If you happen to watched the Netflix docuseries “NASCAR: Full Velocity” that dropped in the beginning of the yr, Christopher Bell supplied one of the vital quotable moments.
The five-episode collection was an in-depth take a look at the 2023 NASCAR Cup Sequence championship battle. For these engaged on the venture, it made sense to attempt to plan round drivers that will be price turning into invested in as ones more likely to make a championship run.
Bell, straight-faced and looking out on the digital camera when knowledgeable of that method, stated, “I wasn’t in that plan, was I?”
No, admittedly, he wasn’t. However the Joe Gibbs Racing driver ended up making a second straight run to the Championship 4 within the finale at Phoenix Raceway.
Hopefully, NASCAR, Netflix, and viewers are higher ready this yr as a result of Bell is on his means as soon as once more. Bell has easily superior via the primary two rounds of the postseason with out a lot consideration. Sunday, he began the Spherical of 8 from the pole and led 155 of 267 laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier than ending a upset second.
“It does (really feel that means) somewhat bit however this time for good as a result of we’ve simply form of been protected each (time),” Bell stated earlier than the spherical began about flying underneath the radar. “Going into Bristol, I don’t assume we had been locked in however we locked in slightly shortly, had plenty of factors within the financial institution. After which the identical factor right here within the Spherical of 12.
“So, we haven’t received, which has been a bummer, however we’ve performed a very good job accumulating factors and we’ve been above the cutline and on the protected aspect of issues. So, I’m proud of that.”
Bell continues to quietly put up the loudest numbers. Ben Earp/Motorsport Pictures
Bell has quietly been the most effective driver within the postseason even with out successful. The worst Bell has completed in seven postseason races is 14th at Watkins Glen. He’s been seventh or higher within the different six races, which equates to a median end of 5.71.
The driving force who comes closest to Bell statistically is William Byron. The Hendrick Motorsports ace has 5 top-10 finishes in seven races and a median end of 10.3.
“He’s scored plenty of factors and has been actually constant,” Byron stated of Bell. “It form of jogs my memory of our playoff run final yr the place he has a sub-six common end and many factors scored. That’s form of proper the place we had been final yr; we had a very constant playoff stretch.
“He’s an awesome competitor, and as a lot as I’m that, I’m probably not taking note of anyone however our workforce.”
Bell and Byron had been two of the drivers who made up the Championship 4 final season. The third driver of that group was Byron’s teammate, Kyle Larson.
The 2021 Cup Sequence champion smiled and shortly stated, “at all times” about Bell being neglected. And Larson is simply as responsible at instances.
“I acquired requested the query final week, ‘Who’s the man?’ or no matter, and I discussed 4 or 5 individuals with out mentioning Christopher,” Larson stated. “He’s so good and simply sneaky — very sneaky. Quiet good. That’s his persona, too. He’s simply quiet and he’s not out speaking about how good he’s doing. He’s simply doing it.
“Him and his workforce are tremendous robust they usually’ve been doing an awesome job the final three years or no matter it’s been. I’ve raced with Christopher for therefore lengthy that I understand how good he’s, and he’s only a quiet, easy individual. A easy racer, and for no matter cause, he’s flown underneath the radar his entire NASCAR profession, I really feel like.”
Bell and Byron is perhaps flying underneath some playoff radars, however they’re actually on every others’. John Harrelson/Motorsport Pictures
The ending remains to be to be written, however Bell has already put collectively a drama-filled season that will make an awesome film. Or episode on the second season of the Netflix docuseries.
Bell received the third race of the season at Phoenix Raceway after which disappeared through the summer season. By the All-Star Race break, Bell was fifteenth within the standings and knew his probability on the common season championship had been over. The workforce was looking for efficiency solutions and Bell was as little as could possibly be on the time.
Per week after that was documented, Bell received two phases within the Coca-Cola 600 and the race. It began a stretch of 5 straight top-10 finishes, which included one other victory at New Hampshire.
Extremely, Bell completed the common season inside the highest 5 in factors and was seeded second within the postseason. The 32 bonus factors he earned got here from three wins and 10 stage wins — eight of which he claimed from the Coke 600 via the tip of the common season.
“They form of went via a tough patch through the course of the summer season,” stated Denny Hamlin, Bell’s teammate. “However they’d at all times have actually good elite pace. A whole lot of the metric that I take a look at present that he’s one of many quickest relating to setting quick lap instances and driver rankings. Issues like that. Yeah, in all probability laying within the weeds is an efficient technique to form of summarize that [No.] 20 workforce and Christopher.
“However I believe a few of it is also his persona, proper? He’s not outspoken that a lot. He’s fairly soft-spoken. Sometimes, individuals like that at all times fly underneath the radar. Matt Kenseth — I take into account them very, very related once I take into consideration who Christopher is and I’ve labored with each of them. I really feel like there’s plenty of Matt Kenseth in Christopher — each with their personalities and their expertise stage.”
It’s at all times been execution over consideration for Bell, and that’s to not say he’s acquired no consideration in any respect. However because the postseason has unfolded, the storylines have centered round lots of the different contenders whereas Bell is steamrolling towards the title spherical.
“I really feel like my workforce does an incredible job of stepping as much as the plate every time it issues probably the most,” Bell stated. “I am going again to April. April was a fully horrible month for us. We’ve been doing actually good right here the final couple of weeks.
“We have to take one other step for certain if we need to be a Spherical of 4 contender. However I really feel assured after we get to the Spherical of 8, we are able to do this.”
