On June 1 at Nashville, a major collision occurred during the NASCAR Cup Series race involving Christopher Bell and Erik Jones, leading to considerable fallout. Despite Erik Jones initiating contact that caused Bell to spin into the outside wall, Dale Earnhardt Jr. came to Jones’s defense, shifting some of the responsibility onto Bell. The incident unfolded on the restart after the third caution, where Jones, driving from the inside lane, made a bold move under Bell.
Details of the Crash and Race Results
At the time of the contact, Bell was running in fifth place, closely pursued by Jones, who was seventh. The resulting collision saw Bell’s No. 20 Toyota spin and hit the wall, while Jones, driving for Legacy Motor Club in the No. 43 car, maintained his position and finished seventh. Bell eventually finished tenth. Jones’s aggressive driving style in this moment was questioned by many, but Earnhardt Jr. disagreed with blaming him entirely for the crash.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reflects on Responsibility in Racing Collisions
Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR Hall of Famer, recounted his own experiences with crashes and the reactions from crew chief Tony Eury Sr. He explained that often drivers expect their team to blame the other driver, but sometimes the driver themselves may bear responsibility for the incident. He suggested that, in the Nashville crash, Christopher Bell also contributed significantly to the situation.
“There was a couple of times in my career where I got wrecked in my mind,”
Earnhardt Jr. said.
I’d see Tony Sr. [Tony Eury Sr., Earnhardt’s crew chief]. Race is still going. We’re in the garage. Car’s torn out. All the hell.
I’d go over to Tony Sr., and I’m thinking, ‘I’m going to walk up to him and go,’ and he’s gonna go, ‘F*** that guy for wrecking you.’
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer
“And I walk up to him and he goes, ‘What the hell were you thinking running on the door of that guy, or running so tight on him?’ He was like, ‘You could’ve avoided that. You should have known better,’”
he added.
“And I think that’s what I would do in this case. If I had them both [Jones and Bell] sitting here, I’d look instead of Erik Jones, I’d look at CB [Bell] and go, ‘Damn, dude. What’d you expect him to do? You’re driving his old car. He’s still a little pissed off about that. And you blocked him to the apron.’”
Context on Drivers and Team Histories
Erik Jones has a history with the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing car, having driven it from 2018 to 2020 before Bell took over in 2021. Jones’s comments indicate frustration with Bell’s actions during the race, pointing out that Bell blocked Jones toward the apron just before the crash. Currently, Bell stands third in the overall NASCAR Cup Series points with three wins and six top-five finishes this season, while Jones is 24th with two top-10 finishes.
“What do you want him to do? He ain’t in the top, he run in the top five once every 15 races.”
Jones is on the inside, got blocked the apron, and we had a lot of time to sit there and watch him decide not to let the 20 live.
Jones had more time in my mind, milliseconds, but more time to make a different decision, right? Guys in the back are just trying to survive. They’re starving.
Implications of the Nashville Incident for the NASCAR Season
The crash and the ensuing debate underscore tensions among drivers competing for top positions in the Cup Series. Earnhardt Jr.’s defense of Jones highlights the complexities of on-track decisions and driver emotions when stakes are high. This incident could impact how aggressive moves are perceived and judged in future races, especially between drivers with overlapping histories, like Bell and Jones. With Bell’s strong season standing and Jones fighting to improve his rankings, their rivalry may intensify as the season progresses.
