Bell picked up an essential win on Sunday night time within the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway – the longest race of the 12 months additionally pays probably the most factors as a result of it’s divided into 4 phases.
And whereas Bell was already locked into the playoffs because of his win earlier this season at Phoenix, extra victories imply extra playoff factors, which can assist in his hunt for the collection championship.
The win additionally helps Bell and his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota staff soothe over a latest rocky stretch by which he had one top-10 end in his earlier six races. He’s additionally crashed out of three races this 12 months and has 5 finishes of thirty third or worse.
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, Rheem Toyota Camry
Picture by: Ben Earp / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
It’s that up-and-down nature of his efficiency that gnaws at Bell, largely as a result of he’s acutely conscious that he and his staff are succesful a lot extra.
“Truthfully, this No. 20 staff is at a extremely great spot as a result of now we’re sitting midway by way of the common season with two wins, which is superb, however we’ve been extraordinarily upset with how our season has gone,” Bell, 29, stated.
“I feel that simply goes to indicate that the ceiling is there, and the potential of this staff is there. We haven’t been performing like we need to, but when we put all of it collectively, we will definitely be a contender week-in and week-out and be a man that wins a handful of races year-in and year- out.
“That’s the tip purpose. I don’t need to be only a one- or two-win-a-year particular person. I need to be a five- to 10-win-a-year particular person.”
Regardless that Bell’s win got here in a rain-shortened race on Sunday night time, he clearly had proven by the third stage that he had one of many quickest vehicles.
His pit crew was spectacular, he held off some very decided competitors on the 2 restarts previous to the ultimate warning for rain and he led 90 of the 249 laps accomplished.
It was a shortened, however stable day for a staff that has not had many this season.
“Hopefully reveals that we’ve functionality,” Bell stated. “I hate speaking the discuss and never with the ability to stroll the stroll behind it, however I do know and my staff is aware of and my firm is aware of, Toyota is aware of that we’ve the potential to be an element week in and week out.
“It simply hasn’t come collectively but.”
Holding spirits excessive regardless of setbacks
Bell’s crew chief, Adam Stevens, stated an important a part of navigating an up-and-down season is sustaining confidence they’ve what it takes to contend each week.
“For those who’re assured you’re doing all the suitable issues that it’s worthwhile to be doing, which I’m and I do know that we’re, you’ll be able to have nights like this simply as straightforward as you’ll be able to have days like we had a pair weeks in the past,” he stated.
“However you’ve received to remain upbeat, it’s a must to focus in your strengths and work in your weaknesses and take it because it comes. You’ll be able to’t make it occur quite a lot of occasions. You must let it occur.”
The upcoming summer time stretch of the Cup schedule ought to present Bell and the No. 20 staff alternatives for extra good runs and even wins.
Whereas Bell has struggled at World Extensive Expertise Raceway at Gateway, he excelled on street programs and run nicely at New Hampshire and Iowa, whether or not or not it’s in Cup or the Xfinity Collection.
“We’re in an excellent a part of the schedule, and the cool factor is that I really feel like each time we go to the race observe I ought to have functionality and have an opportunity to win,” Bell stated.
“We’ve simply received to maintain pushing in the suitable course. The final a number of weeks haven’t been good, however I do know that I’ve the suitable folks round me to succeed and do actually good issues.”
