Christopher Bell delivered a resilient performance throughout the 2025 NASCAR season, driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and consistently challenging the front-runners. Despite his impressive efforts and several high-profile victories, Bell concluded the season ranked fifth, narrowly missing a spot in the Championship 4 for the second year in a row.
With Adam Stevens as his crew chief, Bell secured four wins, thirteen top-five finishes, and twenty-two top-ten results, leading a total of 282 laps. The 2025 NASCAR season proved to be a rollercoaster for Bell and his Joe Gibbs Racing team, as their pursuit of a championship was defined by both hot streaks and stretches of frustration.
Playoff Chase and Critical Elimination
Bell’s campaign for a place in the Championship 4 mirrored his previous season’s near-miss, as he again fell short in the critical Round of 8. At Martinsville Speedway, Bell needed to surpass Kyle Larson in points to advance, but Larson remained among the frontrunners throughout the race. Ultimately, Bell was eliminated from playoff contention by a margin of just seven points. An 11th-place finish at the Phoenix Raceway finale helped Bell secure his fourth consecutive top-five result in the driver standings, showcasing his enduring consistency at the sport’s highest level.
Phoenix Dominance and Notable Victories
Among Bell’s standout moments in the 2025 NASCAR season was his commanding performance at the spring race in Phoenix. Dominating much of the afternoon, Bell led for 105 laps and was in prime position for a straightforward victory. However, a late caution led to a dramatic two-lap shootout, where Bell successfully fended off teammate Denny Hamlin and rival Kyle Larson to claim his third consecutive win—a highlight that energized his championship push. Notably, this performance earned him a Driver Rating of 139.1, pacing the entire 37-car field and helping to close the points gap to early leader William Byron in the Regular Season Championship.
Ups and Downs through the Middle of the Season
Following an electrifying winning streak that began in the spring, Bell encountered periods of inconsistency as the year progressed. Still, he managed to achieve runner-up finishes at prestigious events including Martinsville, Kansas Speedway, the first-ever Mexico City race, and Watkins Glen International. A challenging Southern 500, where Bell finished 29th, threatened to derail his momentum. However, starting in September at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, he delivered his strongest stretch of the season by never finishing worse than 11th over the closing nine races. During this run, Bell also captured his fourth official points win in the Bristol Night Race, reinforcing his status as a title contender.
Another significant milestone for Bell and his team came in May, when he claimed his first-ever All-Star Race victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway, earning a $1 million prize. This success highlighted Bell’s ability to excel not only in points races but also in high-stakes, spotlight events.
Statistical Insights and Team Dynamics
While Bell ended the year tying for the third most wins in the series, his 282 laps led ranked only twelfth, a figure surpassed by teammates and single-race winners such as Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, and Austin Cindric, as well as by his winless teammate Ty Gibbs. This contrast underscores both the competitive depth of the Cup Series and the strategic challenges Bell’s team navigated throughout the year.
Beneath the surface of these statistics lay a season of strong emotions and a shared ambition to break through. As Bell stated in September, reflecting on a run of mixed results just before his Bristol win:
“I think it was definitely a buildup of frustration and not performing up to our standards, and not getting the results that I think that we should get … Well — not even think; should. We should get better results, and we haven’t been doing that. It was frustration … I want to win. Adam wants to win. All of my team, we all have the same common goal. So I don’t think anybody takes it personal because we all want the same thing. And if I win, it’s good for Adam. If Adam wins, it’s good for me. So I don’t know; it’s professional sports.”
— Bell, reflecting on the No. 20 team’s stretch a day before winning at Bristol.
What’s Next for Bell and Joe Gibbs Racing?
Looking ahead to the next campaign, Bell will remain in the No. 20 Toyota with Joe Gibbs Racing, motivated by the goal of reaching the sport’s top echelon. Having twice made the Championship 4 in previous years and twice missing out by a single spot since, Bell and his crew carry a clear sense of unfinished business. Importantly, his average finishing position has improved significantly over his six Cup seasons, bolstering hopes for a breakthrough in 2026.
The strength of the Joe Gibbs Racing stable was on full display during the 2025 playoffs, with multiple cars contending deep into the postseason. For Christopher Bell, the journey toward the Cup title looks set to run directly through his Huntersville, North Carolina-based team, as competition intensifies among NASCAR’s elite drivers and organizations. Bell’s 2025 NASCAR season may have ended in frustration, but the foundation for future championship glory appears stronger than ever.
