Final 12 months, Netflix launched its first season of “NASCAR: Full Velocity,” a docuseries following the 2023 Cup Collection. The movie crew zeroed in on potential championship contenders, planning to shadow the eight drivers they anticipated to make it to the tip. When Christopher Bell made the highest eight, they introduced him on display screen 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 referred to as the Championship 4) in 2022, the 12 months earlier than Netflix filmed that scene. He made it once more final 12 months. This 12 months, 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 Collection’ greatest title threats, Kyle Larson.
The Netflix crew gave Bell the “quiet contender” storyline, they usually weren’t mistaken. However as he is aware of nicely, folks 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 Pictures
“I am undoubtedly quiet,” Bell advised Motorsport.com. “I am quiet and reserved, and folks will form of take that as a weak spot. 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 fascinating to me how the Netflix deal performed out final 12 months. They’ve to choose guys to observe 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 observe me as a result of they did not count on me to carry out nicely. It made me blissful that I proved them mistaken and crashed their celebration.”
Bell, 29, drives the No. 20 automobile for Joe Gibbs Racing, one of many longtime powerhouse groups within the Cup Collection. Fashionable NASCAR not tallies season-long factors to determine 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 successful races earlier on this spherical.
“I do know I could be as massive of a menace as anybody.”
“I really feel cautiously optimistic,” Bell mentioned. “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 are going to be quick, and they’ll be racing for the win. It will be crucial for the 20 group to be proper there with them, and if we try this, we could possibly be watching 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 successful 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 almost half that, however the standings change drastically all through a playoff weekend as drivers accumulate mid-race stage factors and climb or fall via the sphere. Bell will likely be calculating factors in his head — and together with his group — all race lengthy.
“Going into Martinsville, we’re racing two vehicles: the 24 [of Byron] and the 5 [of Larson],” Bell mentioned. “I am positive I will be asking the place they’re at and what the factors appear like, however I will be conserving observe of it fairly nicely. You simply do the maths in your head: the place they’re working on the finish of the levels, what factors get scored, and the way it’s taking part in 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 successful in New Hampshire in June
Photograph by: None
“That is definitely distinctive for us,” Bell mentioned. “I look again at my earlier Championship 4 appearances, and final 12 months, I used to be in a position to win at Homestead, lock myself in, and never have to fret about Martinsville. The 12 months earlier than, we went into Martinsville figuring out the one factor that mattered was successful 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 automobile attainable.
“This time round, we’ve 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 should be performing on the finish of the race and get factors. We’ve to execute on all fronts.”
The NASCAR playoffs transfer rapidly. 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 undoubtedly bought to get there first,” Bell mentioned. “That is the benefit that Joey Logano has, and now Tyler Reddick. They will try this. However for us, we can not flip that web page but.
“There’s quite a lot of stress that comes from [the playoff format], however I like it. I would not have it every other approach. You dream of being part of these moments and preventing for a championship. I am positive Saturday night time at Martinsville I am not going to be sleeping very nicely, 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 talents,” Bell mentioned. “I believe different folks form of take me as not a lot of a menace, however I do know I could be as massive of a menace as anybody.”
