MARTINSVILLE, Va.: Christopher Bell believes the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing crew has the team components to win the championship—but first he has to advance.
Bell is battle-tested. He’s the only driver in the Round of 8 to qualify for the Championship 4 the last two seasons.
Now, just Martinsville Speedway stands between Bell and a third trip to the final four.
“This place has been very hit or miss for me—qualifying and race trim,” Bell said. “I’ve had a couple of good races and a couple of bad races. One thing we’ve done this time is utilize Aric Almirola. He has been a huge benefit to me and my team this year since he came on board.
“Martinsville is probably his best race track on the calendar. So we’ve spent a lot of time together, in the simulator, focusing on driver techniques and stuff like that. Nothing is guaranteed. I still have to do my part, but I feel I’m as prepared as I’ve ever been.”
The Norman, Oklahoman qualified 16th on Saturday. But he’s not concerned. Bell started 20th at Martinsville the first time he won at the Virginia track to qualify for the final four in 2022. Despite that victory, the 29-year-old racer wasn’t overwhelmingly confident about the half-miler.
So JGR enlisted Almirola to push Bell over the finish line. The 40-year-old racer returned to Joe Gibbs Racing after a 16-year absence, not only to drive race cars but also to mentor young drivers.
Even after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday—and sweeping both Martinsville races in 2024—Almirola admitted he’s not exactly Bell’s “secret weapon,” just a JGR teammate working for the good of the organization.
“He is more race car driver than I am, I can tell you that very confidently,” Almirola said. “And I’ve told Christopher that from day one—since I started working with him. The things that he can do with a race car are unbelievable. I tell him all the time that his 90 percent is better than most people’s 100 percent.
“The biggest thing that I felt that I’ve had an impact with him is just getting him to focus on the right things. Not panic. Not try too hard. Not overcompensate. Those things.”
Bell currently sits 29 points above the cut line for the Championship 4. He can clinch a spot in the Championship 4 round by scoring 26 points at Martinsville should Joey Logano or Tyler Reddick win again or a victor emerges who is not eligible to advance in the Playoffs.
Should a fellow Round of 8 driver behind Bell in the points win, he would need 34 points to clinch a title-contending spot at Phoenix Raceway on November 10.
“I’ve memorized that,” Bell said of the number 34. “But 34 points is hard to get at Martinsville. And you’re going to have to be really, really good and really, really competitive to get that many points.
“We have a big day ahead of us and we’re going to have to be competitive and strong to get that many points.”
In March, Bell led 50 laps en route to his first Phoenix Cup win. The victory was cathartic for the 29-year-old. Four months earlier, a brake rotor failure led to Bell crashing 157 laps into the season finale, ending his title hopes.
“I understand that nothing is guaranteed,” Bell said. “Just because we make the final four doesn’t mean we’re going to win the final four. Just because we’re leading the race at Phoenix doesn’t mean that you’re going to win the championship.
“This sport can be very humbling at times and it’s never over until it’s over.”
Bell has endured his full of humble pie in the Playoffs. Twice his car has been fast enough to win the pole, his pit crew has performed flawlessly on pit road and Bell has left the track without the trophy. His last win—and JGR’s last Cup win—came at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 23.
Having a driver coach such as Almirola, who understands the highs and lows of racing after 16 seasons as a NASCAR Cup competitor, could be the catalyst Bell needs to close the deal.
“He is such an amazing race car driver, but even more than that, he’s an amazing person,” Almirola said. “He’s been so enjoyable and so fun to work with because he’s so talented yet so humble. It’s rare to find.
“He reminds me a lot of Jimmie Johnson (seven-time Cup champion). Just the fact that he has so much talent yet would give you the shirt off of his back. Jimmie was that way.
“I like helping him because he is a special person.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
