Christopher Bell is one of the rising stars of NASCAR, competing full-time in the Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing. He has five career wins at the top level, including the 2023 Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. But before he made his mark in NASCAR, Bell had a long and successful career in dirt track racing, where he honed his skills and passion for racing.
Christopher Bell: Early career and dirt track racing
Bell was born on December 16, 1994, in Norman, Oklahoma. He began his racing career in micro sprints at I-44 Riverside Speedway in the early 2000s. He earned the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Championship in 2010 before winning the 66 Mike Phillips Memorial micro- sprint car race in 2011. The following year, he finished second in the Short Track Nationals at I-30 Speedway, a race sanctioned by the American Sprint Car Series.
In 2013, he joined Keith Kunz Motorsports in USAC racing, replacing Kyle Larson. He won the USAC National Midget Series Championship that year, as well as the Turkey Night Grand Prix and the Belleville Midget Nationals. He also made his debut in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, finishing second at Volusia Speedway Park.
Bell continued to dominate dirt track racing in the following years, winning multiple prestigious events such as the Chili Bowl Nationals (2017, 2018, and 2019), the Eldora Dirt Derby (2015), and the Knoxville Nationals (2016). He also raced in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, showcasing his versatility and talent on different tracks and surfaces.
Christopher Bell: Transition to NASCAR
Bell made his NASCAR debut in 2015, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series. He won his first race at Eldora Speedway, becoming the first driver to win a NASCAR national series race on dirt since 1970. He finished seventh in points that year, earning Rookie of the Year honors.
In 2016, Bell returned to KBM and won one race at Gateway Motorsports Park. He also made his Xfinity Series debut for Joe Gibbs Racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway, finishing fourth. He ran seven more races in the Xfinity Series that year, scoring two top-five and four top-ten finishes.
Bell had a breakout season in 2017, winning five races and the Truck Series championship. He also ran eight races in the Xfinity Series for JGR, winning his first race at Kansas Speedway. He moved up to the Xfinity Series full-time in 2018, driving the No. 20 Toyota for JGR. He won seven races that year, setting a rookie record for most wins in a season. He also won six poles and led 759 laps. He finished fourth in points after being eliminated in the final round of the playoffs.
Bell had another strong season in 2019, winning eight races and leading 2,003 laps in the Xfinity Series. He finished third in points for the second consecutive year. He also made his Cup Series debut for Leavine Family Racing at ISM Raceway, finishing 21st.
Christopher Bell: Cup Series career
Bell moved up to the Cup Series full-time in 2020, driving the No. 95 Toyota for LFR. He had a challenging rookie season, scoring only two top-five and seven top-ten finishes. His best result was third at Texas Motor Speedway. He finished 20th in points and did not qualify for the playoffs.
In 2021, Bell returned to JGR, driving the No. 20 Toyota. He scored his first Cup Series win at Daytona International Speedway Road Course, passing Joey Logano on the final lap. He also won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after leading 49 laps. He made his first playoff appearance and advanced to the Round of 12 before being eliminated. He finished eighth in points.
In 2022, Bell continued to drive for JGR and won two races: Martinsville Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Race. The latter was his second dirt track win in NASCAR and made him one of only three drivers to win on both dirt and pavement in NASCAR history. He also clinched his first Championship 4 appearance after finishing third at Kansas Speedway.
In 2023, Bell is currently third in points with one win at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Race. He has also scored eight top-five and 16 top-ten finishes so far. He is looking to win his first Cup Series championship and become the first driver to win titles in all three national series.
Christopher Bell: Career statistics
The following table shows Bell’s career statistics in NASCAR as of October 1st, 2023:
| Series | Starts | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Poles | Laps Led | Avg. Start | Avg. Finish |
| Cup | 121 | 5 | 23 | 58 | 9 | 503 | 10.0 | 13.1 |
| Xfinity | 77 | 17 | 41 | 49 | 12 | 2,861 | 6.0 | 9.3 |
| Truck | 55 | 7 | 26 | 42 | 6 | 1,380 | 5.8 | 8.4 |
Christopher Bell is one of the most successful drivers to transition from dirt track racing to NASCAR. He has won races and championships in various forms of racing, proving his skill and adaptability. He is also one of the youngest and most talented drivers in the Cup Series, with a bright future ahead of him. He is a true example of how dirt track racing can be a stepping stone to NASCAR stardom.
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