Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Christopher Bell (racing driver)

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 14, 2026

Discover the career path of Christopher Bell (racing driver), from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Christopher Bell is a prominent American professional stock car racing driver competing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Born in 1994, he gained early recognition through his immense success in midget car racing, including winning the 2013 USAC National Midget Series championship. Bell transitioned to NASCAR with Joe Gibbs Racing, securing the 2017 NASCAR Truck Series championship. Known for his versatility and precise driving style, he has become a consistent threat in the Cup Series, qualifying for the Championship 4 multiple times. As a key driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, Bell is widely regarded as one of the top talents in modern NASCAR, frequently contending for race wins and titles on diverse track types.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1994: Andy Hillenburg's Chili Bowl Victory

In 1994, Andy Hillenburg won the Chili Bowl Nationals, a record that stood until Christopher Bell became the next Oklahoman to win the event in 2017.

1999: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Consecutive Win Record

In 1999, Dale Earnhardt Jr. achieved the feat of winning three consecutive races in the Xfinity Series, a milestone that stood until Christopher Bell matched it in July 2018.

2007: Toyota Joins Xfinity and Cup Series

In 2007, Toyota officially entered both the Xfinity and Cup Series, utilizing the Camry model for its racing program.

2010: Lucas Oil ASCS2 Championship Win

In 2010, Christopher Bell achieved a significant career milestone by earning the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Championship.

2011: Victory at the 66 Mike Phillips Memorial

During 2011, Christopher Bell secured a victory at the 66 Mike Phillips Memorial micro-sprint car race.

October 31, 2013: Joining CH Motorsports

On October 31, 2013, Christopher Bell transitioned into the sprint car racing program operated by CH Motorsports.

May 7, 2014: First Career WoO Sprint Car Series Win

On May 7, 2014, Christopher Bell captured his first career victory in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series while competing at Jacksonville Speedway.

July 8, 2015: Replacement Driver Announcement

On July 8, 2015, Christopher Bell was officially named as the replacement for driver Justin Boston in the No. 54 entry for the race at Kentucky Speedway.

October 29, 2015: Full-time Truck Series Announcement

On October 29, 2015, Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) officially announced that Christopher Bell would compete as a full-time driver in the NASCAR Truck Series for the 2016 season.

2016: 2016 Truck Series Season Overview

During the 2016 season, Christopher Bell faced significant challenges, including a terrifying barrel-roll crash at Daytona and a race-ending tire failure at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Despite these setbacks, he secured his first career win at Gateway and ultimately finished third in the final standings in 2016.

November 17, 2017: 2017 Truck Series Championship Win

On November 17, 2017, Christopher Bell secured the 2017 Truck Series championship title. He achieved this by finishing second in the race behind Chase Briscoe, which was sufficient to finish ahead of fellow Championship 4 contenders Matt Crafton, Johnny Sauter, and Austin Cindric.

2017: Christopher Bell's 2017 Racing Breakthrough

During 2017, Christopher Bell achieved several significant career milestones, including winning a race at Atlanta after leading the stages, and making his debuts in both the Pinty's Series and the Xfinity Series. Throughout 2017, he drove for 22 Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing at various circuits, though he also faced mechanical challenges such as a brake failure at Mosport.

2017: 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship

In 2017, Christopher Bell achieved a significant career milestone by winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship.

2017: 2017 Racing Accomplishments

In 2017, Christopher Bell achieved several major racing milestones, including winning the Chili Bowl Nationals, securing his third consecutive Turnpike Challenge victory at I-44 Riverside Speedway, and winning the Winged Outlaw Division at the Tulsa Shootout.

November 10, 2018: Victory at ISM Raceway

On November 10, 2018, Christopher Bell secured a victory at the ISM Raceway. This win was critical as it moved him into the Championship 4, overcoming a precarious situation caused by disappointing results at Kansas and Texas earlier in the playoffs.

2018: Chili Bowl Victory

In 2018, Christopher Bell secured a victory at the Chili Bowl, marking a significant step toward becoming a three-time winner of the prestigious midget car racing event.

June 28, 2019: Contract Extension with Joe Gibbs Racing

On June 28, 2019, Christopher Bell solidified his future in racing by signing a contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), which secured his position with the team through the 2020 season.

September 24, 2019: Christopher Bell Joins Leavine Family Racing for 2020

On September 24, 2019, Leavine Family Racing formally announced that Christopher Bell would pilot the No. 95 Toyota in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in the 2020 season, with his Xfinity Series crew chief Jason Ratcliff moving to the team as well.

2019: Chili Bowl Three-Time Winner

By winning the Chili Bowl again in 2019, Christopher Bell solidified his place in history as only the third individual to ever win the race three times.

2019: Christopher Bell's 2019 Xfinity Season Success

During his second full-time Xfinity Series season in 2019, Christopher Bell achieved multiple victories, including wins at Atlanta, Bristol, Dover, and Iowa, along with securing two Dash 4 Cash bonuses.

2020: 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Campaign with LFR

During the 2020 season, which served as Leavine Family Racing's final year, Christopher Bell drove the No. 95 Toyota, securing seven top-ten finishes and two top-five finishes, ultimately ending the season ranked twentieth in the standings.

2020: Contractual Commitment Term

The year 2020 represented the conclusion of the contract extension period that Christopher Bell signed with Joe Gibbs Racing on June 28, 2019, marking a defined chapter in his career progression.

2021: Xfinity Series Win at New Hampshire

During July 2021, Christopher Bell made a return to the Xfinity Series at New Hampshire, where he dominated the race by leading 151 of 200 total laps to secure the victory.

2021: Transition to Joe Gibbs Racing

Following his performance in 2020, Christopher Bell moved to Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2021 season to take over the driving duties for the No. 20 car.

2021: First Career Cup Series Victory at O'Reilly Auto Parts 253

In 2021, driving the No. 20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing, Christopher Bell achieved his first career Cup Series victory at the O'Reilly Auto Parts 253 on the Daytona road course after passing Joey Logano. This win marked him as the first Oklahoma-born driver to win a Cup Series race and established him as the 100th winner of NASCAR's modern era.

2021: 2021 NASCAR Playoff Campaign

Throughout the 2021 playoffs, Bell advanced to the Round of 12. Despite facing challenges with a poor performance at Las Vegas, he showed resilience with a fifth-place finish at Talladega before ultimately being eliminated following the Charlotte Roval race and finishing the season twelfth in the overall standings.

2022: Christopher Bell's 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Season

During the 2022 season, Christopher Bell experienced several significant milestones, including a 34th-place finish at the Daytona 500, a pit road incident at Atlanta involving crew member David O'Dell, a victory at New Hampshire, and a crucial win at the Charlotte Roval. He navigated playoff pressure by winning at Martinsville to reach the Championship 4, eventually finishing the 2022 season with a career-best third-place standing in the points after the Phoenix finale.

2023: NASCAR Bans Wall-Ride Move

In 2023, NASCAR officially implemented a rule banning the 'Hail Melon' wall-riding maneuver, a regulation that would later lead to the penalization of Christopher Bell during the 2024 playoffs.

2023: Christopher Bell's 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season

Throughout 2023, Christopher Bell achieved several career milestones, including a third-place finish at the 2023 Daytona 500, a victory at the Bristol dirt race, and a win at Homestead during the playoffs to secure a spot in the Championship 4. The season concluded at Phoenix with a 36th-place DNF due to a brake failure, resulting in a fourth-place finish in the overall points standings.

2023: Implementation of Dirt Racing Restrictions

Throughout 2023, Christopher Bell faced restrictions on dirt racing imposed by his team, Joe Gibbs Racing, which prevented him from participating in major events like the Chili Bowl due to injury concerns.

2024: Continuation of Dirt Racing Ban

During the majority of 2024, the mandate from Joe Gibbs Racing remained in effect, keeping Christopher Bell sidelined from national midget and sprint car competitions to mitigate the risk of injury.

2024: Return to Dirt Competition and Success at Tulsa Shootout and DIRTcar Nationals

In 2024, Christopher Bell made a highly anticipated return to dirt racing following the lifting of a two-year ban by Joe Gibbs Racing. He celebrated this comeback by securing a win at the Tulsa Shootout in the Non-Wing Outlaw division and subsequently achieved another victory during the World of Outlaws' DIRTcar Nationals held at Volusia Speedway Park.

2024: 2024 NASCAR Season Performance

Throughout the 2024 season, Christopher Bell achieved a third-place finish at the Daytona 500 and secured race victories at Phoenix, Charlotte, and New Hampshire, while also facing a significant playoff penalty at Martinsville that led to his elimination.