Christopher Bell has experienced a challenging beginning in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, finding himself 24th in the standings after three events and trailing the leader, Tyler Reddick, by a substantial margin. The Christopher Bell NASCAR Cup Series campaign has yet to gain momentum, prompting reflection within Joe Gibbs Racing as Bell evaluates the importance of consistency in this year’s highly competitive chase.
Bumpy Start to the Season for Bell
The year began with promise for Bell at the 2026 Daytona 500, where he held a position near the front before an incident relegated him to 35th place at the finish. His return to Atlanta—where he triumphed previously—brought more hurdles: contact with Carson Hocevar resulted in a collision with the wall and a 21st-place finish, a far cry from his victory in 2025. However, glimmers of hope appeared at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). A late-race tire strategy orchestrated by his No. 20 team allowed Bell to surge from 16th to 3rd, offering a welcome boost in points and confidence.
That third-place run at COTA netted Bell 34 points and a jump of seven positions in the standings, yet the reality of NASCAR’s playoff-focused format remains top-of-mind. Bell understands that single strong performances are insufficient without consistent execution in both stage and race finishes over the regular season. His frustration with recent results was evident:
“Yeah, it sucks. It definitely, definitely sucks. Under the old format, it would literally be no big deal.”
– Christopher Bell, JGR Driver
Reflecting on the current points system, Bell further remarked:
“You’d just think, ‘We’re going to win at some point, it doesn’t matter.’ But now it absolutely matters. The cool thing about this format is the upped points for wins, which is a big reason why I’m 100 points out and not less than that. It gives teams the opportunity to make up more points than we’ve had in the past if you’re able to win. But it’s still too early to know if we’re going to have a shot at the regular-season championship or not,”
– Christopher Bell, JGR Driver
Team Leadership Offers Perspective
Despite the numbers, Adam Stevens, crew chief for the No. 20 team, remains composed. In recent comments on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Stevens emphasized that strong race pace, rather than initial results, is the team’s primary focus. He cited the unpredictability of the early season schedule—highlighting venues like Daytona, Atlanta, and COTA—as contributing factors to their inconsistent outcomes.
Stevens maintains that the No. 20 car has performed competitively at every event thus far, suggesting that race luck and circumstance, rather than deficiencies in speed or preparation, have shaped their early setbacks. He encourages patience, confident that persistent speed will eventually lead to more favorable results.
Outlook for the Remainder of the Regular Season
Now seven places higher in the championship, Bell and his Joe Gibbs Racing team are targeting a sustained climb through the standings before the regular season draws to a close. The group is determined to capitalize on upcoming races, starting with the event at Phoenix. Within the garage, nerves have not spilled over into panic; instead, a determined attitude prevails as the pace shown gives hope that results will follow.
The next portion of the schedule will test Bell and his crew’s resolve, as they chase the points needed to secure a playoff berth. While the start has been disappointing, the chase format’s emphasis on race victories offers a lifeline, keeping the team’s championship hopes alive as the season progresses. How Bell and his team respond to these challenges—navigating setbacks and capitalizing on their speed—will be pivotal in determining their fate in the Christopher Bell NASCAR Cup Series championship battle.
This week's 12 Questions is with Christopher — NOT Chris — Bell. On why he prefers Christopher and what he'd give up a toe to win (free link, no paywall): https://t.co/dToCo7LWvH
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 5, 2026
