The ghosts of 2023 returned to haunt Christopher Bell as he came up short at Vegas once again. Though he managed to finish second, the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 car was left disheartened by missing out on a victory after a strong race. Despite this, Bell now holds a secure position, 42 points above the cutline going into Homestead, Miami. Still, with one spot for Phoenix already locked in, the battle for the remaining three is bound to intensify, regardless of his points lead.
Bell reached the Championship 4 last year and seemed well on track to secure his place this season, leading 155 of 267 laps in Vegas before things took a turn. Joey Logano’s “even-year” magic came through again as he expertly handled fuel strategy. Unlike Bell, Logano chose not to pit during stage 3, which gave him the upper hand, showcasing a brilliant strategy by Team No. 22. Bell will aim to bounce back in Miami but might face challenges along the way.
Could Bell still lose his top 4 spot despite his points cushion?
Being 42 points above the cutline is usually a safe and strong position for any driver. But with the pressure rising as the championship approaches, any spot is vulnerable. A win at Las Vegas Speedway would have ensured Bell’s place at the championship race, but history repeated itself. Bell was in a similar scenario in 2023 when Kyle Larson snatched the Vegas win from him.
Motorsports journalist Jeff Gluck appeared on ‘Dirty Mo Media’ and said, “They did what they needed to do… We asked Bell about that final run – he had 70 or so laps to make it happen, and he said, ‘There wasn’t a point where I felt stuck in traffic.’ Bell did everything right, and they followed the strategy they had to. Unfortunately, the system offers little consolation.”
The next two races before the Championship 4 at Phoenix are at Homestead and Martinsville Speedway. If Bell wins one of them, he’ll lock his spot for Phoenix. However, unfamiliar names on the podium could shake things up significantly. Bell is just 5 points ahead of Kyle Larson, who had a difficult race in Las Vegas but will be keen to recover in Miami.
Motorsports journalist Jeff Gluck mentioned that Bell’s crew chief, Steven Adams, shared a similar thought after the Vegas race. “Yes, we’re in a good points position. But if there’s a new winner next week, that takes a spot away. And if another new winner pops up at Martinsville, Bell might find himself battling Larson for a spot at Phoenix—and that gap is just seven points. So while it seems he’s safely above the cutline, it’s not guaranteed.” If Bell has a poor showing at any of these tracks, his chances could slip away.
Reflecting on his loss in Vegas, Bell said, “I feel like I executed my race. I feel like our team executed our race. It just wasn’t meant to be. That’s a dagger. More of a dagger than last year.” He remained composed when speaking to the media but couldn’t hide his frustration over the team radio.
