Christopher Bell’s Chili Bowl performance has set a new benchmark at this year’s event in Tulsa, with Bell excelling both behind the wheel and as an owner. Meanwhile, NASCAR driver Chase Briscoe, returning not as a competitor but as a car owner, is watching his team try to close the competitive gap after a challenging start to the week inside the SageNet Center.
Returning Faces and Evolving Roles
Prior to this season, Joe Gibbs permitted his drivers to participate in dirt racing, allowing names like Chase Briscoe to balance their NASCAR commitments with midget racing outside the Cup Series. Last year, Briscoe skipped the Chili Bowl to be with his wife for the birth of their twins. This year, he is back at the event, but in the capacity of team owner, supporting Karter Sarff in the No. 5 Midget car. The journey for Briscoe’s team, however, started with disappointment as Sarff finished eighth in the preliminary feature, highlighting the steep competition among owner-drivers.
Christopher Bell’s Standout Driving and Ownership
Bell, now racing as an owner-driver, has made a commanding statement throughout the preliminary rounds. He captured a win at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Race of Champions by leading from the pole on Monday, then surged from eighth to first to secure another feature win on Thursday, earning his place in Saturday’s championship race. This sequence of victories demonstrated both his skill and the advantage of driving on his own terms, with no team hierarchy to answer to and more autonomy over his race decisions.
Briscoe Aims to Narrow the Gap
Despite his own racing experience, Briscoe openly admitted that his team’s debut as owners was challenging, particularly when compared to Bell’s triumphs. Reflecting on the night where Sarff ran eighth while Bell surged to victory, Briscoe said,
“It definitely could have been better. Last night still kind of stings. We, we just passed Christopher (Bell), and then a caution came out and started right behind him, and we kind of got shuffled on the start, and Christopher ends up winning, and we run eighth, so that one kind of stings, but we’ve been fast, at least.”
— Chase Briscoe, Owner
Looking ahead to the remaining rounds, Briscoe outlined the plan to work their way through the lower mains in hopes of reaching the finale, stating,
“So, yeah, we’ll see what we can do tomorrow night. We’ll have a little bit of work to do. I think Jordan’s in a D, and then Carter will be in the B, so, yeah, do what we can do, and hopefully, uh, we can sneak him in there,”
— Chase Briscoe, Owner.
On his transition from driver to owner, Briscoe captured his current mindset, sharing,
“I enjoy it way more.”
— Chase Briscoe, Owner, via FloRacing.
The Growth of NASCAR Presence in Chili Bowl Ownership
Ownership is quickly becoming the new path for NASCAR stars drawn back to the Chili Bowl’s dirt roots. This year, five active NASCAR Cup Series drivers, including Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Bell, and Briscoe, are fielding cars in Tulsa. Many of these competitors honed their early skills on dirt and are leveraging that experience both from the cockpit and behind the pit wall as team owners. The event now highlights not just driver ability but also the strategic depth and emotional stakes of team management for NASCAR’s elite.
Leadership, Autonomy, and What’s Next
Operating as an owner-driver, Bell has found freedom in making his own decisions, adjusting to a more relaxed rhythm throughout the week, and thriving with fewer obligations compared to his years as a hired gun. For Briscoe, the struggle and excitement of nurturing a team towards contention has brought renewed energy and purpose, setting the stage for further competitive drama in the championship round.
This season’s Chili Bowl has reinforced the significance of car owner involvement for NASCAR regulars, both as a return to their racing heritage and as a development in their careers. As Bell’s standout showing raises the bar and Briscoe’s team looks to mount a comeback, their efforts in Tulsa embody the evolving landscape of motorsports, where experience, passion, and resilience on and off the track continue to define success.
“I enjoy it way more.” 😃 #NASCAR star @chasebriscoe says the car owner role at the #ChiliBowl suits him just fine. pic.twitter.com/UfCVProTs1
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) January 17, 2026
