past. From problems in the pit lane to retirements, the driver and his team had to overcome one adversity after another. However, it is a testament to their relentless optimism and hunger that they managed to turn the tide. They won the Pit Crew Challenge during NASCAR All-Star Weekend, while Bell scored his second win of the season at Charlotte.

On Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, Christopher Bell spoke about his mental health struggles during his slump in form. He said, “I’ll be honest, that was the longest period of bad races I have ever had in my Cup career so far. I definitely was beat down mentally, but this weekend has been a constant reminder that whenever you are driving for such a premier organization as JGR, what happened last week, what happened the previous month, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is what’s ahead of you and you have the equipment to go out there and win.”

Although Bell and his No. 20 Toyota squad have been able to shine in recent weeks, both need to show more consistency to achieve better results for the rest of the season. The upcoming summer break should provide Christopher Bell and his team with plenty of opportunities for more good runs, and even some wins. The 29-year-old has made it clear that he wants to win five to ten races per season, which can only be achieved through consistency.

Do you think Christopher Bell could be Joe Gibbs Racing’s future?

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At just 29 years of age, Christopher Bell has the potential to run the shop at Joe Gibbs Racing. With eight race wins in his career, Bell has shown that he has the potential to become a top driver. Last year, he reached the Championship 4 round for the second consecutive season, a feat not even Denny Hamlin has accomplished in his two-decade career.

Most importantly, Christopher Bell has shown that he has the mental toughness to not only deal with setbacks but to also thrive at the highest level.

Meanwhile, Martin Truex Jr.s contract with Joe Gibbs Racing expires at the end of the 2024 season, and rumors of retirement have also resurfaced. The 43-year-old has also expressed that it takes a lot of sacrifice to continue racing at the highest level, which could be the clearest indication yet that he could hang up his boots. 

Do you think Christopher Bell is the future of Joe Gibbs Racing? Let us know in the comments!