It seems inevitable that Christopher Bell will eventually graduate to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with Joe Gibbs Racing.
He may have to join a Toyota satellite team in the short term until Gibbs can sort out its loaded four-car squadron that currently includes Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones and Kyle Busch — the latter of which signed a three-year extension through 2022 this week.
In simpler terms, Bell seemingly has nowhere to go, but all indications are that Gibbs and Toyota have zero intentions of letting their top prospect go to another manufacturer. It happened once with Kyle Larson, and lessons were learned.
However, should Bell remain with Gibbs, he may have to discuss how much time he spends moonlighting in sprint cars and midgets, something he very much wants to continue doing.
Traditionally, Coach Gibbs has restricted his drivers from participating in open-wheel racing, citing the increased safety concerns compared to racing a full-bodied stock car. Gibbs placed limitations on Tony Stewart during the 2000s and is currently going back-and-forth with Kyle Busch on ‘Rowdy’s’ desire to someday compete in the Indianapolis 500.
When asked on Friday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway about the looming debate Bell may have to engage Gibbs over, the Xfinity Series championship leader smiled and made a ‘shhhhhhhhh’ sound.
Maybe if no one talks about it, Gibbs won’t notice.
Eh, probably not.
But Bell definitely plans to make a case to continue dirt racing once he reaches the highest level of NASCAR.
"It’s definitely really important to me," Bell said. "I think Larson has opened eyes and been vocal that it makes him a better stock car racer. It’s one thing that I am very high on, too. I go out there and race more, I feel like it makes me a better race car driver. That was one of those things that I really struggled with in 2016 in my first Truck year.
"There was a 23-race Truck Series schedule. I think I only got to do 10-15 dirt races. I didn’t race enough. I feel like I get rusty and not as sharp if I don’t race enough. For me, coming into this weekend, I just got done running two World of Outlaw Sprint Car events with 900 horsepower Sprint Cars. Then I go into a stock car and everything just slows down. That makes me better in the Xfinity Series."
Bell has competed in all four World of Outlaw events in 2019 and is currently second in the championship standings behind Daryn Pittman. He raced Florida Speedweeks at Volusia County with Swindell Racing and the two Las Vegas events with Baughman Reutzel Motorsports.
In between those four Outlaw appearances, Bell has finished sixth and first in his two Xfinity races – dominating the most recent Xfinity race at Atlanta.
He doesn’t believe in coincidences.
"Racing more makes me better," Bell said. "If you talk to basketball players or football players, I'm sure they are out there tossing a football around or shooting hoops somewhere. We’re in a unique sport where we can’t just practice during the week. Any time I get to go race other race cars, it makes me better."
Larson has it written into his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing that he is allowed to enter roughly 30 dirt events each year. Ganassi wants Larson focused on the task at hand, but also praises his young ace for winning in a variety of disciplines.
It's something Bell hopes to replicate with Gibbs' when he signs his first Cup Series contract.
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