Christopher Bell (racing driver) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christopher Bell
Bell at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2026
Born	Christopher David Bell (1994-12-16) December 16, 1994 (age 31) Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Achievements	2026 Southern 500 Winner 2024 Coca-Cola 600 Winner 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion 11th driver in history to win a NASCAR race in all 3 national series at the same track (New Hampshire, Atlanta, Bristol) 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Regular Season Champion 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race Winner 2017, 2018, 2019 Chili Bowl Nationals Champion 2015 Eldora Mudsummer Classic Winner 2014, 2017, 2018 Turkey Night Grand Prix winner 2013 USAC National Midget Series Champion
NASCAR Cup Series career
243 races run over 7 years
Car no., team	No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
2025 position	5th
Best finish	3rd (2022)
First race	2020 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Last race	2020 FanShield 500 (Phoenix)
First win	2021 O'Reilly Auto Parts 253 (Daytona RC)
Last win	2026 Cook Out Southern 500 (Darlington)
Wins Top tens Poles 14 121 15
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
82 races run over 8 years
Car no., team	No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
2025 position	98th
Best finish	3rd (2019)
First race	2017 Hisense 4K TV 300 (Charlotte)
Last race	2026 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 (Darlington)
First win	2017 Kansas Lottery 300 (Kansas)
Last win	2024 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 (Darlington)
Wins Top tens Poles 19 52 14
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
64 races run over 8 years
Truck no., team	No. 62 (Halmar Friesen Racing)
2025 position	83rd
Best finish	1st (2017)
First race	2015 American Ethanol 200 (Iowa)
Last race	2026 Team EJP 175 (New Hampshire)
First win	2015 Mudsummer Classic (Eldora)
Last win	2026 Tennessee Army National Guard 250 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles 8 49 6
NASCAR Pinty's Series career
1 race run over 1 year
2017 position	48th
Best finish	48th (2017)
First race	2017 Can-Am 200 (Mosport)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
Statistics current as of September 6, 2026.

Christopher David Bell (born December 16, 1994) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He drives full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing. He drives the No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE.

Bell also races part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He won the 2017 Truck Series Championship and has won major races across the country.

How Christopher Bell Started Racing on Dirt Tracks

Bell's USAC midget car in 2013

Christopher Bell was born in Norman, Oklahoma. He discovered his love for speed at a very young age on dirt tracks. Dirt racing teaches drivers car control because the cars slide across the dirt surface.

Early Wins in Sprint Cars and Midgets

Bell started racing small micro sprint cars at I-44 Riverside Speedway in Oklahoma. Micro sprints are small, lightweight race cars powered by motorcycle engines. By 2010, Bell won the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Championship. In 2011, he won the Mike Phillips Memorial race.

In 2013, he joined Keith Kunz Motorsports in the USAC racing series. He replaced driver Kyle Larson. That year, Bell won the USAC National Midget Championship.

Stepping Up to Late Models and Outlaws

Bell inside his dirt car in 2018

In 2014, Bell began racing asphalt Super Late Models for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He also competed in the famous World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. Sprint cars are very light and have huge wings on top for downforce (air pushing the car down).

• He won his first World of Outlaws race at Jacksonville Speedway in May 2014.
• He won 24 USAC Midget races and 26 dirt races in total that season.
• He won the famous Turkey Night Grand Prix race.

Success at the Chili Bowl Nationals

The Chili Bowl Nationals is one of the most famous indoor dirt races in the world. It takes place every January in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In 2017, Bell won the Chili Bowl main event. He became the first Oklahoma native to win it since Andy Hillenburg in 1994. Bell then won the race again in 2018 and 2019. This made him only the third driver in history to win three times in a row.

Climbing Through the NASCAR Ranks

After proving his skills on dirt, Bell moved to NASCAR to compete on large asphalt tracks.

Learning in the Truck Series and Winning the 2017 Title

Bell's No. 4 truck at Martinsville in 2017

Bell made his Truck Series debut in 2015 for Kyle Busch Motorsports. In just his third start, he won the Mudsummer Classic at the famous Eldora Speedway dirt track.

In 2016, Bell raced full-time in the Truck Series. He scored a win at Gateway and finished third in the points standings.

In 2017, Bell had an incredible season:

• He won five races during the year.
• He earned fifteen top-5 finishes.
• He won the 2017 NASCAR Truck Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Dominating the Xfinity Series with Joe Gibbs Racing

Bell racing in the Xfinity Series at Road America

Bell celebrating a win at Dover in 2018

Bell during driver introductions in 2018

In 2018, Bell moved up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series to drive the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

The Record-Setting 2018 Rookie Season

Bell set a modern rookie record by winning seven races in 2018. In July, he won three races in a row at Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Iowa. He became the first series regular since Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 1999 to win three straight events. He finished fourth in the championship standings.

Eight Wins and Title Fight in 2019

Bell returned in 2019 and was even faster:

• He scored eight victories, including his first road course win at Road America.
• He won the special $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus twice.
• He finished third in the championship points standings.

Reaching the NASCAR Cup Series

Bell driving for Leavine Family Racing at Daytona in 2020

The NASCAR Cup Series is the highest level of professional stock car racing in North America.

Rookie Cup Season with Leavine Family Racing

In 2020, Bell made his Cup Series debut driving the No. 95 Toyota for Leavine Family Racing. His Xfinity crew chief, Jason Ratcliff, moved with him. Bell scored two top-five finishes and seven top-ten finishes during his rookie season.

Joining Joe Gibbs Racing Full-Time

Bell driving the No. 20 car at Sonoma in 2021

In 2021, Bell took over the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. In just his second race of the season, he won on the Daytona International Speedway road course. It was his first career Cup Series victory.

He became the first driver from Oklahoma to win a Cup Series race. He also became the 35th driver to win a race in all three top NASCAR national series.

Clutch Playoff Wins and Championship Fights

Bell racing at Sonoma Raceway in 2022

During the 2022 season, Bell became known for performing his best in high-pressure situations.

The 2022 Must-Win Playoff Magic

In the 2022 playoffs, Bell faced elimination twice. He had to win to advance to the next round:

• He won at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval on older tires to stay in the title hunt.
• Two races later, he won at Martinsville Speedway to earn a spot in the Championship 4.
• He finished the year third in the final points standings.

2023 Dirt Victory and Championship 4 Return

In 2023, Bell won the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. During the playoffs, he won at Homestead-Miami Speedway to qualify for the Championship 4 race for the second straight season.

Strong Runs in the Next-Gen Era

Bell driving at Las Vegas in 2025

Bell on track at Las Vegas in 2026

Bell continued his winning ways as NASCAR introduced newer race cars.

The 2024 and 2025 Seasons

In 2024, Bell won the historic Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. In 2025, Bell showed incredible speed:

• He won three races in a row early in the year at Atlanta, Austin, and Phoenix.
• He won the non-points NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
• He won the night race at Bristol Motor Speedway in the playoffs.
• He finished fifth in the final standings.

2026 Season Highlights

Bell continued to show incredible speed in 2026. Despite a hard crash at Michigan that resulted in a wrist injury, he returned quickly to competition. After earning seven second-place finishes during the season, Bell won the prestigious Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

CB Industries Team Ownership

In September 2019, Christopher Bell teamed up with fellow driver Chad Boat to form a new dirt racing team called CB Industries.

The team competes in the World of Outlaws sprint car series and midget racing events. In their very first race together on September 21, 2019, Bell drove the team to victory in the Jim Ford Classic.

Personal Life and Off-Track Interests

Bell and his wife Morgan celebrating in victory lane in 2018

Morgan Bell in 2025

Bell married Morgan Kemenah in February 2020 after dating for several years. The couple often travels together to races across the United States.

When he is not driving stock cars, Bell enjoys spending time with friends and watching grass-roots short track racing.

Career Summary Table

Major Racing Accomplishments

• NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion: 2017
• Coca-Cola 600 Winner: 2024
• Southern 500 Winner: 2026
• NASCAR All-Star Race Winner: 2025
• Chili Bowl Nationals Champion: 2017, 2018, 2019
• USAC National Midget Series Champion: 2013
• Turkey Night Grand Prix Winner: 2014, 2017, 2018