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via Imago

via Imago

In the scorching Arizona desert, the Cup Series faithful descended upon the final and most awaited stop of the 2023 season calendar. This was it, the grand culmination where the championship crown would find its deserving owner. It was a high-stakes battle, and emotions were running at an all-time high.

Championship contenders and non-playoff drivers alike were feverishly jockeying for positions on the track. In this adrenaline-fueled spectacle, the last thing anyone hoped for was a mechanical issue with the car. That nightmare unfolded for one unfortunate soul, Joe Gibbs‘s sole championship contender, Christopher Bell, who had clawed his way to the final race, only to pack his bags before even reaching the halfway point.

Christopher Bell and Joe Gibbs’ Championship hopes shattered by brake rotor betrayal

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Christopher Bell, Toyota’s sole hope in the championship hunt, seemed poised to seize his first title. Qualifying in 13th, Bell made steady progress through stage 1 and the initial laps of stage 2, finding himself running 5th amidst the fierce competition of the final 4 contenders.

But heartbreak loomed ahead for the 28-year-old driver. As Bell hurtled into Turn 3, disaster struck. A brake rotor exploded, tearing his car apart, and his championship aspirations crumbled before his eyes.

While the #20 garage was left mending their shattered dreams, off-track drama took center stage. Digging into the past, it was Daniel Suarez‘s  fiancée who took to Twitter in a heated, one-word snub aimed squarely at Bell: “karma.” 

This feud had its roots at the Charlotte Roval when the two drivers locked horns on the track. Their clash left Suarez declaring, “I won’t make his life easy,” after their incident at the Charlotte road course. Bell had run into the back of Suarez as they battled for 11th place. Bell had attempted to make amends by reaching out to Suarez, but tensions remained high, though he had an inkling that payback might be on the horizon.

Minutes after Bell faced doom at the Phoenix raceway, Suarez’s fiancée posted the “karma” tweet, she wisely decided to make her Twitter account private, perhaps anticipating the storm she had stirred. However, the fans were far from done with the ordeal. They took to Twitter in droves, fervently defending the Joe Gibbs Racing speedster.

WATCH THIS STORY: NASCAR fans savagely trash Denny Hamlin for wrecking himself at Sonoma

NASCAR fans unleash fury as drama unfolds with Championship underdog sidelined

The NASCAR community exploded on Twitter with comments as the high-stakes championship battle took an unexpected nosedive for the #20 team, and emotions ran wild. Many fans didn’t mince their words when responding to Suarez’s fiancée, who is also the daughter of three-time F1 world champion, Nelson Piquet.

One commenter criticized her response, calling it “Classless.” Another, not necessarily a Christopher Bell fan, still found her comment excessive, stating, “I’m not a Bell fan per se, but that’s over the line!”  Several fans questioned the validity of her “karma” remark, considering the incident between the duo had divided opinions on who to blame.

One fan argued, “How’s that karma? Her fiancé is a mid-pack mid-talent driver. Bell barely even touched him there.” Another fan expressed concern, noting, “Something about that feels like it’s not building any good karma.”

The irony of the tweet, in light of the subsequent backlash, was not lost on many fans. As a fan pointed out the now unavailable tweet, The tweet said “Karma.” And a more casual, dismissive remark came in the form of “lol chime back out, girl.”

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2023 appeared to be the year of the comeback for the Joe Gibbs stable, following a couple of lackluster seasons. However, as the season progressed, the final leg of the year proved to be a rocky road for them as their championship dreams remained elusive.

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JGR stalwarts, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr were forced out of contention after an intense battle at Martinsville, just last weekend. It was a bitter blow for the team as their sole hope for championship glory, Bell, failed to even cross the checkered flag.

Read more: “Disrespecting Christopher Bell” – Dale Jarrett Doesn’t Disagree as Joe Gibbs’s Final Hope Completely Neglected by Bettors