Christopher Bell, the accomplished driver of the No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing, will take part in the initial two nights of the 42nd annual Kings Royal sprint car event at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on July 16-17. This return to dirt track competition comes amid a packed <a href="https://www.big14news.com/nascar/”>NASCAR schedule that sees the Cup Series racing at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California before heading to Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware the following Sunday.
The Prestige of the Kings Royal Sprint Car Event
The Kings Royal is considered one of sprint car racing’s most celebrated and prestigious events, often compared to NASCAR’s landmark races like the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400. Bell, who built his racing career in sprint cars and midgets before becoming a regular Cup Series contender, expressed deep respect for the race’s status in the motorsports community.
“NASCAR has the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. Sprint car racing has the Kings Royal and the Knoxville Nationals. Those are always the big events,”
Bell said.
“The Kings Royal is a huge event and it’s always an honor to be a part of it, even if it’s only for the first two nights.”
Bell’s Teams, Sponsors, and Race Plans at Eldora
Bell will pilot the No. 69k 410 winged sprint car owned by Don Kreitz, Jr., a National Sprint Car Hall of Famer, throughout the Kings Royal’s opening nights. Known for its bright green colors, Interstate Batteries will prominently sponsor Bell’s car. The company has a longstanding relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing and has supported a range of motorsports disciplines over the years.
“Interstate Batteries’ commitment to motorsports is impressive,”
Bell noted.
“They’re synonymous with NASCAR because they’ve been with Joe Gibbs Racing since its beginning – 34 years and counting. But Interstate Batteries has been on dragsters, powerboats, bikes, sprint cars – all kinds of racing machines. To get a win at Eldora, and to do it with Interstate Batteries, would make for a heckuva night. They’ve bought a suite and they’re all coming in for the two nights I’m racing. Would love to be able to deliver for them.”
Bell’s Racing Journey and Versatility from Dirt to NASCAR
Christopher Bell’s success story includes 12 career NASCAR Cup Series wins, three of which occurred earlier this year, building his reputation as a formidable competitor. His racing career began in go-karts at age six and progressed through multiple USAC national touring divisions during his teenage years, competing in midget, Silver Crown, and sprint cars on both dirt and asphalt tracks.
“Dirt racing, for sure, gives you versatility, and you have to be versatile to be successful at it. You have to be good at adapting to ever-changing track conditions and the conditions the cars throw your way,”
Bell explained.
“That’s something I grew up with, just racing different disciplines, different styles of cars, and I think that’s translated to my NASCAR career, just being able to not get set in your ways, and racing with an open mind and knowing that sometimes different lanes are going to open up. You use different driving styles and techniques, and I do think that comes from my background.”
Returning to Dirt Racing to Sharpen Skills
Participating in the Kings Royal allows Bell to reconnect with the dirt track racing he knows well while enhancing his overall adaptability as a driver. He emphasizes that constant racing is key to maintaining peak performance and fitness, which differs significantly from traditional physical training.
“Racers race, and the more you race, the better you are,”
Bell said.
“You can go lift weights and run as much as you want, but being in that racing environment and focusing on the task at hand, it’s different – a lot different – and there’s no way you can prepare for it other than doing it.”
The Challenge and Excitement of the Kings Royal Competition
The Kings Royal spans four consecutive nights featuring top sprint car drivers from series like Kubota High Limit Racing and the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. While Bell would enjoy participating in the entire event, his NASCAR responsibilities limit him to the $12,000 Double Down Duels on Wednesday and the $100,000 Joker’s Jackpot on Thursday. He will observe the remaining events, including the $25,000 Knight Before race on Friday and the $200,000 Kings Royal final on Saturday, from his motorcoach at Dover, with all races livestreamed on DirtVision.
“Eldora is just an amazing facility,”
Bell shared.
“It has a ton of history and it’s been around forever. It’s just a special place.”
Bell’s History of Success at Eldora
Christopher Bell’s winning history at Eldora stretches back nearly a decade. His first victory at the venue was not in a sprint car, but in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the clay oval in 2015, driving a Toyota Tundra. He followed that by winning both the USAC Midget and Silver Crown features at the 4-Crown Nationals later that year. His sprint car success at Eldora started with a 360 winged sprint car victory in the 2016 Johnny Appleseed Classic’s NRA Sprint Invaders segment. Bell continued his winning streak with The Knight Before race in 2017 and secured his latest Eldora triumph in 2018 during the track’s season finale, #LastCallForThemAll. His recent wins have come driving with the World of Outlaws.
Unique Demands of Sprint Car Racing According to Bell
Bursting with intensity, sprint car racing requires pure driver skill without room for error. Bell, who has six World of Outlaws feature wins, described the sport’s demanding nature and the driver’s responsibility behind the wheel once the race begins.
“Sprint car racing is just so real and raw and true. You can’t fake it,”
Bell emphasized.
“You’ve got to qualify well and you’ve got to race well. There are no pit stops. It’s just the driver and the car once it’s on the track. You still have a team. You have a crew chief and mechanics who work on the car, but it’s all really in your hands, and you can’t fake your way around a sprint car, that’s for sure.”
Bell’s Upcoming Racing Schedule and Broadcast Information
Christopher Bell’s challenging week of racing begins Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EDT with the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway’s 1.99-mile road course, broadcast live on TNT and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. His Eldora events, the Double Down Duels on Wednesday and the Joker’s Jackpot on Thursday, will be livestreamed on FloRacing starting at 6 p.m., with the Joker’s Jackpot also airing live on FS1 at 7 p.m. Bell’s NASCAR campaign continues next Sunday with the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway, set to start at 2 p.m. EDT with live coverage on TNT and SiriusXM.
