Christopher Bell has sat within the prime two within the NASCAR Cup Sequence championship standings for the final six weeks, the primary such streak in his profession. However the driver of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 has a special tackle his season so far.

“Actually, (I’ve been) slightly bit dissatisfied,” Bell mentioned. “I really feel like we have now pace and have the potential to do actually good issues, however we’re not capable of capitalize on it. There’s a few particulars that we have now to get ironed out earlier than we’re actually going to be competing for wins and stage wins and main laps.”

Bell is one in all 9 completely different winners via 13 races. He went to victory lane on the filth at Bristol Motor Speedway, a race he led 100 laps in.

“I simply suppose we have now much more potential than what we’re exhibiting,” Bell reiterated. “The laps led isn’t ideally suited, and I’ve zero stage wins.”

Though the field rating reveals that Bell has led in eight completely different races for a complete of 158 laps, in 5 of these races, he led six or fewer laps. The opposite three had been 20 laps led within the Daytona 500 (he completed third), 26 laps led at Richmond Raceway (he completed fourth), and the ultimate 100 laps led he led en path to profitable Bristol.

Not having a stage win means no further playoff factors. The one 5 playoff factors Bell does have are courtesy of his win.

“I believe our potential is rather a lot greater than what we’re exhibiting proper now,” he mentioned. “We simply have a number of particulars that we have now to get discovered earlier than we’re actually going to be exhibiting our true potential.”

Performing to the usual they’re aiming at is “proper within the palm of our palms,” mentioned Bell. He does lead the sequence in top-10 finishes (eight).

It’s yr 4 for Bell within the Cup Sequence, however his third driving Joe Gibbs Racing. Expectations have grown over time, and after Bell received a number of races in 2022 and made it to the finale with a shot on the championship, he hoped it will the start of the No. 20 doing nice issues.

So, when Bell expressed disappointment about his season, he was pressed about whether or not that was an extension of not being happy anymore when others could be in his scenario.

“I really feel like if different guys had been in my footwear,” mentioned Bell, “they’d be saying the identical factor.”

Whereas the work continues internally, Bell and his group have a possibility to win the common season championship. Being the championship level chief after the regular-season finale at Daytona Worldwide Speedway in late August brings a reward of 15 playoff factors.

Bell mentioned there haven’t been outward discussions or deal with the common season, however “that’s clearly the purpose and undoubtedly one thing we have now circled and attempting to shoot for. We’re simply attempting to maintain on protecting on.”