Christopher Bell reflects on Mexico City race performance after securing second place in Sunday’s event, finishing behind Shane van Gisbergen in a competitive outing for Joe Gibbs Racing. Despite adding another podium to his tally and maintaining a strong position in the standings, Bell expressed disappointment, highlighting his ongoing pursuit of improvement within the NASCAR Cup Series season.
Bell Analyzes His Own Performance After Close Finish
Following the intense race in Mexico City, Christopher Bell saw positive aspects but did not shy away from critiquing himself for falling short of victory. Although Bell has secured three wins, three second-place finishes, and a third-place result in the season’s first 16 races—an impressive record for most Cup drivers—he voiced a clear desire to do better.
During his post-race remarks to FOX Sports, Bell commented on the strong pace set by Shane van Gisbergen and admitted that teammate Ty Gibbs, who faded in the final laps to finish 11th, also showed potential before a late caution flag shifted the outcome. Bell’s assessment was candid:
“So, both days, in the Xfinity car (in Saturday’s race) I was a third-place car. Today, I felt like I was a third-place car. I think more than anything it was just me. I need to do a little bit more homework and figure out where I can be better to keep up with these guys.”
—Christopher Bell, Driver
Bell did not attribute the result to shortcomings in his Mobil 1 Camry, instead accepting responsibility for the result despite the strength of his Joe Gibbs Racing car. He shared:
“The Joe Gibbs Racing group brought an amazing Mobil 1 Camry. I can’t really say that it was my car that was lacking. I think it was on me this weekend,”
—Christopher Bell, Driver
Praise for Van Gisbergen Amid Tough Season
While Bell worked through complex emotions about his own performance, he acknowledged Shane van Gisbergen’s standout run. Entering the Mexico City race, van Gisbergen sat at 33rd in the standings, having endured a difficult season. However, his victory secured him a position in the 10-race Cup playoffs, a notable turnaround for the driver known as SVG.
Bell highlighted the pressure van Gisbergen faced, saying:
“Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure on him to come out here and perform well in these road course races and he sets the bar for us.”
—Christopher Bell, Driver
Bell admitted feeling genuinely happy for SVG, recognizing the significance of Sunday’s win for his competitor and the high standard van Gisbergen brings to the series.
Looking Ahead to Pocono as Playoff Picture Develops
Moving up to third place in the championship standings after Mexico City, Bell and the Joe Gibbs Racing team now prepare for the upcoming race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. With a playoff berth already secured and a consistent season behind him, Bell’s reflections serve as a reminder of the relentless drive for improvement that defines top-tier NASCAR competitors. The coming weeks will continue to test Bell and his peers as they battle for position leading into the decisive playoff stretch.
