CONCORD, N.C. – The start of Christopher Bell’s NASCAR XFINITY Series career with Joe Gibbs Racing looked very similar to his truck run at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway the week prior.
Much like he did in the May 19 running of the N.C. Education Lottery 200, Bell found himself involved in an early race spin and the tough task of battling back for a strong finish.
In Saturday’s Hisense 4K TV 300, the 2017 Chili Bowl champion was rewarded with a rinse and repeat effort.
Finding himself through the frontstretch grass on Lap 3 off the bumper of Roush Fenway Racing’s Ryan Reed, the Norman, Oklahoma spent the next 197 laps fighting back to prove his worth.
From a race low of 38th, Bell wrestled his No. 18 SiriusXM Toyota to fourth place finish smothered in a group of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers that include winner Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski to name a few.
“We had to fight through a lot of adversity there,” Bell said. “We would start passing guys, and we’d have to go back and start at the tail. I’m glad it was 200 laps, because we used every single bit of it. We didn’t have a lot of luck on the restarts at the beginning of the race starting on the bottom, but we got the luck when we needed it at the end.”
Nestled in with five Cup drivers who have a combined 108 victories in the XFINITY Series, Bell’s debut can be described as more than impressive, but more like magnificent.
Picking and choosing his battles through a dicey XFINITY field, Bell found himself 18th at the conclusion of Stage 1. Some forty laps, he was 19th.
“I really figured I’d be fine when I spun out on the (third) lap as long as the splitter wasn’t torn up when I went through the grass, and thankfully, it wasn’t,” Bell said. ”I really thought I could drive up through there faster and easier than what I did. Whenever you catch mediocre cars that you’re faster than and you try to just drive by them, you get caught on the inside and start slipping.
“I would get my tires too hot and that’s all she wrote for that run. If it wasn’t for the pit stops and the outside line restarts, I don’t think I would have got up there.”
Saving the best for last, Bell rocketed from inside the top-20 to inside the top-10 inside the race’s final quarter.
Fending off the experienced drivers around him, the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookie of the year stood his ground and despite his inexperience, he used his talent and a strong handling race car to sublimate his unseasoned ways.
“I’m thrilled,” added Bell of his XFINITY debut. “We had to fight through a lot of adversity there so I’m pretty happy. “Eric (Phillips) did a great job on the pit box. He just did a phenomenal job every time, tuning on it and giving me a car to be able to contend up there.
“I felt really good at the end, once I got the top figured out. I wish I could have had a couple more positions, but fourth, I’m thrilled with it and happy with it. Let’s go on to the next one – Iowa, the middle of June.”
Prior to Saturday’s 10th race of the season, Bell had one XFINITY test session under his belt, a test he didn’t feel like he accomplished a lot.
“I think the test was huge, I had never sat in one of these cars before the test,” added Bell. “Whenever Toyota came to me and said they have some XFINITY races, I was pretty excited that they said Charlotte was the first one because Charlotte was one of my favorite race tracks whenever we got to run the Truck race in the daytime.
“Then having the test was huge. Being able to just get seat time and just get a feel for it at the test, I don’t think I was very fast at the test so I knew I didn’t have to be the fastest car at the test, all I needed to do was get a feel for it and get some laps and come here this weekend and show speed. Thankfully our SiriusXM Camry was really, really good.”
On Thursday, Bell said he had a goal of completing all 200 laps. Anything beyond that was a bonus.
“These seven races here are going to be all about building my toolbox so to speak and learning and getting all the experience I can,” Bell offered Thursday. “I just want to go out here and complete every lap that I attempt. If we can finish 200 laps on Saturday, get through practice and qualifying with no issues that will be a good day. If we can run inside the top-10, then I would say that would be a great day.”
Bell’s stout finish came with a flaw, however. His car was deemed too low postrace inspection. Any penalties could be announced next week, although they won’t directly impact Bell who is running for a championship with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Through five Truck Series race, the 22-year-old is second in points with one win and five top-10 finishes. At Iowa Speedway later this month, he’ll pull double-duty competing in both series, as part of his remaining six XFINITY races left on his schedule.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01 or email at [email protected].
