[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] made the Championship 4 in the last two years, but mistakes by his pit crew and a blown brake rotor ended his chances of winning his first NASCAR Cup Series title. Bell and Joe Gibbs Racing knew they needed to up their performance at Phoenix Raceway, the site of NASCAR’s championship race, and they did just that on Sunday afternoon.
Bell dominated the Cup Series race at Phoenix en route to the largest margin of victory in the NextGen car era. It only tops Bell’s win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2022. In other words, the No. 20 car didn’t just find the speed it needed at Phoenix. It was the most dominant car Bell has likely ever had in his Cup Series career.
That should be scary for the competition. Bell has stepped up to the plate when it matters the most in the playoffs, but he and crew chief Adam Stevens have been adamant that the No. 20 team’s potential has not been met. Stevens knows that his driver can unlock more speed and vice versa. Bell has been underrated for the last two years because of this fact.
REPOST TO CONGRATULATE CHRISTOPHER BELL ON HIS WIN AT PHOENIX RACEWAY! pic.twitter.com/LoPydaNJqI
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 10, 2024
The No. 20 team has been a consistent force in the Cup Series but has lacked the speed to dominate an event. On Sunday afternoon, that changed. Bell hasn’t run this well at a track this early in the season since joining Joe Gibbs Racing. The No. 20 team members have all said the potential is there for a major breakout. A breakout after two Championship 4 seasons?
That is the case, and we may be watching the beginning of it. Bell has become the face of Joe Gibbs Racing, and with that comes the confidence needed to succeed. Bell and Stevens found the speed to combine with the confidence at Phoenix. Now, a multi-win regular season could be on the way, and Phoenix might be the first indication that Bell has finally arrived as a dominant driver.
[lawrence-related id=8573]