NASCAR driver Christopher Bell enters the 2026 season determined to turn near victories into historic wins, focusing on the Daytona 500 and a sustained campaign for the Cup Series title. After coming close but falling short in 2025, Bell is driven by the need for steadiness to bridge the gap between strong performance and championship success.
Bell’s 2025 season showed promise, delivering career-best numbers including four wins and 22 top-10 finishes, matching 2025 champion Kyle Larson in that category, and leading the series with an average finish of 11.2. Despite those statistics, Bell’s season did not pan out as he had hoped, beginning with a disappointing crash near the end of the iconic Daytona 500.
Near Misses at Daytona and Early Promise in 2025
The most painful setback came at the 68th running of the Daytona 500 on February 15, 2025, when Bell crashed on Lap 195. Though officially finishing 31st, Bell felt he was inches away from a breakthrough victory at Daytona International Speedway. Prior to that, Bell had claimed third place in the Daytona 500 in both 2023 and 2024, results that looked strong on paper but left him longing for a win on the high-speed oval.
“I was in position to win,”
Bell recalled.
“I was in the front of the pack and unfortunately got wrecked out. But it’s a place that anybody can win at any time. We’ve seen that over the years.”
— Christopher Bell, NASCAR driver
In response to missing out on the Daytona 500, Bell made a strong statement with a streak of three victories in a row, asserting himself as the driver to beat in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 car. However, the momentum slowed down after his March 10 win in Phoenix, as it took until September 13 at Bristol to notch his next victory, despite consistently finishing in the top 10 eleven times during that stretch.
“I’m proud of the 2025 season,”
Bell acknowledged.
“I just need to do a little bit better job of capitalizing on the opportunities that we have to win.”
— Christopher Bell, NASCAR driver
Growing Through Experience and Strong Team Support
At 31 years old, Bell is widely regarded as one of NASCAR’s premier young talents. Since capturing his first win on the Daytona road course in 2021—a track added during the Covid-19 pandemic—Bell has racked up a dozen victories, leading his notable 2020 rookie class. This group also features eight-time winner Tyler Reddick, while fellow rookie Cole Custer has yet to reach victory lane more than once.
Bell emphasizes that his achievements are closely linked to the formidable resources and leadership of Joe Gibbs Racing and its Hall of Fame owner. His success, he says, is not just individual but a product of great teamwork.
“In this sport, you’re only as good as the race car you’re in,”
Bell stated.
Personal Connections Fuel Determination
Hailing from Norman, Oklahoma, Bell draws inspiration from his hometown’s college football team, the Sooners, who faced setbacks of their own in 2025. Oklahoma earned a spot in the College Football Playoff after a turbulent period but suffered a crushing loss at home after leading Alabama 17-0 in the opening round.
“It’s been rough a little bit for us, but we had a pretty good season this year,”
Bell reflected.
“It’s kind of like me. We have to build on it and try and get a little bit better.”
— Christopher Bell, NASCAR driver
Bell sees that parallel as motivation to push forward and improve in pursuit of his goals on the track.
New NASCAR Playoff Format Favors Consistency
This year’s NASCAR postseason format has undergone significant changes, moving away from the elimination-style playoffs set in 2014 and reverting to a points-based Chase spanning 10 races. The series champion will now be the driver with the most points accumulated over this final stretch, starting with the top 16 drivers in regular season standings qualifying for the Chase.
With this system rewarding steady performance rather than single-race results alone, Bell’s consistent finishes position him well to contend for the championship.
Bell witnessed teammate Denny Hamlin’s championship hopes crumble under the old format despite a dominant 2025 season in which Hamlin won six races and looked favored at the season finale in Phoenix. A late caution interrupted Hamlin’s bid, ending his title chances.
“All of us thought that Denny did everything right to win the championship, and it just didn’t work out for him,”
Bell said.
“Hopefully we get on track to being able to reward the right guy for the championship.”
— Christopher Bell, NASCAR driver
Bell’s Ambition for a Daytona 500 Victory and Championship Run
With a renewed focus and a refined playoff format, Bell is determined to emerge as the rightful champion in coming seasons. He recognizes that the next chapter of his career will likely be defined by a breakthrough at the Daytona 500, one of NASCAR’s most prestigious events.
“Hopefully I get to continue writing my storybook here that I’ve got going on,”
Bell said.
“Hopefully I’m just getting started.”
— Christopher Bell, NASCAR driver
His outlook illustrates a calm yet resolute approach, aiming to transform near-misses into victories that could define a new era for his career and Joe Gibbs Racing.
