Second time around, Bell’s feeling better prepared for NASCAR’s title showdown

Christopher Bell heads into the NASCAR Cup Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway feeling more relaxed and prepared compared to last year. Clinching his spot in the Championship 4 has been a different experience this time around, and Bell attributes his improved mindset to the extra time he has had to prepare for the crucial race.

In contrast to last year, where he was below the cutline and needed a must-win scenario at Martinsville Speedway, Bell secured his spot two weeks ago with a victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He is the only Joe Gibbs Racing driver and Toyota Camry representative in the final four, just like last year.

However, the path to the championship race has been less stressful for Bell this time. In 2022, he entered the elimination race at Martinsville Speedway over 30 points below the cutline and had to win to advance. And win he did, securing his second walk-off victory.

Winning at Homestead-Miami Speedway was a dramatic turnaround for Bell and his No. 20 team, who had to wrestle with an ill-handling car and track position earlier in the day. This victory came after a near miss in Las Vegas, where Bell finished second to Kyle Larson despite starting from the pole and leading 61 laps.

During the Round of 8, Bell consistently performed well with an average finish of 3.3 and three top-10 finishes. He flew under the radar at Martinsville Speedway last weekend, sealing his spot in the championship race.

Reflecting on last year’s experience, Bell emphasizes the team’s competitiveness despite their challenges. Despite not qualifying or practicing well, they were still in contention during the final pit stops of the championship race. This year, Bell expects to be more competitive and believes that the race outcome is unpredictable until the checkered flag falls.

Bell finished sixth at Phoenix Raceway in the spring, and he hopes for a different result this time as he vies for the Cup Series championship.