Bell, 27, entered the 2022 playoffs because the tenth seed (of 16 drivers) with one win and two stage victories through the common season.
However his efficiency exploded within the first spherical as the one driver who completed within the top-five in all three races (Darlington, S.C., Kansas and Bristol, Tenn.).
The second spherical turned out practically precisely reverse as he wrecked out of the Texas race and ending a disappointing seventeenth at Talladega, Ala.
That left the highest performer from the primary spherical in peril of elimination final weekend on the Charlotte Roval, needing a win to advance. That’s precisely what he did.
Due to a well timed pit name for 4 new tires on the next-to-last warning, Bell barreled via the sector, handed chief Kevin Harvick on the beginning of extra time and claimed the victory and computerized development to the Spherical of 8.
It’s been an up-and-down 12 months for the second-year Cup Collection driver however with 4 races remaining within the season, he nonetheless has a viable likelihood at his first collection championship.
Staying alive within the title combat
“From the primary 10 races into the season, I knew that our efficiency and functionality was there. We had quite a lot of issues working in opposition to us,” Bell mentioned. “At any time when we left I wish to say Atlanta, I don’t keep in mind what race Atlanta was within the season, however three or 4 races in we have been positioned final within the factors standings.
“I feel lots of people had written me off as a driver, written the No. 20 automobile off, ‘Christopher goes to get fired’ – I acquired that on a regular basis; that I’m getting changed. The No. 20 automobile is the revolving door, he’s going to be out of right here.
“We’re nonetheless alive. That feels actually good. I wouldn’t have guessed {that a} week in the past and even 5 hours in the past.”
Bell is hoping the third spherical of the playoffs – which options races at Las Vegas, Homestead, Fla., and Martinsville, Va. – will produce a return to the efficiency he showcased within the first spherical.
Bell, and the Toyota groups typically, have been sturdy this season within the Subsequent Gen automobile on intermediate tracks like Las Vegas and Homestead.
“I really feel extraordinarily good about what we’ve occurring right here within the subsequent three races. Ever because the schedule laid out and we have been wanting on the playoffs, the Spherical of 16 all have been actually good race tracks for us,” he mentioned.
“The Spherical of 12 with Talladega and (the Roval) in there, I used to be super-concerned and nervous. I nonetheless felt like we have been going to have the ability to make it via it as a result of we’re actually good at Texas. At any time when we left (Texas) with a whopping three factors, I used to be simply actually down, down within the dumps, unhappy.
“Then we went to Talladega, and we wanted a house run. We wanted lot of factors, and we didn’t rating quite a lot of factors. This entire final two weeks, I had been extraordinarily deflated, simply form of down within the dumps.”
Now, Bell mentioned, he’s as excited as he’s ever been within the playoffs in his quick stint as a fulltime Cup Collection driver.
“I don’t suppose we’re performed,” he mentioned. “A two-win season just isn’t our finish purpose. I feel that we’re actually able to extra. I wish to be a family title within the Cup Collection.
“Hopefully, that is simply the beginning.”
