July 19, 2025 — As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Dover Motor Speedway this weekend, Christopher Bell knows the stakes are high. With just six regular-season races remaining, the pressure is mounting for drivers to lock in a postseason spot, and Dover’s Monster Mile could be a defining moment. Bell, who drives the No. 20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing, is currently on the bubble of the playoff grid. He says performance is the key to getting to victory lane.
“I mean it’s… some racetracks, Atlanta, Daytona, where luck is a big key to get to victory lane, but Dover specifically is a racetrack where you typically have to control your destiny, and the best cars are going to end up in victory lane. It starts with a good practice session that leads into a good qualifying session. Last year at Dover, it was an abysmal weekend for me, spinning out in qualifying, starting in the back, and having a bad pit stall selection. So it really starts on Saturday, and you need to be strong and unload at practice with today’s format. I think that Dover is where the cream will rise to the top.”
Known for his smooth short-track style, Bell has posted solid finishes at Dover in the past, but he’ll need more than just consistency to stay in the playoff picture. The one-mile concrete oval is notoriously demanding, fast, physical, and unforgiving, and with playoff hopes on the line, Bell says it’s about dialing in the rhythm early and staying clean.
The green flag drops Sunday, and with every lap counting toward a postseason future, Bell will be one to watch.
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