Christopher Bell’s Championship 4 hopes hang in the balance as NASCAR’s playoffs approach the crucial Phoenix event. With Joe Gibbs Racing already sending two cars to the final round, Bell must now contend with stiff opposition from Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson, who sits just one point behind Bell for the last available championship spot.
Joe Gibbs Racing has dominated the Round of 8, capitalizing on their momentum from Talladega, but the journey is far from over for Bell. Entering the last race of this round, he carries the burden of keeping JGR’s powerful run alive. As the pressure mounts, his primary focus becomes outpacing Larson, also competing for a transfer position.
The Larson Obstacle Standing in Bell’s Way
The playoff battle intensifies as two talented rivals, Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson, find themselves separated by the smallest possible margin. Both drivers sit firmly within the top four, just 36 points above the elimination line. However, only one can truly feel secure—especially if another playoff contender secures victory from below the cutline, threatening the established leaderboard.
Bearing witness to this tension, NASCAR journalist Peter Stratta spoke with Bell during qualifying, revealing Larson’s close monitoring of the No. 20 car’s progress. In response, Bell welcomed the attention, saying,
That was friendly of him. That’s cool. Glad he’s going to be paying attention to me,
– Christopher Bell, Driver
Bell elaborated on how the situation actually sharpens his race-day focus, explaining,
I think it just makes our job, like the 20 car’s job, a little bit easier because we don’t have to, you know, focus on very many other competitors other than, you know, Kyle and what he’s doing, how many points he’s got, stuff like that. So yeah, it’s when this race is very unique because it’s under, you know, only very rare circumstances that you single out a couple of people.
– Christopher Bell, Driver
This narrowed rivalry encapsulates the intensity of the playoff moment, emphasizing the tactical nuance involved when only a few points—and one formidable opponent—determine who advances to the Phoenix decider.
Crucial Starting Grid and the Byron Factor
Bell’s Championship 4 ambitions face another trial with Saturday’s qualifying session results. Instead of starting near the front, Bell lines up 12th, immediately placing him at a disadvantage against Larson, who begins from a strong third position.
Adding further complexity to the contest, William Byron will take off from pole position. Byron currently sits just outside the playoff cutline, giving him an optimal launchpad to gain vital stage points—or even contend for the win—which could upend both Bell’s and Larson’s paths to Phoenix. If Byron manages a victory, Bell will need every possible point to maintain his edge and advance, forcing him to track stage results with painstaking precision.
What the Outcome Means for the Playoffs
As the field prepares for the final race of the Round of 8, Bell’s chances of joining the Joe Gibbs Racing celebration in Phoenix are intimately tied to his ability to fend off Larson and neutralize Byron’s challenge. The dynamic between the leading teams—Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports—sets the stage for a dramatic showdown, as playoff outcomes pivot on every lap, pass, and stage score.
The forthcoming race has the potential to reshape the Championship 4 entirely, with every driver’s hopes hinging on performance under pressure. For Bell, a spot in Phoenix would cement his team’s dominance; for Larson and Byron, it represents the last lifeline in a fiercely contested postseason. Christopher Bell’s Championship 4 hopes now rest on a single weekend’s outcome, promising a high-stakes conclusion to an already electrifying NASCAR playoff round.
.@CBellRacing says he will be very in tune with where @KyleLarsonRacin is running throughout tomorrow’s 500 laps. #NASCAR #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/NdnoBuFgYY
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 25, 2025
