MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Fans of sprint car racing may have to wait a while to see Christopher Bell back in the discipline again, and when he returns, it won’t be behind the wheel of his own car.
Bell confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the CB Industries No. 21 sprint car team, which he raced in partnership with his friend Chad Boat since debuting it at Fremont (Ohio) Speedway in September of 2019, has been shuttered.
Bell broke the news in response to a question from SPEED SPORT during a Toyota Racing videoconference ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at Kansas Speedway.
“Unfortunately, the 21 is no more … the sprint car operation is no more,” Bell said.
Bell also admitted that he won’t be doing any dirt racing at all for the time being. He’s in the midst of his first full season with Joe Gibbs Racing and his second year of racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“Right now, for me, sprint car racing and dirt racing as a whole has been put on hold, but I look forward to the day that I can get back out to the dirt tracks and race,” Bell continued. “It won’t be in the (No.) 21 car in the near future but, hopefully, it will be driving for another person.”
During his time as an owner/driver in the sprint car world, Bell tallied a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., as well as a podium finish during Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek last summer among the highlights.
Bell declined to comment when asked what factors led to the parking of his sprint car.
However, Bell did note that — when he is able to return to dirt-track competition — he’d be interested in reuniting with former car owner Kevin Swindell if the opportunity arose to do so.
Bell drove for Swindell SpeedLab for a brief stint in 2019, with three top-five finishes against the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at Volusia Speedway Park that year among the pairing’s highlights.
“Kevin Swindell and I have stayed great friends and I’d love to get back into the (No.) 39 at some point,” Bell tipped. “I’m not sure what the future holds, but not [dirt racing] for the time being.”