Christopher Bell began his 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season with a strong impression, including a remarkable three-race winning streak in March. However, since then, his campaign has been inconsistent, marked by some top-5 finishes but without a return to Victory Lane. Kevin Harvick expressed concerns over Bell’s ongoing challenges, pointing to a lack of consistent performance both from Bell and the wider Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) team as they try to maintain championship momentum.
Bell’s recent results reveal this up-and-down pattern clearly. He secured a fifth-place finish at Sonoma Raceway, ending a string of lower finishes that saw him place 24th, 30th, and 17th in his three prior races. Earlier in the season, Bell had a strong runner-up finish in Mexico City but followed with moderate finishes of 16th in Nashville and 10th in Michigan. Currently, Bell sits sixth in the Cup Series standings with 597 points, a respectable position but lower than expected after his impressive start.
In-Depth Look at Bell’s Performance and JGR’s Challenges
On the Happy Hour podcast, Harvick dissected Bell’s recent form, emphasizing that although Bell showed promise at Sonoma, his race was not devoid of difficulties.
“Even at this race, it had some rocky moments with spinning out and everything,”
Harvick said.
“But yeah, he had a fast car, and I think when you look back to COTA, we obviously know that he’s a good road racer.”
Harvick then assessed the performance of the entire JGR team at Sonoma. While Denny Hamlin appeared off his usual pace, the other JGR drivers, including Bell, demonstrated solid performance and competitiveness near the front of the pack.
“I think all the Gibbs cars, Hamlin seemed like he was out to lunch this week, but it seemed like the other three Gibbs cars were solid and running up front. Christopher Bell was one of those.”
Comparing Bell and William Byron’s Season Patterns
Harvick also drew comparisons between Bell and William Byron, suggesting that both drivers have a recurring pattern of strong season starts followed by unpredictable stretches in the middle of the year.
“So, I still just, it’s like William Byron. I believe that Christopher Bell and William Byron, they go through this same streak every year of starting off strong, off in the middle, and you never know what’s going to show up at the end of the year.”
Despite acknowledging Bell’s talent and solid outings, Harvick remains cautious about declaring a turning point for Bell’s season.
“It was a solid run. But they haven’t been consistently solid. If you’re gonna win these championships, you gotta be able to find that consistency of when you’re having an off day, not have it be a catastrophe.”
Implications for the Rest of the NASCAR Season
Kevin Harvick’s remarks underscore the critical challenge Christopher Bell and Joe Gibbs Racing face in sustaining both pace and consistency throughout the season. While Bell has shown he can compete at the top level, his inconsistent results raise questions about his ability to maintain championship contention. As the season progresses, Bell’s ability to minimize mishaps and deliver steady finishes will be key for JGR’s title ambitions and his personal pursuit of success in the NASCAR Cup Series.
