Christopher Bell renewed the Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR playoff streak in dramatic fashion at Bristol Motor Speedway, clinching his first victory since March and keeping his team’s momentum alive. The high-stakes battle unfolded on Saturday night, with Bell making a statement win in front of an electrified stadium crowd as the postseason chase intensified.
Bristol Finish Ends Bell’s Winless Streak
Returning to Victory Lane at Bristol, Christopher Bell overcame a months-long wait for another Cup Series triumph, having last tasted victory at Phoenix earlier in the season. The evening began with Ty Gibbs commanding the race, leading for more than 200 laps and putting Joe Gibbs Racing in a strong position. However, the tide shifted quickly when a late-race misstep and a flat tire forced Gibbs out of the leading pack.
Bell seized the opening, biding his time and maintaining consistent control under mounting pressure. As the closing laps unfolded, Brad Keselowski mounted an aggressive charge, even nudging Bell in the final corner. Despite the heat of the contest, Bell held his ground, securing the victory by a narrow margin of 0.343 seconds ahead of Keselowski and putting his winless stretch to rest with his fourth win of the year.
While Bell celebrated his resurgence, Keselowski left the track clearly disappointed with another near-miss.
“Just the story of our season, just a 50/50 shot on the restart and I got the lane that couldn’t launch. Just frustrating.”
—Brad Keselowski, Driver.
Tires, Cautions, and Chaos Define the Bristol Night Race
The 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops Night Race reinforced its reputation for unpredictability, thanks in large part to tire drama that began before the race had even settled in. Goodyear’s introduction of a softer right-side tire prompted immediate concerns, with drivers including AJ Allmendinger heading for pit stops within the opening 25 laps. The tire situation escalated to the point where Goodyear made an uncommon move, supplying teams with an additional set of right-side tires mid-race.
Frequent incidents became the story of the night, with a total of 14 caution periods accounting for 137 laps under yellow. Josh Berry’s hopes for postseason advancement came apart when his car caught fire around lap 75, ending his run. He was joined in early elimination by Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, and Shane van Gisbergen, all falling victim to Bristol’s relentless challenges.
Throughout the chaos, Bell demonstrated remarkable poise, making tactical decisions and keeping a steady hand during race restarts. His cool under pressure was pivotal in fending off Keselowski and ensured his No. 20 car emerged on top when the checkered flag waved.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Strong Start Sets the Tone for Playoff Rounds
Christopher Bell’s pivotal win completed a sweep for Joe Gibbs Racing at the outset of the playoffs, following earlier round victories by Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin. Toyota-backed teams captured every race during the Round of 16, fueling their momentum as the competition gears up for the Round of 12.
The successful run gives Bell and the Joe Gibbs Racing camp renewed confidence heading into critical stops at New Hampshire, Kansas, and Charlotte. Bell expressed his relief and excitement after securing the hard-fought victory, saying,
“It wasn’t pretty there at the end, but we got her done,”
—Christopher Bell, Driver. He added,
“We just know that any given week, it could be us, and it hadn’t been us for a long time. But Bristol, baby, tonight, it does!”
—Christopher Bell, Driver.
With this victory, Joe Gibbs Racing extends its commanding NASCAR playoff streak, keeps key contenders energized, and looks ahead to a challenging stretch that may reshape the postseason battle. The team’s recent momentum, coupled with the performance of top drivers like Bell and Hamlin, sets the stage for more drama in the coming playoff rounds.
