COOFANDY
You probably remember this old playground chant from childhood: “First is the worst, second is the best.” For Christopher Bell, “second is the best” became somewhat of a reality during this year’s NASCAR Cup Series when he set the single-season record for most second-place finishes. Some drivers might not appreciate that accolade, but #20 still looks on the bright side of these results.
“In the moment, it’s a little bit disappointing, but whenever you look back at it, we were in position to win a lot of races,” said Bell. “We were just knocking on the door the entire season.”
It helped Bell to hear words of encouragement from his crew chief, Adam Stevens.
“Adam did a really good job of making light of whether it was a good second place or a bad second place, and being like, ‘Hey, man, we’re in position. There are a million other guys who aren’t in position to win these races.'”
That all changed in September when Bell won the Southern 500, an especially satisfying victory for him, describing Darlington Raceway as a “driver’s track.”
Bell now sets his sights on the season finale at Homestead, entering at 2nd in the standings with a nothing-to-lose mentality.
“It comes down to the ability to pass. If you can pass at a racetrack, the drivers typically like it,” he explained. “Homestead is just a racetrack that’s really wide. There’s not a preferred route, so you can run all the way from the bottom of the racetrack to the top.”
A win at Homestead would not only be a fitting end for Bell’s season, but also an important milestone in his career and legacy as both the first NASCAR driver from Oklahoma and the driver of Joe Gibbs Racing’s #20 car, previously driven by his childhood idol Tony Stewart.
“Tony Stewart was really my guy, and it’s come full circle now that I get to drive the number 20 for Joe Gibbs Racing. I remember watching that Home Depot number 20 from JGR race forever and win championships.”
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Tune in this Sunday, November 8, and keep your eyes peeled for Christopher Bell in the #20 COOFANDY car as he looks to secure the victory in the Championship Race at the Homestead–Miami Speedway!
COOFANDY x Christopher Bell
Take a peek at Christopher Bell's favorite fits from COOFANDY!