Norman native leads Truck Series
Christopher Bell will take the track at Texas Motor Speedway with a narrow points lead in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. But the Norman native won’t be too interested in racing for points in the Jag Metals 350 at 7 p.m. Friday.
Christopher Bell will take the track at Texas Motor Speedway with a narrow points lead in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. But the Norman native won’t be too interested in racing for points in the Jag Metals 350 at 7 p.m. Friday.
After winning at Texas in the summer, Bell will be on the hunt for another victory to cement his spot in the championship round of the playoffs at Miami-Homestead Speedway in two weeks.
He reached the final round last year, even though he wasn’t one of the expected contenders for the title. But this season, he entered the playoffs as a favorite. Entering Texas, he holds a three-point lead on Johnny Sauter.
With a full-time spot with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series locked down for next year, Bell will try to go out on top in the Truck Series.
Q: How much did last year’s experience in the playoffs help prepare you to handle your role as a favorite this season?
A: "It was huge. I didn’t win the Chase last year, but to be able to make it to Homestead in the final four was something that was huge for me going into this year and really, the rest of my career, because now I’ve been there. I know what that pressure is like to be in the final four and to race for a championship. So I have that experience that I wouldn’t have if I didn’t make it last year."
With three races left is there one track you feel more comfortable at?
"For me personally, Texas is my favorite. It’s been my favorite track since I started NASCAR racing. Even with the repave, my trucks have seemed to be good there every time we’ve gone there. To win in the spring obviously gives me a little bit of extra confi- dence going in."
How excited are you for next year, with a full-time ride in the Xfinity Series?
"Next year is gonna be a blast. To be able to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing is something that I would say I dreamed of as a kid, but I didn’t ever think it was a possibility. It’s a dream come true to be able to drive for him, and to drive in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the premier team is really special."
You won at Kansas Speed- way in your fifth career Xfinity race a few weeks ago. What does it do for you to see that you can compete at that level already?
"It was really special and a huge confidence boost for me, especially to do it the way that I did it, to run down and pass a couple Cup drivers in the final stages of that race. It gave me a bunch of confidence to know that I can do it. Kansas was a career moment for me. It’s probably the biggest win of my career so far."