Christopher Bell drove the No. 20 Toyota to a win on the road course at Daytona(Photo: Getty Images)
Without question, Christopher Bell is one of the most talented young drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series. And in 2021, the Norman, Oklahoma native took steps toward confirming that talent. The soon-to-be 27-year-old driver garnered his first victory at the sport’s top level which earned him a spot in the NASCAR Playoffs. Ultimately, the driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota advanced into the ‘Round of 12’ in the post-season before settling for a 12th place result in the final standings.
Bell’s rookie campaign in the Cup Series came during the pandemic-impacted 2020 season for then JGR affiliate Leavine Family Racing. His statistics for the organization that announced midway through the season that it would cease operations at the end of the year were somewhat underwhelming. However, it did not take long the highly-touted driver to make his mark with his new team in this most recent season as he grabbed the winner’s trophy in the second race on the schedule on the road course within the Daytona International Speedway.
A look into the history of Bell’s rise through the ranks reveals why there should be reason for optimism going into the 2022 season. With every step up the NASCAR ladder, the up-and-coming star has made significant gains in his second and third years at each level.
After a campaign in which he finished out the year with top-10 finishes in five of the last six races, Bell will carry some momentum into next year. In 2021, the No. 20 machine registered that lone win in Daytona along with seven top-5 and 16 top-10 results while leading 100 laps. Expect those numbers to be eclipsed in the coming season.
As Bell came through the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, he won one race in both 2015 and 2016 then exploded for five victories and a championship in 2017. After advancing to the NASCAR Xfinity Series on a part-time basis in 2017, Bell achieved one win. But after that brief period of adjustment, he again exploded by scoring seven and eight triumphs in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
One caveat going into this NASCAR Cup Series season, however, is the fact that the new Next Gen(or Generation 7) car will be coming on line. But Bell has always demonstrated the type of diversity in driving skill that will be required for success behind the wheel of a car that is considered radically different from its predecessor.
The driver who will be seeking his fourth career win in the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals for Midget Sprint Cars in January has won a total of five World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car features apart from NASCAR. That ability to win in other forms of competition shows adaptability. And by all accounts, that trait will be essential in 2022.
It goes without saying that the level of competition is higher in the NASCAR Cup Series than in the two lower divisions. That said, however, this driver has risen to the occasion with each jump in his career. Considering that he is with one of the sport’s top organizations and has the talent along with a track record of success at every level, there seems to be little reason to believe that Christopher Bell won’t step up his game in 2022.
Richard Allen is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association
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