Christopher Bell has 'unfinished business' after disappointing championship finish
For Christopher Bell, his second trip to the Championship 4 did not go to plan. His race in Phoenix was cut short after a brake rotor failure. While Bell exited the race early and had no chance of winning the NASCAR Bill France Cup at that point, he isn’t letting it drag him down.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is the only driver to make the Championship 4 in each of the last two seasons. His consistency in the postseason is unreal. Not to mention the fact that he won three straight pole awards to start the playoffs and a fourth later on. Bell had six pole awards in 2023, leading the Cup Series.
Looking back on the Phoenix weekend, Bell seems to be at peace with how everything went down. After all, he can’t change what happened.
“I mean, it was certainly disappointing, but it is what it is,” Bell said before the NASCAR Awards, via NASCAR.com. “Denny Hamlin had a steering failure at Homestead that probably took him out of it, Martin Truex [Jr.] had an engine failure at Homestead that probably took him out of it, and that’s just in my group. I’m sure that everyone has those problems that have hindered them, and unfortunately mine came in the championship race. But it just wasn’t meant to be and I’m OK with that. Hopefully my time will come.”
There was a time in the 2023 season when Christopher Bell did not look like a championship-caliber driver. Between his win at Bristol Dirt and his P3 finish at Watkins Glen, he went 16 races without a top-5 finish. The only time he has gone longer between top-5 finishes was during his rookie season with Leavine Family Racing.
Christopher Bell on a mission in 2024
Two years in the Championship 4 and not a title to show for it. Now, that’s not the worst thing in the world for a NASCAR driver. Most will never make it to the final four in the season. However, for Christopher Bell, it leaves him wanting more.
The 29-year-old has shown improvement and a real knack for racing. Kyle Larson was quick to compliment Bell not just for his dirt racing prowess but also his NASCAR career.
So, for the driver of the No. 20, there is still more work to do.
“I definitely feel like there is unfinished business and you know what, regardless of if we won the championship or not, I would have felt that way, just because we left so many races on the table that could have had top five, top threes, possibly wins,” Bell said. “And so I left Phoenix feeling very calm, and I was looking forward to what’s ahead of us. So I feel good. I feel really good, and I love my team, and I think that we have not reached our ceiling yet, so that gives me confidence.”
Many thought that Christopher Bell would be JGR’s top driver this season. While that is still up for discussion, 2024 could be the year Bell takes that next step. I think he could have a year like William Byron did this past season. Finishing races strong will be a point of emphasis for Bell and his team.