Final yr, Netflix launched its first season of “NASCAR: Full Pace,” a docuseries following the 2023 Cup Sequence. The movie crew zeroed in on potential championship contenders, planning to shadow the eight drivers they anticipated to make it to the top. When Christopher Bell made the highest eight, they introduced him on display virtually randomly.
“I wasn’t in that plan, was I?” Bell requested.
“You have been by no means in that plan,” they responded.
“Think about that.”
Bell made NASCAR’s last 4 (formally known as the Championship 4) in 2022, the yr earlier than Netflix filmed that scene. He made it once more final yr. This yr, with one race left to qualify, Bell has an enormous cushion over the fifth-place elimination line. He’s led 1,002 laps up to now this season, second solely to one of many Cup Sequence’ largest title threats, Kyle Larson.
The Netflix crew gave Bell the “quiet contender” storyline, they usually weren’t flawed. However as he is aware of properly, individuals discover the “quiet” half — however do not pay sufficient consideration to the “contender” half.
Christopher Bell within the No. 20 Toyota Camry
Photograph by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Photos
“I am positively quiet,” Bell advised Motorsport.com. “I am quiet and reserved, and other people will sort of take that as a weak point. I am not one of many guys that is going to be on the market hooting and hollering, however I do know that I am each bit as succesful as anybody else on the market.
“It was attention-grabbing to me how the Netflix deal performed out final yr. They’ve to select guys to comply with all year long, and coming off of 2022, I used to be a championship contender. We made the ultimate 4, then they particularly selected to not comply with me as a result of they did not count on me to carry out properly. It made me completely satisfied that I proved them flawed and crashed their celebration.”
Bell, 29, drives the No. 20 automotive for Joe Gibbs Racing, one of many longtime powerhouse groups within the Cup Sequence. Fashionable NASCAR not tallies season-long factors to resolve the champion; lately, the title trophy exhibits up after a 10-race, 16-driver playoff format. These drivers get eradicated in units of 4 all through the playoffs, till solely 4 stay. Once they get to the final race of the season, factors not matter — whicheverChampionship 4 driver finishes highest wins the title (even when a non-playoff driver wins the race).
This weekend, Bell enters the ultimate race of the eight-driver spherical, which occurs at Martinsville Speedway, within the third seed. The one two drivers above him are Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick, who each mechanically certified for the Championship 4 by profitable races earlier on this spherical.
“I do know I might be as large of a risk as anybody.”
“I really feel cautiously optimistic,” Bell stated. “That is the phrases that I have been utilizing this week, as a result of whereas we do have a reasonably good buffer, our competitors goes to be fierce. They’ll be quick, and they are going to be racing for the win. It should be essential for the 20 staff to be proper there with them, and if we try this, we could possibly be gazing one other Championship 4 berth.”
Bell is 29 factors above the elimination line. His subsequent closest competitor, William Byron, is barely seven above. Bell can both make the Championship 4 this weekend on factors or by profitable the race, and the factors look good: The fewest factors a driver can rating in a race is one, and essentially the most is 60.
Bell has a cushion of practically half that, however the standings change drastically all through a playoff weekend as drivers accumulate mid-race stage factors and climb or fall by the sphere. Bell might be calculating factors in his head — and along with his staff — all race lengthy.
“Going into Martinsville, we’re racing two automobiles: the 24 [of Byron] and the 5 [of Larson],” Bell stated. “I am positive I will be asking the place they’re at and what the factors appear to be, however I will be protecting monitor of it fairly properly. You simply do the mathematics in your head: the place they’re operating on the finish of the levels, what factors get scored, and the way it’s enjoying out.”
The chop from eight drivers to 4 is cutthroat, and nobody is eradicated till they flip their final lap at Martinsville. If there’s a race winner from under the lower line, they’ll mechanically advance to Phoenix, taking a spot away from a driver who would’ve superior on factors. Bell did it from the seventh seed at Martinsville in 2022.
Christopher Bell hoisting his lobster prize after profitable in New Hampshire in June
Photograph by: None
“That is actually distinctive for us,” Bell stated. “I look again at my earlier Championship 4 appearances, and final yr, I used to be capable of win at Homestead, lock myself in, and never have to fret about Martinsville. The yr earlier than, we went into Martinsville figuring out the one factor that mattered was profitable the race. We did not have to fret about getting stage factors, and even actually qualifying. We simply needed to fear about having the very best race automotive potential.
“This time round, we now have a ton of significance on qualifying, pit-box choice, and the stage factors we accumulate all through the race. Then, even in any case of that, we nonetheless need to be performing on the finish of the race and get factors. We now have to execute on all fronts.”
The NASCAR playoffs transfer shortly. If Bell qualifies for the Championship 4 this weekend at Martinsville, he’ll have one week to organize for the title race in Phoenix. Bell’s by no means received the Cup title; in 2022, he completed tenth within the race and third of the 4 championship drivers. In 2023, a blown brake rotor took him out of the race early.
This week, Bell advised Motorsport he’s not even fascinated with the title race till after Martinsville.
“We’ve positively obtained to get there first,” Bell stated. “That is the benefit that Joey Logano has, and now Tyler Reddick. They will try this. However for us, we can’t flip that web page but.
“There’s numerous stress that comes from [the playoff format], however I adore it. I would not have it some other method. You dream of being part of these moments and combating for a championship. I am positive Saturday evening at Martinsville I am not going to be sleeping very properly, however the job’s going to be on.”
Bell has confirmed he’s extra than simply Netflix’s quiet contender — he’s additionally a playoff specialist. And never shy about it, both.
“I am tremendous assured in my skills,” Bell stated. “I feel different individuals sort of take me as not a lot of a risk, however I do know I might be as large of a risk as anybody.”
