Christopher Bell (racing driver)

Christopher Bell

Bell waves to the crowd in 2015
Born (1994-12-16) December 16, 1994
Norman, Oklahoma
Achievements 2013 USAC National Midget Champion
2014 BMARA Champion
2014 Turkey Night Grand Prix winner
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
10 races run over 2 years
Truck no., team No. 4 (Kyle Busch Motorsports)
2015 position 27th
Best finish 27th (2015)
First race 2015 American Ethanol 200 (Iowa)
Last race 2016 Toyota Tundra 250 (Kansas)
First win 2015 Mudsummer Classic (Eldora)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 3 0
Statistics current as of April 2, 2016.

Christopher Bell (born December 16, 1994) is an American professional stock car racing driver. A Toyota development driver,[1] he currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 4 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Racing career

Bell's USAC midget at Angell Park Speedway in 2013

Bell started racing in 2011, winning the 66 Mike Phillips Memorial micro-sprint car race. The following year, he finished second in the Short Track Nationals at I-30 Speedway, a race sanctioned by the American Sprint Car Series.[2] In 2013, he joined Keith Kunz Motorsports in USAC racing, replacing Kyle Larson.[3] On October 31, he joined CH Motorsports' sprint car racing program.[4] Bell concluded 2013 as the USAC National Midget Champion. In 2014, he began racing asphalt Super Late Models for Kyle Busch Motorsports,[5] including competing in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. On May 7, he won his first career WoO Sprint Car Series race at Jacksonville Speedway.[6] As a Super Late Model driver, he won races at New Smyrna Speedway, South Alabama Speedway and Southern National Motorsports Park.[5] During the year, he won 24 Quarter Midget races[7] and 26 total dirt races, including the Turkey Night Grand Prix.[8]

In 2015, Bell made two NASCAR K&N Pro Series West starts at Irwindale Speedway and Iowa Speedway, driving the No. 54 for Bill McAnally Racing; he finished 15th and second, respectively.[9] In June, Bell returned to Iowa to make his Camping World Truck Series debut for KBM in the American Ethanol 200.[5] Bell finished second to KBM teammate Erik Jones in the race's practice session, and finished fifth in the race.[8] On July 8, Bell was announced as Justin Boston's replacement in the No. 54 at Kentucky Speedway.[10] Bell won his first career Truck race in the Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway after holding off Bobby Pierce on the green–white–checker finish.[1][11]

On October 29, 2015, KBM announced that Bell will compete full-time in the Truck Series in 2016.[12] His season started on a terrifying note at Daytona, when on the final lap, Brandon Brown pushed Timothy Peters into him causing his truck to spin. His truck gripped the track, causing it truck to go on two wheels before it launched into the air and barrel rolled multiple times. The following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway Bell was leading the race on his way to win, when he blew a tire and crashed into the wall, ending his day.[13]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Camping World Truck Series

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

References

  1. 1 2 Utter, Jim (July 23, 2015). "It's only the beginning for Christopher Bell". motorsport.com. motorsport.com. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  2. Fenwick, Adam. "Bell Lands Kunz USAC Midget Ride". National Speed Sport News. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  3. Weaver, Matt (July 15, 2015). "Toyota hopes to keep young NASCAR stars Erik Jones and Christopher Bell in the fold". Autoweek. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  4. Elliott, Jeremy (October 31, 2013). "Young phenom Chris Bell joins CH Motorsports for 35 to 40 races". The Patriot-News. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Weaver, Matt (June 10, 2015). "Christopher Bell to make NASCAR truck series debut with Toyota". Autoweek. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  6. "Bell Earns First Victory". World of Outlaws. May 7, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  7. Christley, Jason (February 21, 2015). "Bell Outruns Burton For New Smyrna Victory". NASCAR Home Tracks. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Winkler, George (June 19, 2015). "CHRISTOPHER BELL SCORES TOP FIVE IN TRUCK DEBUT". NASCAR. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  9. "2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  10. Fesko, Sean (July 8, 2015). "MID-SEASON SWAP: CHRISTOPHER BELL REPLACES JUSTIN BOSTON AT KENTUCKY". Frontstretch. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  11. Long, Dustin (July 22, 2015). "Christopher Bell turns in Classic performance to win Eldora Truck race". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  12. Utter, Jim (October 29, 2015). "Kyle Busch Motorsports' 2016 lineup to feature several newcomers". Motorsport.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  13. Olsen, Jeff (February 19, 2016). "Christopher Bell being evaluated after scary flips in Daytona Truck race". USA Today (Daytona Beach, Florida). Retrieved 20 February 2016.

External links

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