Christopher Bell is proving once again why he’s a force in dirt racing. Kicking off 2025 with dominant performances, Bell has already claimed victories at the Chili Bowl Nationals Race of Champions and the Non-Wing Outlaw Main Event at the Tulsa Shootout. Most recently, he outlasted Kyle Larson in a nail-biting finish at the World of Outlaws season opener at Volusia Speedway Park.
Winning Margin: 0.005 seconds
Prize Money: $12,000
Defeated Rival: Kyle Larson
Bell and Larson put on a show for fans, battling fiercely in the final laps. Bell’s strategic driving ultimately made the difference, securing him another major dirt racing win.
Starting from the pole alongside Emerson Axsom, Bell initially lost the lead when Axsom surged ahead on Lap 6. However, Axsom’s spin on Lap 22 put Bell back in contention. That’s when Larson entered the mix, setting up a dramatic finish.
With two laps remaining, Larson made contact with Bell’s rear bumper, pushing him up the track. Rather than sticking to the high line, Bell adjusted his approach, hugging the bottom groove through the final turns. The move was perfectly timed, preventing Larson from building the momentum needed to steal the win at the finish line.
“The last thing I wanted was to miss my mark and make a mistake,” Bell explained. “I committed to sliding across the drain floor, and it worked. He just didn’t have enough time to get a run.”
This intense battle felt all too familiar for dirt racing fans. Just weeks earlier, Bell had narrowly defeated Larson at the Tulsa Shootout. The key difference this time? Bell’s ability to anticipate Larson’s moves and adjust his strategy accordingly.
For Larson, it was another tough defeat at the hands of his longtime dirt racing rival, as Bell once again took home the big-money victory.
Although Bell is a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver, he’s making a significant return to dirt racing in 2025. With Joe Gibbs Racing lifting its previous restrictions on dirt racing, Bell is seizing the opportunity to compete more frequently.
With Bell back in the mix full-time, the rivalry with Larson is set to produce even more unforgettable showdowns throughout the season.
