CHARLOTTE, N.C. — What’s Playoff mode?
In accordance with NASCAR Cup Collection driver Christopher Bell “it’s being the perfect when it issues probably the most.”
Bell will likely be amongst 16 drivers trying to precisely that when the Cup Collection Playoffs kick off with Sunday’s Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
It will likely be Bell’s fifth consecutive 12 months within the Playoffs driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
Sadly, Bell, who gained three races in a row earlier this season, has gone 22 races and not using a victory. He believes his Adam Stevens-led group simply must maintain chipping away.
“I don’t assume we have to do something totally different. Simply maintain plugging away. I’ve really requested Adam (Stevens, crew chief) that as a result of I used to be just a little bit involved about that a few weeks in the past, and he stated we aren’t doing something totally different than we have been once we gained three races in a row to begin the season,” Bell stated. “So, we’ve obtained a fantastic group, a fantastic course of and we’re going to maintain after it, and we’re going to nice race tracks for us. I believe we now have all the instruments to go on the market and execute and win races, and hopefully we will try this.”
Bell, 30, believes expertise may even be on his aspect throughout the 10-week Playoff stretch.
“We undoubtedly haven’t led laps or had that stage efficiency that we would like all through the 2025 season, however I’ll say now, I’m much more seasoned,” Bell acknowledged. “Yearly that goes by, you have got extra expertise and perceive the secret just a little bit extra and the right way to play it.
“We haven’t led laps, and we haven’t obtained the stage factors that we did in years previous, however we all know – it’s nonetheless the identical crew chief, similar driver, similar pit crew – every little thing remains to be the identical, we simply should go on the market and do it. We’re going to have just a little bit extra strain now, and I’m excited in regards to the alternative.”
Bell enters the Playoffs fifth within the standings.
“We’ve been shut. Darlington has been one which we’ve been actually shut at and haven’t gained,” he stated. “The Playoffs are simply affected by tracks like that – like Darlington, Kansas, Vegas, Gateway, now. All of these locations, we’ve been tremendous sturdy at – simply haven’t fairly gained at. It may occur this week; it may occur subsequent week.”
