“Gives Me a Ton of Respect for Him”: When Christopher Bell Lauded Chase Elliott After Decision to Move Out of Comfort Zone

The importance of NASCAR Cup Series drivers taking part in grassroots-level racing cannot be understated. While the drivers get some much-needed track time, their presence promotes platforms like dirt racing substantially too. This is why longtime dirt racer Christopher Bell was pleased when Chase Elliott entered the Chili Bowl Nationals back in 2021.

“I am thrilled,” the Joe Gibbs Racing driver had said at the time. “I think it is really cool that he is doing it. I don’t know if it’s important that he does it but I think it’s really awesome.”

Bell added: “The fact that he is willing to step outside of his comfort zone and obviously try something completely different than he has never done in his life. It gives me a ton of respect for him. I’m very proud of him for trying it and ups my respect level tremendously.”

The crown jewel dirt racing event, held in January every year in Tulsa (Oklahoma), attracts drivers from across the country. In 2021, Elliott, the newly-crowned Cup Series champion became the talking point of the event.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver had no background in dirt racing, making his appearance all the more interesting. Bell, who had won the Chili Bowl Nationals consecutively from 2017-2019, was impressed by how Elliott was showing willingness to attempt something new.

Elliott was equally excited about the novelty and rush of racing in a different setting, and expressed it to the press multiple times before the event.

How Elliott’s maiden Chili Bowl Nationals appearance went

Elliott noticed the difference between racing on asphalt tracks and dirt tracks after a few qualifying rounds for the Chili Bowl Nationals. He was taken by surprise at how fast-paced things were on dirt.

“I think that is the biggest difference for me is the intensity level is up from the get-go and not just the last 100 miles of one of our normal events, which is really cool,” he told NASCAR.

He then revealed that he had been following events like the Chili Bowl, the Snowball Derby, and the Rolex 24, and stated that he was excited that he was finally taking the plunge. His debut went as well as one could have expected. He made it into the F-Main but missed out on advancing to the E-Main by two spots. 

Elliott had a shot at making the transfer spot in the final corner but ran out of time before he could pass more cars. He was left wishing that he had put better laps together in the preliminary B-Main and gave himself some extra seat time. Kyle Larson was crowned as the winner of that edition of the Chili Bowl, his second consecutive victory. 

Elliott promised fans that it wasn’t a one-off appearance and that he would be back again. The champion returned to Tulsa in 2022 as well.