Christopher Bell, driving the #20 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing, broke his stage win drought at the AutoTrader EcoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway on July 20, 2025. Despite encountering two spins during the 400-mile race, Bell managed to avoid severe damage and secured a vital stage victory.
Bell qualified well, earning a third-place starting position just behind teammate Chase Briscoe. During the first stage, he improved to second place following Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, ultimately taking the lead in stage two to claim the win and end his dry spell in stage points.
Spins Challenge Bell but Stage Win Reflects Strong Pace
Bell’s race was marked by intense battles, including an early duel for the lead with Chase Elliott in the third stage, where he spun on the very first lap. Later, with only eight laps remaining, Bell was spun again but skillfully avoided further incidents or wrecks. Despite the setbacks, his speed remained notable throughout the race.
“Yeah, it’s just refreshing to have speed again. You know, we haven’t had pace. And today we were able to lead laps, get stage points, won a stage. So, that is something that I’m super excited about and proud of. Even though I made mistakes and I spun out whenever I probably shouldn’t have spun out, you know, we’re going for the win.” —Christopher Bell, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“And yeah, if we just keep bringing speed like that to the racetrack, then we’re going to be just fine. It’s, you know, that’s been a long time coming. I haven’t scored stage points in a long time, let alone won a stage. I think that’s my first stage win of the year,” he added.
With the stage win at Dover, Bell demonstrated renewed momentum in a season where he currently stands sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series points chase. Over 21 starts in 2025, he has accumulated 635 points with three wins, including a road-course victory at the Circuit of the Americas, along with 12 top-ten and eight top-five finishes, and one pole position.
Christopher Bell Reflects on NASCAR’s Increasing Focus on Road Course Races
Bell has been outspoken about the growing presence of road courses on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule this season. After securing a notable victory at the Circuit of the Americas, Bell shared his thoughts on how the augmented number of road races is influencing team strategies and driver preparation.
“I’m good with it… I like it. It’s enough now where the teams and the drivers have to take it seriously. Before, whenever it was only Sonoma and Watkins Glen, you had a lot of teams that didn’t take the road courses seriously and didn’t put a lot of effort into it.” —Christopher Bell, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“But now with so many road courses, you have to be good at them if you want any chance at doing well in the season standings,” added Bell.
The upcoming road race is scheduled for August 10, 2025, at Watkins Glen International. The 90-lap event will be broadcast live across multiple platforms, including USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, and HBO Max, starting at 2 pm ET.
The Significance of Bell’s Performance Moving Forward
Christopher Bell’s stage win at Dover marks a critical turning point after a period of challenges in securing stage points. His persistence despite early race incidents underscores a determined mindset heading into the remainder of the 2025 season. As road course events gain importance in the championship, Bell’s adaptability and speed position him as a strong contender in NASCAR’s evolving landscape.
With multiple races remaining, including crucial road course competitions such as the one at Watkins Glen, Bell’s ability to consistently earn stage points and stay competitive will be vital to his pursuit of a higher finish in the Cup Series standings.
