Christopher Bell (Left): Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire (Imago) Joe Gibbs (Right): via Imago
Christopher Bell (Left): Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire (Imago) Joe Gibbs (Right): via Imago
If there was a trophy for second place, Christopher Bell’s cabinet would be full this season. For the sixth time this season, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has finished runner-up, this time just 0.287s from the win.
Christopher Bell and the JGR camp, including Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, spent the final 34 green-flag laps chasing Corey Heim after the last caution, but the 23XI race-winner was just too good to make a mistake.
Speaking to the media after stepping out of his car, Bell admitted that the poorly timed restart that involved himself, Hamlin, and Briscoe ultimately worked in Heim’s favor, despite hurting Hamlin’s chances.
"It obviously didn't work out for Denny," Bell said. "Briscoe got onto me way early, and then I was into Denny. Denny couldn't go before the line, so it was just very poorly timed between the three of us.
"It worked out for me. It didn't work out for him, but we certainly could have executed that better,” Bell added, as posted by Frontstretch on X.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 26: Corey Heim 35 23XI Open Toyota GR Camry races down the front stretch ahead of Christopher Bell 20 Joe Gibbs Racing JGR Toyota GR Camry on the final lap of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Brickyard 400 on July 26, 2026, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUL 26 NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon116260726014
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 26: Corey Heim 35 23XI Open Toyota GR Camry races down the front stretch ahead of Christopher Bell 20 Joe Gibbs Racing JGR Toyota GR Camry on the final lap of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Brickyard 400 on July 26, 2026, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUL 26 NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon116260726014
Even Denny Hamlin echoed this and agreed about the lack of coordination among the JGR drivers on the restart that lost them a shot at the Crown Jewel win. Hamlin said the magnitude of such big races makes everyone go for the win, and that’s where the teamwork fails.
“It’s really more on us and the 20 (Bell) and the 19 (Briscoe) of just not orchestrating good pushes there. We came detached at the wrong time,” Hamlin said.
On the restart, Chase Briscoe pushed Christopher Bell earlier than expected, which in turn made Bell bump into Hamlin before Hamlin could legally accelerate on the restart line.
That mistimed incident broke their momentum and allowed Heim to enjoy the lead, eventually taking the win.
Bell was so close, yet so far
When it came to chasing Heim individually in the final laps, Bell did everything he could. Interestingly, Heim did slip once entering Turn 1 on Lap 198, allowing Bell to come very close.
But it wasn’t close enough to just pass it. All thanks to the dirty air the No. 20 received.
“I knew that he was going loose. My guys were telling me he’s going loose, and I knew that that was my only opportunity for him to slide. He slid a little bit whatever that was two to go, but it wasn’t enough for me,” Bell said in the same media session.
That dirty air from Heim helped him extend his advantage in the final two laps around the 2.5-mile track and crossed the famous “Yard of Bricks,” earning his second Cup in just 15 starts.
You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!
Written by
Suyashdeep Sason
Edited by
Suyashdeep Sason