Christopher Bell is yet to win a championship in the Cup Series despite coming frustratingly close on three occasions. The 29-year-old made the Championship 4 in 2022 and 2023, and finished fifth in the standings this season. His inability to provide a title-winning flourish despite having a good season is a bother. However, his consistency could see him become the face of his team Joe Gibbs Racing.
Advertisement
With Martin Truex Jr. officially retired, and Chase Briscoe taking his place at Joe Gibbs Racing, there has been a shuffle. Ty Gibbs, 22, is still learning the tricks of the trade. This leaves Denny Hamlin and Bell as the two key drivers for the racing outfit.
Hamlin is far more experienced than Bell for sure. But there is reason to believe that Bell will soon replace him as the face of the team, said former driver Kyle Petty.
“I think that was the plan. Just like when we saw the Hendrick organization, a number of years skewed to a number of young drivers. Everybody was under 26 or 27. A Sports organization has to cut ties with what brought them there and start all over to reestablish themselves as that powerhouse,” Petty reasoned on GoPRNLive.
This natural progression could push Bell into the first-in-command position at Joe Gibbs Racing. The relative performances of the two drivers in recent times bolsters Bell’s case. He has finished higher than Hamlin in the last three seasons. All Bell needs to do now is to win the championship before his counterpart does.
Why Hamlin can’t win the Cup Series championship before Bell
Age is definitely not on Hamlin’s side. He is currently 43 and knocking on the doors of retirement. The chances of a driver winning a championship dwindle as he grows older. Petty is not confident that Hamlin can secure the silverware before retirement.
“In this day and time in the sport we’re tapping on that age limit thing. We’re tapping on, we’re knocking on that door right now. You know what I mean? We’ve seen that fall off with [Martin] Truex and with Kevin Harvick,” he said.
It can be reasonably assumed that Hamlin will likely follow the same script as Truex and Harvick.
The No. 11 driver has been the one with the superior equipment and dominant car for so many years. Perhaps, Hamlin has already squandered his best opportunities. And Bell, young and showing potential, seems ready to take charge.
