Kyle Busch has never been afraid to speak his mind. With 63 Cup Series wins and a career filled with highlight-reel moments, he has earned the respect of many in NASCAR. But that hasn’t stopped him from feeling like he doesn’t get the same courtesy on the track. Last season, Busch repeatedly voiced his frustration over aggressive racing. He believed younger drivers no longer showed the same level of respect veterans once had.

At the Hollywood Casino 400, he got squeezed into the wall by Chase Briscoe and later said, “They all run hard. They all want to race to crash. In the old days, guys would let you go and work for it later.” This continued till Atlanta race week when Busch threatened to wreck the entire field when Carson Hocevar cut him. However, a week later his on-track battle with Christopher Bell in COTA changed his views.

Despite trading paint, Busch and Bell didn’t wreck each other, and Rowdy was certainly appreciative of Bell’s tactics. It’s worth noting that the JGR driver spun Busch at COTA last year. So was it the fear of Rowdy Busch that kept Bell in check or was he calculative with his approach? Going by his words, he wasn’t going to add the no-holds-barred trend and will pave the way for change after his win last weekend.

Christopher Bell wants to set an example!

Christopher Bell isn’t just another Cup driver trying to win races—he wants to change how they are won. After registering his second consecutive win of the season at COTA, Bell made a bold declaration. He doesn’t believe in using his bumper to move others out of the way. Rather he believes that drivers can get by each other on racetracks without ramming into each other, challenging the new norm famous among young drivers. In a conversation with SiriusXM Radio, Bell revealed his vision for the sport.

“I’m just so proud of the way that everybody raced each other at the end of that race—Redick included, myself, Kyle leading the race, William Byron behind me. Like, I would love to change the narrative of the Cup Series—this just running into people and moving them out of the way. So hopefully, you know, I don’t know what the future of our sport is, but I would love it if this is a turning point for us where we’re able to race respectfully, stay off each other, and make it less of a contact sport,” he said.

Bell’s words weren’t just talk. His actions at COTA backed them up. Both Bell and Rowdy battled hard for the win, and when the No. 20 Toyota passed Busch, there was slight contact—but nothing dirty. Busch, known for his sharp tongue, had every reason to be upset. Instead, he praised Bell. “He did a great job working me over and just doing it the right way,” Busch admitted after the race. This was a complete shift from last season when Busch was ready for payback after their 2024 incident.

Bell himself admitted that last year’s controversy was on his mind. “Whenever Kyle was leading, I was just trying to be so cautious. Obviously, we know what happened last year, I didn’t want that to happen. I wanted to pass him clean,” he revealed after the race. His approach wasn’t just about avoiding trouble—it was about setting an example. The need for this change has never been clearer. Drivers like Ross Chastain and Carson Hocevar have been at the center of aggressive racing debates.

Chastain spun Chase Elliott on Lap 1 at COTA, and Hocevar’s aggressive moves in Atlanta frustrated many. If the sport continues down this road, it could become a demolition derby rather than a test of skill. As the Cup Series heads to Phoenix, Bell’s mission continues. He’s proving that a driver can be both competitive and respectful. And with back-to-back wins at Atlanta and COTA, he’s showing that clean racing doesn’t mean finishing second. Notably, NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick seems to be convinced by Bell’s approach as he reveals his winner for the Shriners Children 500.

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Kevin Harvick continues to bet on Bell!

As NASCAR heads to Phoenix for the Shriners Children’s 500, Christopher Bell is riding a wave of momentum. He’s won two straight races, and some believe he could make it three in a row. Kyle Larson back in 2021 was able to bag three straight wins, but no driver has achieved this milestone in the Next Gen era.

NASCAR veteran and broadcaster Kevin Harvick has high confidence in Bell. On his podcast, Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, the retired legend didn’t hesitate in placing another bet on Joe Gibbs Racing driver. “I’m going to stick with (Christopher) Bell. I just think they’re on a heater right now. When you have confidence in a guy like Bell, it just keeps building,”

Back in 2018, Harvick himself accomplished this feat by winning Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix back-to-back. Notably, Bell is also the defending race winner of the Shriners Children’s 500. He won the spring race last year by beating Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs. He led almost 200 laps in two races as he finished fifth in the Championship race at the venue. Given his current form and records, it won’t be a surprise if he pulls off another win. Do you think Bell can make it 3-in-3?