Christopher Bell addressed speculation surrounding his future and team lineup during a media session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway ahead of the upcoming race. The driver clarified that there are no new updates regarding the 2025 season, putting to rest recent rumors as part of the latest Christopher Bell NASCAR update.
Last year, Bell accidentally revealed Chase Briscoe‘s move to Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) for 2025, sparking considerable buzz in the NASCAR world about who would eventually replace Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19 car. That announcement forced JGR to make a formal confirmation shortly afterward. Returning to NHMS this year, Bell humorously referenced his previous slip-up while confirming he had no further announcements to share.
Entering the NASCAR playoffs, Bell is positioned well as the fourth seed in the Round of 8, holding a 20-point lead over the cutoff line.
A Tradition of Victories and Gigantic Lobsters at New Hampshire
Since 2010, winners at New Hampshire Motor Speedway have celebrated their victories with the unique prize of a massive lobster named Loudon. Christopher Bell, who first triumphed at NHMS in 2022 and repeated his success in 2024, is familiar with this quirky accolade. Following last year’s triumph, he was presented with an even larger lobster, which he gratefully accepted.
“This is bigger than my first one! For sure. This is a massive guy. Thank you. Let’s do this again next year.”
– Christopher Bell, NASCAR Driver
Challenging Victory at Bristol and Praise for Team Effort
Bell’s success continued as he secured the final race win in the Round of 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway, helping JGR sweep that playoff segment. The victory came despite a chaotic race that included 14 caution flags and widespread tire wear issues. The demanding race conditions did not deter Bell or his team, showing their resilience and preparation.
Reflecting on JGR and Toyota’s performance leading up to NHMS, Bell emphasized the hard work and dedication behind their recent achievements, highlighting the collaborative effort between the racing team and Toyota’s development group.
“It’s pretty impressive. I don’t think any of us expected the Round of 16 to start the way that it did. But, I mean it’s just the credit to Joe Gibbs Racing folks, Toyota, and Toyota Racing Development, and it’s not an overnight thing. It’s a lot of effort put in by a lot of different people that have gave us the performance that we have. And then, once you have that performance it comes down to the teams executing the races, and doing the right things.”
– Christopher Bell, NASCAR Driver
Bell’s Position Among Championship Contenders
Christopher Bell remains a strong contender for the NASCAR title this season, standing alongside teammates Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe as formidable challengers. His consistent performance and key victories reflect his determination and focus as the playoffs intensify.
His calm handling of rumors ahead of the New Hampshire race suggests a concentrated focus on racing rather than off-track distractions, as he looks to capitalize on his momentum and contribute further to Joe Gibbs Racing’s success.
NHMS presents Christopher Bell with his lobster for winning here last year: pic.twitter.com/J2dzrAfkuH
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) September 20, 2025
