Christopher Bell Battles Through Tough Martinsville Race

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver overcame a poor start to earn a top-10 finish.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:37am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Christopher Bell had an up-and-down day at the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway in March 2026. After struggling early on, Bell and his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team worked to improve the car throughout the event, ultimately crossing the finish line in seventh place.

Why it matters

Martinsville is one of the more challenging tracks on the NASCAR schedule, and Bell's ability to fight back from a difficult start and secure a top-10 result showcases his determination and the strength of the Joe Gibbs Racing program.

The details

Bell said the beginning of the race was a "really big struggle" for the No. 20 team, but they made adjustments that allowed the car to become more competitive. At their best, Bell felt they were running in the top-five, though they faded slightly in the final run to finish seventh.

  • The NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway took place in March 2026.

The players

Christopher Bell

The driver of the No. 20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Joe Gibbs Racing

The NASCAR team that fields the No. 20 car driven by Christopher Bell.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I was super happy with the adjustments on our Camry. We got more competitive throughout the race – the beginning part of the race was a really big struggle. Overall, I'm happy. We ran seventh. I would obviously love more, but it was a competitive Martinsville race for us. When we were at our best, I felt like we were in the top-five for sure. We just got a little bit worse in the last run, but I did a lot of learning today and will hopefully be better next time.”

— Christopher Bell, NASCAR Driver

What’s next

Bell will look to build on his Martinsville performance when the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway in two weeks.

The takeaway

Christopher Bell's ability to overcome a challenging start and earn a top-10 finish at the notoriously difficult Martinsville Speedway showcases his determination and the strength of the Joe Gibbs Racing program, setting him up for potential success at upcoming races.