HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — When 76 points is the maximum a driver can earn in a single NASCAR Cup Series race, overcoming a 67-point deficit is a tall order. That is the task facing Christopher Bell in Sunday’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The driver of the No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing is second in the standings to Kyle Larson, who has won three times during the 10-race Chase and finished outside the top nine only once. Bell is focused forward, but he must also keep an eye on his rearview mirror. Teammate Denny Hamlin is three points behind him in third, and Chase Briscoe, another Joe Gibbs Racing driver, is 17 points back in fourth.
Fifth-place Joey Logano is 36 points away, sixth-place Tyler Reddick is 58 points out and seventh-place Ryan Blaney is 66 points behind. Those are the only drivers still eligible to overtake Bell.
Bell has finished among the top five in points in each of the past five seasons, and a sixth season beckons. It is a remarkable run of consistency, but also a bittersweet one. Most of his counterparts have spent entire seasons chasing what Bell considers an average Sunday.
“I’m proud of where we’re at, and certainly proud that we’ve been so close year in and year out, but we do want to get that golden egg,” Bell said.
Bell has been consistently dependable across a seven-year Cup Series career. He finished 20th as a rookie in 2020, then won his first race in 2021 on his way to a 12th-place points finish. He has been in the championship conversation every season since 2022.
“My team has done a really good job,” Bell said. “They’re resilient, they’re just really resilient. They’ve shown throughout the years that whenever it matters the most, they show up in the biggest ways.”
Crew chief Adam Stevens, who has been paired with Bell since 2021, said: “Christopher brings his best every weekend, and his resilience has really impressed me. It’s been a very odd year for us to be as competitive as we’ve been and really not have a lot to show for it. He doesn’t get too distracted by whatever happened last week or the week before that, and that’s a big part of the sport. You race a lot of times every year.
“It’s 38 times we show up, and even the guys who’ve had outstanding years, 30 times they go home disappointed. And it’s been a few more than 30 for us. But having a season like this is something we can certainly build off of. We’ve been bringing competitive cars and Christopher’s been doing a fantastic job. Sometimes that’s just not enough, but I think that’s meant a lot of growth for him, especially through some of the trials and tribulations we’ve had this year. That’s something that’s going to pay dividends in his future.”
The near future is Sunday at Homestead. The 1.5-mile oval at the gateway to the Florida Keys is a driver’s track. It is a favorite among competitors because of its weathered asphalt, long straightaways and variable banking. It allows drivers to search different racing lines while managing their tires.
“Homestead is a driver’s track, for sure,” Bell said. “It’s really slippery, and you have to be able to drive the car loose. You have to be able to move your line around. You have to be able to adapt to changing conditions. It takes two pedals and a steering wheel to go fast there. Some of these other tracks, it doesn’t.”
Bell knows what he’s talking about. He clinched a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship at Homestead in 2017 and won the sixth of his 14 career Cup Series victories at the South Florida track in 2023.
“I love Homestead, and I think it’s a really good place to crown a champion,” Bell said.
“There’s a lot on the line for everyone. There’s a lot of money invested, and we have partners who expect results.
“Interstate Batteries has been with Joe Gibbs Racing since its very beginning, and they’re on the car at Homestead, sharing it with DEWALT. Between them and the 600-plus employees at Joe Gibbs Racing that put effort into this race car, we go in with our best foot forward to try and win.”
