Crossword
ACROSS
Some artists’ quarters
6 Come to a halt 10 About, on a memo All-__: versatile machine Bizet’s “Habanera,” for one
16 Handle roughly 17 Holiday bloom 19 Sketchbooks 20 USO show audience
All lathered up Magical lamp dweller Jong and Durance Oscar winner Kingsley Taft’s University of Cincinnati position Things sometimes found under a tree
Wolf cries 1959 folk hit with the line “Charlie couldn’t get off of that train” 37 Burden
38 Gave out cards 39 Animal house 40 Time of your life 41 Prolonged battle 42 Number that’s
part of a nap 43 UPS vehicle 46 __ Plaines 47 Familiarize 50 Rice or wheat 53 “Dilbert” creator
Adams
56 Day for voting:
Abbr.
57 Sleek, in car talk 58 Parlor pieces, and a hint to each set of circles
60 Dryer trap target 61 MLB Tiger, for
one 1 14 15 21 22
23 25 26 33 35 36
Artist Max Grandson of Adam
64 Heap affection
(on) 65 Continues intensely, as a storm DOWN
1 Feudal lord 2 Broadcasting 3 Natural gas, coal,
etc. 4 Atlanta-based
station
5 Goes up and
down 6 Pamplona parlor Vacation choice
8 Like a slippery
garage floor 9 Remit 62 63 7
Be about to happen Palindromic bread Designer Gernreich “What __ can I do?” Singer Diana Hair products Lions and tigers Lightning flash Support the team Composer Carmichael 29 Young hooter 30 Online advertising Arguing
__ a one: none Prod
“Bus Stop” playwright 10 11 12 13
18 22 24
25 27
28 31 32 33 34
Fizzles out Centers of activity Norse name similar to Stephen
To a greater degree 44 Numbskulls 45 Campus cadets’
org.
48 Care for 49 Exams 50 __-force winds 51 Equestrian’s strap
River of Pisa Farm storage unit
54 Tech news
site
55 Shrek, e.g. 58 Bundle
of cash
59 Altar in the sky 38 39
41 42 52 53
DAYTONA BEACH — To crack Hall of Fame team owner Joe Gibbs’ star-studded lineup, Christopher Bell was willing to spend a season on the bench.
Sunday’s win on Daytona International Speedway’s tricky road course showed Bell is ready for a starting role, perhaps a starring one on arguably NASCAR’s top Cup Series team.
The newcomer to Joe Gibbs Racing outmaneuvered 26-time winner Joey Logano with a little more than a lap to go en route to Bell’s first Cup win. Though just the season’s second race, the victory felt redemptive and validating for Bell, whom Gibbs brought on during the offseason.
“I knew going to Joe Gibbs Racing that this is my time,” Bell said. “I’m either going to put up or shut up. I’m very grateful for how it’s played out so far. It’s a dream come true to be able to drive for the Coach.
“I just want so bad to be in this No. 20 car for the rest of my career. I need to perform well to do that.”
Bell showed the skill, patience and poise to slip by Logano on the 14th and final turn of the 3.61-mile road course layout. The white flag soon signaled the last lap lay ahead and Bell seamlessly held on for the win.
“It’s a huge deal when you get a chance to win,” Gibbs said. “It’s hard to do, put it that way.”
Bell’s victory was the 186th by Joe Gibbs Racing, third all time to Rick Hendrick Motorsports (263) and Petty Enterprises (268).
Gibbs’ four-man Cup Series team annually features the upper crust of the sport’s top circuit and currently features threetime Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and former season championships Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. The trio has combined for 128 career wins.
Bell’s first victory led Hamlin to imagine the possibilities for the season ahead for JGR.
“It’s very, very difficult in our sport to have four cars that are all very good and competitive,” Hamlin said. “Certainly I believe that we can have that this year. It’s already starting off really well.”
Gibbs envisioned as much when he brought Bell into the fold after essentially lending his services to Leavine Family Racing, another Toyota team.
Bell had won 16 Xfinity Series races driving for Gibbs but generally struggled with the one-car operation at Leavine. The COVID-19 pandemic eliminated practice sessions in 2020 to intensify the challenge for a first-year driver adjusting to different equipment while facing far better competition.
Not surprisingly then, Bell followed an eightwin 2019 season in Xfinity races with just two top-five finishes during 36 Cup events in 2020.
Despite Bell’s struggles, Gibbs saw enough glimpses of promise.
“It was a lot to overcome,” Gibbs said. “He did show speed at a number of racetracks there.”
Bell’s undeniable talent and potential led Gibbs to swap out Erik Jones for Bell in the No. 20 car and pair Bell with crew chief Adam Stevens, who won Cup Series titles with Kyle Busch in 2015 and 2019. But a one-win 2020 campaign suggested the relationship had run its course.
Bell and Steven now appear to be on the fast track.
“I didn’t imagine we’d win our second race together, but happy to do so,” Stevens said. “It definitely changes the whole season, how you approach the season, what your obstacles might be.
“Now that we have one under our belt, I think we can get a few more.”
Bell has shown the ability to win in bunches.
Gibbs has, too. Besides his success in stock car racing, he won three Super Bowls during a 10-season span while coaching the Washington Redskins.
In the NFL, Gibbs knew well the importance of a deep bench and earned his second Super Bowl win in 1988 behind the efforts of former second-string quarterback Doug Williams and reserve running back Timmy Smith.
Bell is not used to being a backup, but the 26-yearold was willing to wait his turn knowing the unprecedented success of the 80-year-old Gibbs, the only man on both the NFL and NASCAR halls of fame.
On Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, Bell hit pay-dirt for his boss.
“This is a very special win for me,” Bell said. “Really proud to be able to be at Joe Gibbs Racing. This is a huge opportunity to be in a powerhouse team like this.”