Christopher Bell Seeks Consistency Entering Daytona 500 After Uneven 2025

NASCAR driver Christopher Bell aims to build on his career-best 2025 season and capture his first Daytona 500 victory.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 1:55am

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NASCAR driver Christopher Bell is entering the 2026 season chasing consistency after a 2025 campaign that saw him post a career-high four wins and 22 top-10 finishes, but also experience some uneven results. Bell's best bid to win the Daytona 500 ended in a crash on Lap 195, leaving him 31st, though he has finished third in the race in 2023 and 2024. Bell responded to the Daytona disappointment with three straight wins, but then went 24 races without a victory despite 11 top-10 finishes. As one of NASCAR's top young drivers, Bell is looking to capitalize on the series' revamped playoff format and deliver a more consistent, championship-caliber season.

Why it matters

Bell is widely regarded as one of NASCAR's rising stars, having won 12 races since his maiden victory on Daytona's road course in 2021. However, his 2025 season showed he still has room to improve in terms of maintaining momentum and consistency throughout the year. With NASCAR returning to a points-based playoff system, Bell is poised to capitalize if he can avoid the kind of late-season lulls that have plagued him in the past.

The details

Bell's 2025 season was a mixed bag, as he posted a career-high four wins and 22 top-10 finishes (tied for most with champion Kyle Larson) but was unable to sustain that success throughout the year. After a heartbreaking crash at the Daytona 500 while leading, Bell responded with three straight victories, but then went 24 races without a win despite 11 top-10 finishes during that stretch. Bell is determined to do a "better job of capitalizing on the opportunities" to win in 2026.

  • Bell's best bid to win the Daytona 500 ended in a crash on Lap 195 of the 2025 race.
  • Following a March 10, 2025 win at Phoenix, Bell went 24 races without a victory.
  • The 68th edition of the Daytona 500 will take place on February 15, 2026.

The players

Christopher Bell

A 31-year-old NASCAR driver who is widely regarded as one of the sport's top young talents, having won 12 races since his maiden victory on Daytona's road course in 2021.

Kyle Larson

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series champion, who tied Bell for the most top-10 finishes in the 2025 season with 22.

Denny Hamlin

A Joe Gibbs Racing teammate of Bell's who won six races in 2025 but had his championship hopes undone by a late caution at the season finale.

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What they’re saying

“I was in position to win. I was in the front of the pack and unfortunately got wrecked out. But it's a place that anybody can win at any time.”

— Christopher Bell

“I'm proud of the 2025 season. I just need to do a little bit better job of capitalizing on the opportunities that we have to win.”

— Christopher Bell

“All of us thought that Denny did everything right to win the championship, and it just didn't work out for him. Hopefully we get on track to being able to reward the right guy for the championship.”

— Christopher Bell

What’s next

The 68th Daytona 500 will take place on February 15, 2026, giving Bell another opportunity to capture his first victory in NASCAR's biggest race.

The takeaway

Christopher Bell's 2025 season showed he has the talent to be a championship contender, but he still needs to find more consistency to capitalize on his opportunities to win. With NASCAR's revamped playoff format, Bell is poised to make a run at the title if he can avoid the kind of mid-season lulls that have plagued him in the past.