Martinsville, Va. – Christopher Bell’s bid to make him a championship player in the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series took another step in the right direction with a fourth-place finish in Saturday afternoon’s Texas Roadhouse 200 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
“This was a really important race for us today,” said Bell. “I really struggled in April whenever we came for the truck race. For us to be able to come outta here with a top-five was a win for us. Now, we’re sitting good in the points and we’re going to two places where I feel really feel confident that we can compete for wins and get ourselves to Homestead.”
For Bell in the No. 4 JBL Toyota Tundra, it was his 12th top-10 finish in the last 13 races dating back to a did not finish (DNF) at Michigan International Speedway in August. Since Michigan, Bell has been steadily putting his No. 4 team into championship mode with four top-five and six top-10 consecutive runs.
“We just continue to do what we’ve been doing over the past five, six races now,” added Bell. “Our attitude going into these races have been to not eliminate ourselves. And whenever we don’t eliminate ourselves Kyle Busch Motorsports brings fast enough Tundra’s where normally we’re right in the hunt.
“That’s something I struggled with early on in the year. Getting myself in trouble and eliminating myself before the end of the race where I couldn’t even race for the win. Now, we’re able to finish these races and we’re showing we have the speed to run up front and compete with these guys.
Bell, the 2013 USAC National Midget champion finished a disappointing 19th at Martinsville in April, but a different approach with the leadership of crew chief Jerry Baxter delivered the 21-year-old his 15th top-10 of 2016.
“It was a lot better than Martinsville in April, that’s for sure,” sounded Bell. “Really proud of my team today they brought an awesome Tundra to this thing and I’m just glad I was able to do my job and was able to come away from here with a top-five, that’s a really big points day for us.
“It was a shame that I didn’t get John Hunter (Nemechek) at the end, but to come home fourth at Martinsville, which we knew was going to be our weak link in the Chase. Really proud of all our guys. Just have to give a big thank you to Jerry (Baxter, crew chief); he brought a really good JBL Tundra today. Glad to escape here with a top-five.”
There was no discounting that the Norman, Oklahoma native had speed since the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, but at the beginning of the season his Kyle Busch Motorsports team has had to help their rookie driver curtail that speed into finishing well in races.
Bell, however, doesn’t credit a change in his driving style but rather coaching and support from his team that has resulted in a surge of impressive performances.
“A lot of it honestly has been my team around me,” said Bell. “Between Jerry my crew chief and Herm (Mike Herman) my spotter they’re able to talk me through the race and just let me know hey man, there’s still 50 laps to go.
“Today 50 laps to go is over halfway, but that’s still a long race. So just reminding myself to stay calm is the biggest thing because these races are lengthy.”
Lengthy or not, Bell, Baxter and the entire No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports team are sending a clear message that they plan to be a part of this championship fight. Bell returns to Texas, the
site of his second DNF (did not finish) of the season after missing a shift at the start and blowing his engine.
Settled into his new rhythm and with a more experience under his belt, Bell likely won’t make the same mistake next Friday night. But what you can expect to see is more of the same from Bell and his team.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
