Christopher Bell, one of NASCAR’s rising stars with three Cup Series victories in 2025, endured an unexpected setback Thursday night when he failed to finish in the Stockyard Stampede A Feature of the High Limit dirt racing series. The race, held just days before Bell’s scheduled NASCAR Cup appearance at Texas Motor Speedway for the Wurth 400, saw the driver officially classified 21st, 16 laps down, according to Jeff Gluck. This DNF comes as a notable disappointment for Bell, who entered the competition alongside fellow NASCAR talents and dirt track veterans.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming Texas NASCAR event, Bell’s participation in the High Limit series—owned by Kyle Larson—showcased his passion for racing beyond the asphalt. Other notable drivers including Larson, Ty Gibbs, and Kasey Kahne also took part, underlining the event’s prestige. Kasey Kahne achieved the highest finish among NASCAR-aligned drivers with a sixth-place result, while Larson and Gibbs ended up 13th and 18th, respectively, leaving Christopher Bell to contend with one of the more challenging outings of his season.
Speaking about his approach to the High Limit series, Christopher Bell explained,
Racers race, and the more you race, the better you are.
He emphasized the importance of actual race experience over physical training, noting,
Being in that racing environment and focusing on the task at hand, it’s different — a lot different — and there’s no way you can prepare for it other than doing it.
Christopher Bell also described the raw and authentic nature of sprint car racing, stating,
Sprint car racing is just so real and raw and true. You can’t fake it. You’ve got to qualify well and you’ve got to race well. There are no pit stops. It’s just the driver and the car once it’s on the track.
As Bell looks ahead to Sunday’s Cup Series challenge at Texas Motor Speedway, this DNF in the High Limit series stands as a reminder of the unpredictable risks and demands of motorsports. How Christopher Bell rebounds from this disappointment could add an extra layer of intrigue as the racing world turns its eyes to Texas.
