Bell Still Standing After Roval Walk-Off

Christopher Bell found winning the Bank of America ROVAL 400 on Sunday extremely satisfying for numerous reasons. Notably, one of the lesser reasons was the significant boost it gave to his chances of securing the Cup Series championship.

Going into the weekend, he was faced with the crucial task of winning to progress to the Round of 8. Despite the challenges, he managed to fulfill all the necessary requirements, although it wasn’t an easy process. He needed a couple of timely late cautions and fresher tires to make it possible.

However, there were additional reasons why Bell felt profoundly proud to find himself in Victory Lane at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

Despite his progress in becoming a competitive road racer, Bell found himself facing the same struggle as other Toyota drivers this season. He struggled to find the speed needed to win races at the previous road courses.

Certainly, the newer tires were beneficial, but advancing in a walk-off manner at a track he had initially written off as impossible was even more gratifying. When he woke up on Sunday morning, he had already resigned himself to the idea that all hope was gone.

Despite encouragement from sponsor Dewalt, he remained unconvinced. Throughout the week, Tony Merritt, a marketing executive at Stanley Black & Decker, continuously encouraged his driver, but the results were mixed.

“Bell stated, “He kept texting me all week, telling me, ‘Man, we’re not defeated, we’re going to win, we’re going to win.’ But, I didn’t anticipate it. We weren’t performing well in road courses throughout the year.”

Typically, they’ve been beneficial for me. For instance, last year with the Gen-6 car, I achieved my first road course victory and vied for several more. However, this was not the case this year.

It didn’t matter until it was most important.

“Races frequently conclude with the fastest car not taking the victory,” Bell elaborated. “I consistently reminded myself of this; we do not anticipate being the most formidable or victorious car. However, as long as you remain in the race until its conclusion, persistently positioning yourself appropriately, outcomes can be unpredictable.”

hat's going to happen.

“We happened to be the first car with fresher tires, enabling me to easily maneuver through them.”

The victory also brought a personal sense of gratification for an additional reason. For the past ten years, there’s been a continuous change of drivers in the No. 20 car of Joe Gibbs Racing. Matt Kenseth was essentially pushed into retirement to make way for Erik Jones in 2017. However, Jones himself was replaced to make space for a new driver after 2020.

Bell, mirroring Jones’s experience, has so far failed to achieve the same level of success as his seasoned teammates. He is cognizant of the social media buzz predicting his future as the next JGR No. 20 driver to look for opportunities elsewhere.

Jones
Kenseth
Joey Logano, too.

“Bell stated, “Many people had dismissed me as a driver. There was a perception that the 20 car and I were on the chopping block, with rumors constantly circulating that I was about to be replaced and that the 20 car was a revolving door. The consensus seemed to be, ‘He’s on his way out.'”

Perhaps I’ll have the chance to stay a little longer.

“He said it laughingly, but obviously, Bell must be feeling a certain level of confidence racing for a championship, especially when his championship-winning teammates, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, are not. Busch didn’t advance past the first round and Truex didn’t even make it to the starting line,” is what he stated.

Adam Stevens, his crew chief, supervised both Cup Series championships for Busch and sincerely believes Bell will also reach that level.

“Stevens stated, ‘His immense skills, coupled with pure talent, ambition, and dedication, make him capable of winning any race he participates in. There isn’t a single location we visit where he isn’t capable of emerging victorious. Nothing is too far-fetched, delayed, or undesirable for him if it contributes to his improvement.'”

He undoubtedly has the potential to reach the sky. His youth and rapid improvement are evident. His skills are already exceptional. His talent is simply undeniable.

Seems like someone anticipated staying longer.

It’s really surprising that Bell found himself in a must-win situation, considering he was leading in points through the Round of 16. However, things took a turn for the worst with the points reset, followed by poor performances at Texas and Talladega.

This whole season has been unpredictable. Even though Bell was among the top-10 in the championship standings, he didn’t secure a win in the regular season. In fact, not even a third-place position in points would have been safe without a Victory Lane win.

Bell emerged victorious earlier this summer at Loudon, with just six races remaining until the end of the regular season. Already, he is confronting the reality of needing to win to secure a spot in the Field of 16. Despite the pressure, Bell’s No. 20 team has maintained composure and emerged as a genuine contender for the championship, especially after clinching their second win of the season.

“Bell stated, “I don’t believe we’re finished. Our end goal is not just a two-win season. I am confident that we can achieve more. My ambition is to become a well-known name in the Cup Series. Hopefully, this is merely the beginning.”

Bell expresses his optimism about Homestead, Las Vegas, and Martinsville. He acknowledges that for the next four weeks, he is essentially gambling with house money.

“Bell remarked, “The fact that we’re still in the game feels fantastic. A week ago, or even five hours ago, I wouldn’t have anticipated this. I believe we stand a good chance. The remaining races are likely to work out well for us. We just need to perform well and take care of all the details, then see where we end up.”

While he has confidence in himself and his team, the coming four weeks reflect what Merritt mentioned earlier in the week: he has an opportunity because he’s part of the game.

While it’s debatable whether Christopher Bell ranks among the top eight, he has secured a spot in the Round of 8, a claim that even defending champion Kyle Larson can’t make following his elimination in Charlotte.

“It’s not surprising, but who could have predicted that Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch would be eliminated in the round of 16,” said Bell. “And Truex not qualifying for the Playoffs is equally astonishing. It’s been a truly unusual year.”

Indeed, it has been a peculiar year. The eight remaining ones might not necessarily be the best cars in the garage, but they are the ones that have endured.

Bell is still standing.

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