Christopher Bell Makes History with Three Consecutive NASCAR Cup Series Wins
Christopher Bell has etched his name in NASCAR history by becoming the first driver to win three consecutive Cup Series races since Kyle Larson in 2021. Bell’s streak began with a dominating performance at Atlanta, followed by a thrilling victory at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA), and culminated in a nail-biting win at Phoenix Raceway. This impressive feat marks the first time a driver has achieved three straight wins since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022. Larson, who was the last to accomplish this in 2021 during his championship season, praised Bell’s performance, calling his team “strong” and Bell himself a “phenomenal racecar driver.” This streak is a testament to Bell’s versatility, as he secured victories on three very different tracks—a drafting track, a road course, and a flat one-mile track.
A Thrilling Finish at Phoenix Raceway
Bell’s latest win at Phoenix Raceway was anything but straightforward. Despite leading 105 of the 312 laps, the race was far from a runaway. A series of late cautions set up a dramatic two-lap showdown between Bell and his Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) teammate Denny Hamlin. Bell edged Hamlin by a mere 0.049 seconds at the finish line, marking one of the closest finishes of the season. Bell credited his victory to a last-lap push from Kyle Larson, who gave him a crucial shove to cross the line first. “I don’t know how I won,” Bell admitted, but the trio of wins has undeniably solidified his place as one of the hottest drivers in NASCAR right now.
Breaking Down Bell’s Winning Streak
Bell’s three consecutive wins have left the NASCAR community buzzing. His ability to dominate races on wildly different tracks—Atlanta’s high-speed drafting, COTA’s technical road course, and Phoenix’s flat one-mile layout—highlights his adaptability and skill behind the wheel. At Phoenix, teams also had the added challenge of choosing between two tire options during the race, a twist that Bell and his team navigated seamlessly. While Denny Hamlin, a JGR teammate and 54-time Cup winner, couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason for Bell’s success, he acknowledged that three straight wins are “pretty impressive” and a testament to the strength of Bell’s team and his own talent.
From a Winless Streak to a Winning Streak
For Christopher Bell, this string of victories is a stark contrast to the second half of 2024, when he went 19 races without a win. Bell attributed the winless stretch to “bad fortune” and “lack of execution,” but emphasized that his team’s performance had never wavered. “We should have won a lot, but we didn’t win any,” he said. Now, with three wins in 15 days, it seems everything is finally aligning for Bell and his crew chief, Adam Stevens. Team owner Joe Gibbs, a legendary figure in both NASCAR and football, praised Bell’s talent and the chemistry between him and Stevens, calling them a “real pair” with a “gift” for racing.
The Streak Continues: What’s Next for Bell?
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Las Vegas and Homestead in the coming weeks, all eyes are on Christopher Bell to see if he can extend his streak to four consecutive wins—a feat last achieved by Jimmie Johnson in 2007. Both Las Vegas and Homestead are tracks where Bell has shown immense speed in the past, and Kyle Larson believes Bell has a strong chance to keep his momentum going. “The more wins you get, the more confidence you get as well as your team gets,” Larson said. Bell, however, is staying grounded, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of racing. “I know it comes in waves,” he said. “And there are times where it just feels like you can’t do anything right, and there are times where you feel like you can’t do anything wrong.”
Riding the Wave of Success
For now, Christopher Bell and his team are soaking in the glory of this historic streak. “Everybody’s grinning ear to ear and just trying to ride the wave,” Bell said. His recent performances have not only boosted his confidence but also set him up for a strong start to the season. As he looks ahead, Bell knows that success in NASCAR is fleeting, but he’s determined to make the most of this hot streak. Whether or not he extends his winning run, Christopher Bell has proven once again why he’s one of the most exciting talents in the sport.
