Christopher Bell continued his blistering playoff run on Saturday night, seizing victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota powered to the front after a late restart and never looked back, securing his third consecutive playoff win and a clean sweep of the opening round.
“This team is unbelievable,” Bell said in Victory Lane. “We’ve been fast everywhere, and tonight they gave me a car that could fight until the very end.”
Late Restart Seals the Deal
The 500-lap battle under the Tennessee lights came down to a tense restart with fewer than 50 laps remaining. Bell lined up on the outside of front-row rival Denny Hamlin, timed the green flag perfectly, and pulled ahead within a lap. From there, he built a comfortable cushion, holding off challenges from Kyle Larson and William Byron as the checkered flag waved.
The win marked Bell’s sixth career Cup Series victory and cemented his status as the hottest driver in the postseason.
Historic First-Round Sweep
By taking Bristol, Bell became the first driver in the Next Gen era to sweep all three opening-round playoff races, having already won at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Circuit of the Americas. The feat also delivered a statement for Joe Gibbs Racing, which now carries major momentum into the Round of 12.
Team owner Joe Gibbs praised Bell’s performance: “To win three in a row at this level is special. Christopher and his crew executed perfectly each week.”
Playoff Picture Brightens
Bell’s dominance gives him a sizable advantage heading into the next round. With automatic advancement already secured after his Atlanta win, the Bristol victory only strengthens his playoff points cushion.
Fellow JGR teammate Denny Hamlin, who finished fourth, remains solidly in contention, while other playoff hopefuls such as Ross Chastain and Joey Logano now face elimination pressure.
What’s Next
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Kansas Speedway next weekend to open the Round of 12. Bell will look to extend his streak and continue his march toward a potential first Cup championship.
“We’re locked in,” Bell said. “This is the kind of momentum you dream of. We just need to keep it rolling.”
