Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing’s #20 driver out of Oklahoma, enters the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series with his sights set firmly on the ultimate prize: the championship. After back-to-back appearances in the Championship Four in 2022 and 2023, Bell’s confidence is sky-high, and he’s not afraid to announce his ambitions. Ability oozes from Bell, and his recent declaration to Fox serves as a battle cry for the season that potentially lies ahead at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Bell’s ambition isn’t fueled by mere bravado. A solid foundation of talent and an environment of experience surround him. His growing synergy with crew chief Adam Stevens has the #20 team humming with potential. Moreover, long gone are Bell’s rookie days. He’s now a seasoned contender who craves consistency, and his fifth year in the Cup Series warrants exactly that.

Christopher Bell Rings the Alarm for a Championship 4 Spot

The 29-year-old isn’t playing coy about his aspirations, making it clear that he’s not just aiming to compete, he’s aiming to conquer. His recent conversation with Fox’s Bob Pockrass reveals a mindset brimming with confidence and a healthy dose of self-belief. When talking about his chances at making the final four ‘every year’, his response to Pockrass was a resounding, “Watch me, Bob! Watch me!” 

Pockrass probed further, asking if the pressure of expectation weighed heavily after his back-to-back final four appearances with JGR in ’21 and ’22. Bell’s answer was insightful, to say the least. He explained, “I definitely feel that way at least for myself… I don’t think the media thinks that. They probably… I don’t know, think I’m just another guy out there, but certainly for me, myself, and the 20 team. I believe that we should be in the Championship 4 every year.” 

The fiery driver went on to emphasize, “You know, circumstances are very hard to get there [Championship 4]. So, I am proud of the fact that we’ve gotten there two years in a row but I expect to be in title contention every year.”

This particular sentiment revealed a crucial aspect of Bell’s character. His confidence is not just fueled by external validation but by an internal drive for constant evolution. Furthermore, he doesn’t see the final 4 as a distant dream, but as a rightful destination, a place where he and his team thrive.

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Nevertheless, Bell’s 2024 season hit an unexpected speed bump at the Clash at the Coliseum. Rain and bad weather forced the organizers to move up the Clash, catching a few teams off guard. Unfortunately, Bell and his #20 Joe Gibbs Racing team weren’t among the 22 qualifiers, making him the first JGR driver to miss the Clash in the event’s brief three-year history. Ironically teammate Denny Hamlin cruised to his 4th Clash victory with a solid split-second victory over Kyle Busch (P2) and Ryan Blaney (P3).

While this setback might raise eyebrows, this could have been an opportunity to quietly focus on the Daytona 500 for the JGR driver. Superspeedway races like Daytona are notorious for their unpredictability, but Bell’s past performances offer promising glimpses. He finished 16th and 3rd in the two Daytona races of 2023, and his record across other superspeedways like Talladega and Atlanta boasts three top-10 finishes in the last two seasons.

These stats paint a picture of a driver comfortable in the chaos, capable of navigating the draft and avoiding the big wrecks in the new Next Gen car. However, Daytona throws its own curveballs. Bell himself admitted as per The Oklahoman recently, “I don’t think anybody feels super-comfortable at Daytona.” Only time will tell if Bell can silence the doubters and navigate the unpredictable waters of the 500 to claim his first Daytona victory. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled, because when the green flag drops at Daytona, Bell might just surprise everyone and prove that sometimes, the quietest engines roar the loudest.

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