Christopher Bell is VERY Good

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 9: Christopher Bell (20) Reser’s Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing celebrates his victory of the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo by Gary A. Vasquez / Imagn Images)

In a sport where momentum is everything, Christopher Bell has taken the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season by the throat. With wins in three of the first four races—Atlanta, Circuit of the Americas (COTA), and Phoenix—Bell has made it clear: he’s the early championship favorite. 

Sure, he's been a championship contender before, but never has Bell looked this dominant—this inevitable. The JGR driver has put the field on notice, showing that he’s not just a rising star, but he’s arrived.

A Statement Start

Bell’s season kicked off in dramatic fashion at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he battled some of the sport’s best in a thrilling overtime finish to claim his first career super-speedway win. 

It was a statement win for sure, but who expected it to be the start of a complete rampage?

Then came COTA. One of the most demanding courses on the schedule, both mentally and physically. Bell proved his versatility by outlasting road course aces such as Shane van Gisbergen, AJ Allmendinger and Kyle Busch—while also going toe to toe with William Byron and Tyler Reddick. 

But here’s the thing: Yes, Bell won those two races, but he led just nine total laps combined! Just one at Atlanta and eight at COTA. 

His most dominant performance came at Phoenix Raceway. Starting second, Bell led a race-high 105 laps and truly never looked back. He beat his teammate Denny Hamlin in overtime to secure his third victory in just four races. 

Winning three of the first four races is nothing to sneeze at. Bell is the first driver to do it since Kevin Harvick in 2018, and history suggests that kind of start often leads to a serious title run. The No. 20 team isn’t just winning races—they’re setting the standard for the field.

Bell’s early success in the 2025 season has felt eerily similar to Kyle Larson’s dominant 2021—a season that saw Larson run away with the title. 

The Road Ahead

As the season rolls on, the biggest question is whether or not Bell’s dominance is sustainable. We’ve seen hot streaks to start the season before—just last year William Byron won three of the first eight races. But, Bell looks like more than just a flash in the pan. He’s driving with the poise and precision of a driver ready to fight for his first Cup Series title, and making it look easy.

The competition will catch up, but one thing is clear: Christopher Bell isn’t just here to win races—he’s here to take over.