Christopher Bell has often described dirt racing as a childhood dream, a passion ignited in his early years in Norman, Oklahoma, by a family friend. By the time he was 12, Bell had planned to “race cars for a living,” and his dedication to dirt racing paid off as he progressed through the ranks, eventually joining Keith Kunz Motorsports in USAC and laying the foundation for his NASCAR career. Now, as the racing driver misses out on his childhood dream, he has had to look for other outlets. And it is on that in-between that he is reflecting.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s reversal of the long-standing dirt racing ban last year in November opened the door for Christopher Bell to reconnect with his dirt roots, and he wasted no time in making the most of it. The Oklahoma native, who had been sidelined from extracurricular competition since his Cup promotion, immediately ignited his rivalry with Kyle Larson, starting this year with a dramatic photo-finish victory over him at the Tulsa shootout in January. Bell then backed it up with a World of Outlaws sprint car win at Volusia in the famed No. 69K, its first since 2019, again dueling Larson in a series of tight battles that split wins between them. This reminded fans why Christopher Bell’s dirt racing pedigree is so respected. But Christopher Bell couldn’t do it anymore.
Speaking to Corey LaJoie on the Stacking Pennies podcast, the 30-year-old didn’t hold back from expressing the strain of handling both: “I mean, I hope to do more of it next year. I expect myself to do more of it, but certainly, it’s just so enjoyable, and it’s a good break to get away from the daily grind of NASCAR. Uh, you know it, there’s no doubt that it takes a lot, and just the travel alone. Between NASCAR racing, you’re most of the time leaving on Fridays, you get home late Sunday night, and you have Monday … it cuts into your time at home. And then on your time at home, you have competition meetings, you have sim sessions, and it does add a lot to your plate. But I think if you utilize it properly, it can be a great escape from the daily grind.”
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Indeed, it must be tough to keep a balance between the rigorous schedules of both. Moreover, Christopher Bell’s last dirt race run was rougher than expected. At the 2025 Huset’s Hustle held in June, he started in 17th and finished 17th. He also ran a heat race earlier that night but didn’t land in the top spot. He added, “Yeah, and man, sprint racing happens so fast. Like you have to show up on point. You get a green-white-checkered hot lap session and then it’s right into qualifying, and if you’re not going to qualify well, you might as well go home. So it happens so fast and, to your point, it keeps you on your toes for sure.
The JGR driver even managed to dip his toes in the High Limits at Las Vegas on March 13. And even though he did not win, he definitely felt very giddy after this entire experience, recalling how it “truly is the best of both worlds, and I am living my best life right now.” But ever since his Bristol victory and his sealed position in the Round of 12, Bell’s priorities have shifted.
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Christopher Bell is cautious about his 2025 run
As the NASCAR Cup Garage heads to New Hampshire this weekend, Christopher Bell looks like the man to beat, due to his rich history with the track. Winning two of the last three races at the track and winning at least once in all three national series, his momentum, along with Joe Gibbs’ Round of 16 sweep, has shaped him to be a fierce competitor in the title hunt. More importantly, given Joe Gibbs Racing’s luck at the season finale in Phoenix, Bell is moving with caution.
He said, “The bad news is we’re not running Phoenix next week, and there’s still a long way to go to get there. I can promise you, whenever we get to Phoenix, it’s not going to be a runaway. No matter who’s in that final four [for the title], it’s always a dogfight. It’s always a good race. We are in a really good spot right now — we, as in the Toyota group, and specifically Joe Gibbs Racing. But we’ve got a long way to go to get to Phoenix, and it’s going to be a hard road, and everybody knows that.”
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Earlier in the year, JGR’s performance at Phoenix Raceway remained inconsistent and wild. Christopher Bell secured a dramatic victory in the Shriner Children’s 500, narrowly defeating teammate Denny Hamlin by 0.049 seconds. The team’s overall results on the track have been mixed. Bell’s win was notable, marking his third consecutive victory of the season, but it highlighted the team’s ability to capitalize on opportunities rather than a dominant performance throughout the weekend.
Historically, Phoenix Raceway has presented challenges for many teams due to a unique characteristic of the track: the combination of low banking in turns one and two, higher banking in turns three and four, and the distinct dogleg section creates a complex racing environment. But as JGR moves into New Hampshire with more confidence, they intend to take the playoff race one race at a time.