Tag: Christopher Bell

Christopher Bell’s dominant win at Phoenix indicates a breakout year in 2024

Christopher Bell’s win at Phoenix indicates a breakout year could be on the way, despite making the Championship 4 the last two years.

[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.

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.

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Christopher Bell talks about his dominant victory at Phoenix in 2024

Christopher Bell talks about his dominant victory at Phoenix Raceway in 2024. Find out what Bell had to say about his first win this season!

When NASCAR Cup Series practice ended at Phoenix Raceway on Friday afternoon, the entire garage knew [autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] would be the driver to beat on Sunday. Bell started Stage 1 with some struggles, but after the first pit stop, the No. 20 car was on rails. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver rallied to win Stage 2 and then won the race by over five seconds.

Following his dominant victory at Phoenix, Bell got out of his car, stood on the roof, and talked about the piece crew chief Adam Stevens gave him. Like many others, Bell knew the type of car he had on Sunday afternoon.

“Man, this one feels really good,” Bell said. Just a credit to [Adam Stevens], man. Adam, my engineers, my crew chief, all the mechanics on this thing. You don’t get cars like that very often, as you know. Just super, super proud. Proud to be on this 20 car. This Rheem Camry was amazing today. I feel like we have capability of running races like this a lot. Hopefully this is the first of many this year.”

If Bell and the No. 20 team perform like they did on Sunday afternoon, this will be the first of many wins. It was a dominant performance and officially ranks as the most significant margin of victory in the NextGen car era. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver really flexed his muscles at Phoenix, and he hopes to be in position to do it again in the Championship 4 for a third straight year.

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Bell’s Phoenix win ‘momentous’ for Toyota – TRD’s Wilson

Any questions or concerns about the Toyota teams evaporated in the Phoenix desert Sunday afternoon. Christopher Bell’s victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race capped off a dominating day for the manufacturer. Bell led 50 laps en route to winning, the …

Any questions or concerns about the Toyota teams evaporated in the Phoenix desert Sunday afternoon.

Christopher Bell’s victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race capped off a dominating day for the manufacturer. Bell led 50 laps en route to winning, the first for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota in 2024. Chevrolet already swept the first three races.

Bell, though, was just one of five Toyota drivers who spent time in the front, along with polesitter Denny Hamlin, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr., and Ty Gibbs — all combining to lead 298 of 312 laps.

“This was a momentous win,” Toyota Racing Development president David Wilson said. “This was the first win with our new Camry body. I was clear to say at the beginning of the year that we have struggled here recently. I didn’t realize this statistic until it was brought to my attention, but the four previous Phoenix races, Toyota’s led a combined 15 laps.

“Today, we led everything but 14 laps. That’s a credit to the Joe Gibbs organization, TRD USA, Calty Design, who helped us with this new Camry body. At the same time, I will say that the secret to longevity in sports — in motorsports — is never get too high when the day goes your way, and never get too low when it doesn’t, because we’re going to be racing again next week. Phoenix will be in our rearview mirror.”

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Four Toyota drivers finished inside the top 10 at Phoenix Raceway, led by Bell’s win. Hamlin and Reddick tied for a race-high 68 laps led.

Hamlin was taken out of contention when he spun on lap 215 while battling for the lead with Reddick. He finished 11th. As for Reddick, he never made it back through the field after pitting under the final caution (for Hamlin) while nine other drivers stayed out, and ultimately finished 10th.

Reddick, however, earned the first stage win for Toyota at Phoenix. Hamlin earned the manufacturer’s first pole during Saturday’s qualifying session.

“It was unprecedented how much TRD USA and Joe Gibbs Racing worked together on that body,” Wilson said. “I may have said, because I say this all the time — you don’t race wind tunnels, you don’t race dynos. You could be the best on paper, but unless you have the talent behind the steering wheel and the team and the pit crews to put an entire race together, the rest is meaningless.

“Certainly, what we’ve seen four races in validates a lot of our optimism, but we have a whole lot of racing to go — more intermediates, more big tracks, and short tracks to truly evaluate where we are.”

Through four races, Cup Series teams have competed at two superspeedway drafting tracks (Daytona and Atlanta), an intermediate (Las Vegas), and a short track (Phoenix), with another short track coming next week when the series heads to Bristol. The final puzzle piece — a road course — is just two weeks away at Circuit of The Americas.

Bell reigns for JGR at Phoenix after clawing back from slow stop

Christopher Bell didn’t dominate Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway but flexed the muscle of his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry when it mattered to take the victory. Bell crossed the finish line first by over 5s on Chris Buescher. The No. 20 Toyota …

Christopher Bell didn’t dominate Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway but flexed the muscle of his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry when it mattered to take the victory.

Bell crossed the finish line first by over 5s on Chris Buescher. The No. 20 Toyota took the lead for the final time with 41 laps to go when teammate Martin Truex Jr. made his final pit stop under green flag conditions. Once back out front, Bell went unchallenged for his first victory of the season.

“This one feels really good,” Bell said. “Just a credit to Adam [Stevens, crew chief]. Adam, my engineers, my crew chief, all the mechanics on this thing… You don’t get cars like that very often, as you know. Just super, super proud. Proud to be on this No. 20 car.

“This Rheem Camry was amazing today. I feel like we have capability of running races like this a lot. Hopefully this is the first of many this year.”

Bell was able to cycle to the front of the field when the field split pit strategy under the lap 215 caution flag. Truex stayed out on track with nine other drivers and inherited the race lead, but Bell and most of the leaders opted for tires and had a car fast enough to drive back through the field.

The victory capped off an up-and-down day for the No. 20. He started 13th and finished the first stage in the same position. Bell took the lead for the first time on lap 181 and won the second stage, however he lost his track position when the team had a slow stop under the caution break. Michael Hicks, the right rear tire changer, took extra time to make sure the lug nut was tight before going around to change the left side tire.

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Bell was 20th when the race restarted for the final time before making another march through the field and led 50 laps en route to winning.

Sunday was the first victory for Toyota in the Cup Series this season.

Buescher and Ty Gibbs rounded out the top three finishers. Brad Keselowski finished fourth, and Ryan Blaney finished fifth.

Ross Chastain finished sixth, Martin Truex Jr., seventh, Michael McDowell, eighth, Chase Briscoe, ninth and Tyler Reddick, who won the first stage, 10th.

 

Denny Hamlin finished 11th after starting from the pole and leading 68 laps, tied for a race-high with Reddick. However, Hamlin brought out the final caution when he spun from the race lead on lap 215 while battling underneath Reddick in Turns 1 and 2.

There were 21 drivers on the lead lap at the end of Sunday’s race. Kyle Busch was the first driver one lap down after struggling with his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Busch qualified 31st and spun on his own on lap 196 off Turn 2.

Four drivers failed to finish the Shriners Children 500. Austin Cindric was the first driver to exit the race after being caught in a multi-car crash on lap 6 when Derek Kraus spun, and Cindric was run into from behind by Austin Dillon.

Corey LaJoie, Joey Logano, and Kraus exited the race after crashing on lap 205. Logano was hit from behind by John Hunter Nemechek and spun across the racetrack in Turns 1 and 2 and collected LaJoie and Kraus.

Toyota went three-for-three at Phoenix Raceway with victories in the ARCA Menards Series, Xfinity Series and Cup Series. Toyota drivers combined to lead 298 of 312 laps in the Cup race.

RESULTS

Christopher Bell wins Cup Series race at Phoenix, full results and race recap

Christopher Bell wins the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. Check out the full results, race recap from Phoenix!

The NASCAR Cup Series arrived at Phoenix Raceway with a lot of unknowns. NASCAR introduced a new short-track package to increase the passing and competitiveness. At the end of the day, the race for the finish wasn’t competitive as a Joe Gibbs Racing driver dominated the Cup Series field at Phoenix.

[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] won the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix by over six seconds. Bell had the best car during the event and won Stage 2 after catching Tyler Reddick. In Stage 1, Reddick passed Ty Gibbs with a few laps remaining. Starting in Stage 2, Bell had the best car. This is the driver of the No. 20 car’s first victory of the season.

Bell will carry this momentum into Bristol Motor Speedway, another great track for him. He struggled in the last two races but knocked the monkey off his back at Phoenix. If Bell can keep this up on short tracks, this could be the first of two straight wins.

Shriners Children’s 500 finishing order:

  1. No. 20 Christopher Bell
  2. No. 17 Chris Buescher
  3. No. 54 Ty Gibbs
  4. No. 6 Brad Keselowski
  5. No. 12 Ryan Blaney
  6. No. 1 Ross Chastain
  7. No. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
  8. No. 34 Michael McDowell
  9. No. 14 Chase Briscoe
  10. No. 45 Tyler Reddick
  11. No. 11 Denny Hamlin
  12. No. 10 Noah Gragson
  13. No. 99 Daniel Suarez
  14. No. 5 Kyle Larson
  15. No. 77 Carson Hocevar
  16. No. 23 Bubba Wallace
  17. No. 38 Todd Gilliland
  18. No. 24 William Byron
  19. No. 9 Chase Elliott
  20. No. 48 Alex Bowman
  21. No. 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
  22. No. 8 Kyle Busch
  23. No. 41 Ryan Preece
  24. No. 51 Justin Haley
  25. No. 42 John Hunter Nemechek
  26. No. 4 Josh Berry
  27. No. 21 Harrison Burton
  28. No. 31 Daniel Hemric
  29. No. 71 Zane Smith
  30. No. 15 Kaz Grala
  31. No. 43 Erik Jones
  32. No. 3 Austin Dillon
  33. No. 7 Corey LaJoie
  34. No. 22 Joey Logano
  35. No. 16 Derek Kraus
  36. No. 2 Austin Cindric

Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell give Toyota optimism for 2024 Daytona 500

Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell give Toyota optimism for the 2024 Daytona 500 after winning their qualifying duels on Thursday.

Toyota had some slight concerns after the 2024 Daytona 500 single-lap qualifying session. Erik Jones was the highest Toyota driver in 22nd place, while Jimmie Johnson, who needed to qualify for the show, didn’t have enough speed. However, the typical “qualify bad and race good” mantra continued into 2024 with the new Toyota bodies.

[autotag]Tyler Reddick[/autotag] won the 60-lap shootout in the first qualifying duel, while Johnson secured a spot in the Daytona 500 on the final lap. It was a fun and dramatic ending, showing Toyota’s strength during the races. That carried over to the second qualifying duel after [autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] passed teammate Denny Hamlin on the final lap for the victory.

After qualifying, people were concerned over Toyota’s speed, but the duels have given the manufacturer some optimism. The new bodies are still prepared for racing conditions, and based on Thursday night, the manufacturer might be the favorite. It was an excellent night to be a member of Toyota, and the hope for them is the speed translates to Sunday.

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Christopher Bell wins second Daytona 500 duel, full results and race recap

Christopher Bell wins the second Daytona 500 qualifying duel in 2024. Check out the full results and race recap for Duel No. 2.

[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] hopes his second race of the week at Daytona International Speedway will go as well as the first. On Thursday night, Bell’s last-lap pass on teammate Denny Hamlin propelled him to victory at the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 at DAYTONA. It is the first qualifying duel win of the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s NASCAR Cup Series career.

Also, Kaz Grala has joined Jimmie Johnson as the other open car to secure a spot in the 2024 Daytona 500. If not for a late caution, B.J. McLeod likely would have made the show, as Grala lost the draft. Unfortunately for McLeod, he was involved in the accident and couldn’t pass Grala in time. However, The No. 78 team did impress after running in the top-5 spots.

As for Bell, he will start in fourth place. The rest of the results will go in order on the outside of the Daytona 500 starting lineup. If the Daytona 500 qualifying duels indicate what’s coming next, we are in for a treat.

Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 at DAYTONA finishing order:

  1. No. 20 Christopher Bell
  2. No. 2 Austin Cindric
  3. No. 11 Denny Hamlin
  4. No. 42 John Hunter Nemechek
  5. No. 21 Harrison Burton
  6. No. 71 Zane Smith
  7. No. 6 Brad Keselowski
  8. No. 24 William Byron
  9. No. 14 Chase Briscoe
  10. No. 51 Justin Haley
  11. No. 23 Bubba Wallace
  12. No. 36 Kaz Grala *LOCKED*
  13. No. 16 A.J. Allmendinger
  14. No. 78 B.J. McLeod *MISSED*
  15. No. 60 David Ragan
  16. No. 34 Michael McDowell
  17. No. 4 Josh Berry
  18. No. 12 Ryan Blaney
  19. No. 8 Kyle Busch
  20. No. 15 Riley Herbst
  21. No. 10 Noah Gragson

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Christopher Bell’s schedule, paint scheme for Rheem in 2024 revealed

Christopher Bell’s’s schedule and paint scheme for Rheem in 2024 has been revealed. Check out Bell’s paint scheme and schedule for 2024!

[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] needs a fresh start. After losing in the Championship 4 the last two seasons due to things outside his wheelhouse, Bell needs a reset as he enters the 2024 NASCAR season, and Rheem has provided a good spark. On Wednesday afternoon, Joe Gibbs Racing revealed Rheem’s new paint scheme and schedule for the No. 20 team.

Bell’s paint scheme is transitioning away from the classic red, black, and white number look in favor of a black and white paint scheme. The No. 20 is black with a red outline, which is unique. Rheem will be on the car for 14 races, including the Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400, Southern 500, and the Cup Series debut at Iowa Speedway.

This was an unexpected reveal by Joe Gibbs Racing, as the Rheem paint scheme hasn’t undergone many changes. Now, Bell has a new, slick paint scheme that will help him have a mini-reset ahead of the 2024 NASCAR season. It may not be the traditional red and black; however, Bell will still look fast in his new Rheem Toyota Camry,

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Christopher Bell’s schedule, paint scheme for DEWALT in 2024 revealed

Christopher Bell’s’s schedule and paint scheme for DEWALT in 2024 has been revealed. Check out Bell’s paint scheme and schedule for 2024!

[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag]’s last two seasons have resulted in Championship 4 appearances, but he hasn’t claimed the NASCAR Cup Series title yet. In 2024, Bell will welcome a familiar face to the No. 20 car that has been instrumental in his journey to success over the last two years. On Friday afternoon, Joe Gibbs Racing revealed DEWALT’s paint scheme and schedule for 2024.

DEWALT will sponsor Bell in 13 of the 38 races during the 2024 NASCAR season, including the Daytona 500, Bristol Night Race, and championship event at Phoenix Raceway. In 2023, Bell was sponsored by DEWALT in his first win of the season at Bristol Dirt. The driver of the No. 20 car also had sponsorship from the company on his Championship 4 entry.

Overall, Bell’s paint scheme for the 2024 season looks good, and that is a solid start for a competitor looking to break through for more success. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver believes there is more room for improvement during the overall season, and DEWALT will be a part of his journey for 13 critical races in 2024.

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Christopher Bell’s 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season in review

Christopher Bell had a consistent year with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Here, you can check out Bell’s 2023 season in review!

[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] performed well when it mattered for a second straight year and that alone is enough for a successful 36-race stretch overall. Bell ended the season with two wins, 10 top-5 finishes, and 19 top-10 finishes. Unfortunately for the driver of the No. 20 car, he never had a true opportunity at the championship after losing his brakes at Phoenix Raceway.

Bell won at Bristol Dirt and Homestead-Miami Speedway with the latter being the reason for a second straight berth in the Championship 4. He was consistent all year but never was able to reach his full potential. Bell had three straight top-7 finishes leading into the finale while closing out the year with 599 laps led (sixth best) and a 12.9 average finishing position (fourth best).

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver did struggle for a 16-race stretch starting at Kansas Speedway. Over those 16 events, Bell only had one top-5 finish and five top-10 finishes. He showed plenty of speed in a majority of those races but was unable to finish them out well due to crashes or mistakes on pit road. Luckily for the No. 20 team, it changed when the 2023 playoffs arrived.

If Bell wants to make the Championship 4 for a third straight season and win the title, he and the No. 20 team will need to limit mistakes overall. Bell has the potential to win more than two races and contend more often; however, it needs to be a team effort. Bell can become a true title threat every year but the mistakes simply need to disappear for that to happen more consistently.

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