Picking one’s favorites before a race is something a lot of people like doing, and veteran NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass is no exception. The only issue with his picks is that they are rarely ever right – at least that’s what Christopher Bell thinks. So after the Joe Gibbs Racing star won the Cup Series race in Phoenix on Sunday, he was not surprised to hear that the veteran journalist had not picked him. Furthermore, Bell asked him to not choose his name for the next race at Bristol.

The conversation drew a laugh out of Bob Pockrass as well who knew very well what the driver of the #20 was talking about. He may be one of the most respected journalists in the motorsports world today, but getting it right with race winners? That just might not be his thing. It made for a hilarious moment at the press conference after the Phoenix race as the other reporters burst into laughter, hearing their conversation.

It was Christopher Bell who initiated it when he looked at the FOX journalist and asked, “Bob, Christopher Bell, NASCAR driver. Did you pick me today?” When Pockrass said that he did not, the JGR star had the biggest smile of anyone as he went on to expose one of the few weaknesses the veteran reporter has. “Bob’s picks are notoriously the worst. If he picks you, or at least me, if he picks me, I don’t win,” he said.

Pockrass then revealed that he picked the #20 for the win the week before in Las Vegas, but on that occasion, Bell could only manage a P33 finish. This proved his point, and the Joe Gibbs Racing star, who seemed to be coming out of his shell a little, did not hesitate to ask the veteran reporter not to pick him for the next race. “I know and I sucked…don’t pick me next week, Bob,” he added.

Speaking more of the Phoenix race, the biggest talking point was the new aero package that NASCAR developed to improve short-track racing. As the first race winner with the new package, Christopher Bell had mixed reviews.

Christopher Bell reveals mixed feelings towards aero package after race win

The Joe Gibbs Racing star acknowledged that there was a difference from a driving standpoint and that was evident, given how he was passing everyone on track to go on and win, eventually. However, something that still needs to be worked on is how the car runs in traffic. The driver of the #20 also admitted that the package favored his newer tires towards the end of the race, which allowed him to pass as many cars as he did.

“It was different. I don’t think that it was any better in traffic. It drove different. The car handled significantly different. I’m sure that the racing probably didn’t look much better, but it was different inside the car,” he said as per On3. “I mean, the package that we had really liked the new tires, so it was good for me and bad for other people. I’m going to say that it was great and other people are going to say it wasn’t very good. Yeah, I mean, the racing probably in my eyes wasn’t much different than what we’ve had in the past.”

Next weekend’s race at Bristol will be an interesting watch with the new package as it is a true short track. However, things will not be easy and if Bob Pockrass picks Christopher Bell as the race winner, then it will be interesting to see how his race plays out.

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