One specific driver in the Cup Series has been on a roll until it comes to the final round. Yes, we are talking about Christopher Bell! The Joe Gibbs Racing sensation is one of the series’ most consistent drivers, getting into the final fray back-to-back in past seasons. However, not everyone seems to dismiss his presence and shrug him off as a choker, overlooking his talent as a racer.
Speaking on his Dale Jr. Download podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. went at it for quite some time, drawing a Jimmie Johnson parallel to C. Bell and divulging what he needs to do to reiterate his presence in the community.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on why C. Bell’s potency is overlooked by the fans
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The JGR #20 driver, Bell, continued his advance as one of the most successful young drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series. Not only did he reach the Championship four-round for the second straight season, but five of his six career Cup wins have come in the last two seasons (three in 2022 and two in 2023).
Unfortunately, despite his caliber and potency, his championship hopes came to an abrupt end in 2023 when he was prematurely knocked out and finished last (36th) due to a brake rotor that exploded one-third of the way through the race. “He’s a hell of a driver, Kyle Larson would say, he’s amazing, he is, right? But there’s this, he’s very neutral, right?” That was what Junior had to say about the dirt racing sensation.
The veteran then shared how the great JJ and the JGR are similar in some aspects, saying, “Sort of similar to Jimmie Johnson in terms of personality. I know Jimmie Johnson is one kicka** dude, lots of fun to be around, wasn’t going to put that out there in front of the camera or when he’s working, he’s switched on you know. And he wasn’t going to be Jimmie Jam his alter ego, right? Christopher Bell probably has an alter ego, Christopher bada**, I dont know what it is. But he doesn’t share that, right?”
Mentioning how the JGR driver dissected his dismal Phoenix fallout, Dale Jr. said what most of the fandom wanted to say: “He needs to engage, right? That will help us not overlook him.”
C. Bell explains that he lets his mind speak, mentioning his role in Netflix’s NASCAR: Full Speed
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Only one driver has advanced to the Championship 4 both seasons in his two years of NASCAR Cup Series racing with the Next Gen race car, and that is Christopher Bell. The driver of the #20 JGR Toyota and legend on the dirt-racing scene, has spent much of his NASCAR Cup Series career flying under the radar, often at the front of the field but seldom getting his time in the spotlight.
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As shown in Netflix’s new docuseries, “NASCAR: Full Speed,” that doesn’t bother Bell even a tiny bit, as he’s scored three clutch playoff wins in the past two years to reach the title round. He was seen saying, “I’m very quiet, reserved. I keep to myself. I don’t want to be known for social media or known for doing dumb stuff. I want to be known for winning races. I haven’t won enough to be that guy yet. One day, I will.”
However, despite being a regular championship four entry, Bell was never looked at as a championship contender who had the caliber to pull it off. According to NASCAR sources, the driver opened up about his racing commitments, saying, “I was gonna make it happen, whether it was dirt-track racing or NASCAR racing. I didn’t even think it was going to be NASCAR racing. So, I was committed. Ever since I was in my early teens, I just wanted to be a race car driver.”
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