With the NASCAR Cup Series championship approaching, Christopher Bell’s Martinsville playoff chances hold major significance as he aims to clinch another victory and help Joe Gibbs Racing put three cars into the Championship 4 for the first time in six years. Bell leads by 37 points above the elimination line, and a win at Martinsville Speedway this Sunday would guarantee his spot in the season finale at Phoenix, making history for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Bell’s Quest to Secure a Championship 4 Spot for Joe Gibbs Racing
The 2025 playoff hunt is intensifying, and Christopher Bell finds himself in a favorable position. If Bell secures the win in the upcoming Martinsville race, his team, Joe Gibbs Racing, will achieve a feat last seen in 2019 — fielding three of its cars in the final Championship 4. No other four-car team has matched this achievement, highlighting the strength of Joe Gibbs Racing’s lineup this season. Bell holds a 37-point advantage over the cutoff, a testament to his consistent performance throughout the playoffs.
Kelly Crandall, a seasoned NASCAR journalist, recently spoke with Adam Stevens, Bell’s crew chief, regarding these historic Martinsville playoff chances and the potential milestone for their organization. Stevens has partnered with Bell for five seasons and understands the challenges posed by the current playoff format.
“That’s tough to do; it’s tough to get one in there. We already have two, and hopefully we can claw our way in there as well,” Stevens told Crandall. “But this playoff format is so tough. There are many opportunities for things not to go your way, as we’ve seen with the #9 this round and with Talladega in general for a few cars.”
“To navigate that, run that gauntlet, and come out on the other side is tough,” he continued. “It takes a lot of well-prepared cars for one, it takes a lot of execution on the team’s side, and it takes a lot of fortitude… It’s not easy; it’s fun to do, but it’s tough.”
The playoff format offers little margin for error, and recent eliminations—such as the issues faced by the #9 car and unpredictable results at Talladega—underscore the stakes. As a result, Bell and his team must focus on flawless execution, preparation, and resilience to advance further in the championship chase.
Contenders and Competition at Martinsville
With only two races left before the Cup Series crown is decided, the pressure mounts on drivers below the cutoff line. Currently, William Byron, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott occupy positions beneath that threshold, making the upcoming Martinsville playoff event even more decisive. Four drivers will be eliminated following Sunday’s race, so every lap and pit stop carries extra weight as the field narrows.
Christopher Bell’s previous achievements at Martinsville, including a win and a second-place finish earlier this year, add to his credentials. His familiarity with the Virginia short track is well-established, having made 11 starts there—nine with Joe Gibbs Racing—making him a strong favorite for another top finish.
JGR’s Leadership Confident in Bell’s Resolve
Bell’s determination and skills have not gone unnoticed by the organization’s leadership. Joe Gibbs Racing competition director Chris Gabehart shared his confidence in Bell’s ability to succeed at such a critical event. Currently, Bell stands third in the playoff standings, with statistical models giving him an 81.5 percent chance of advancing from the Round of 8.
“Martinsville was a fantastic track for us in the spring,” Gabehart said. “Christopher Bell has won at Martinsville, he’s won a cut-off race at Martinsville, and he’s Christopher Bell. I don’t need to say any more than that. That guy is tenacious, and (we) look forward to making it three JGR cars in the final at Phoenix.”
With leaders like Gabehart backing him and the memory of previous Martinsville triumphs, Bell enters the crucial race with significant momentum on his side for both personal and team achievements.
Key Dates and What’s at Stake in Martinsville and Beyond
The all-important Xfinity 500 at Martinsville is set for Sunday, October 26, and will be broadcast live on Peacock starting at 2 pm ET, with radio coverage via MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. As the Cup Series heads toward the season finale at Phoenix Raceway on November 2, stakes have never been higher for drivers, teams, and fans alike. A successful outing at Martinsville will not only secure Bell’s chance at a championship but could set a new milestone for Joe Gibbs Racing, reaffirming its dominance and strategy under immense playoff pressure.
With drivers like William Byron, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott fighting to stay alive in the playoffs, and Christopher Bell’s Martinsville playoff chances as strong as ever, both the Martinsville and Phoenix races promise to deliver drama, tension, and possibly, a new chapter in Joe Gibbs Racing’s legacy.
Joe Gibbs Racing has the opportunity to put three drivers in the Championship 4, with Christopher Bell sitting above the cutline going into this weekend. Gibbs is the only four-car organization that has accomplished this before, doing so in 2019.
Adam Stevens on doing it again: pic.twitter.com/3ELAXMDtAW
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) October 23, 2025
