By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
Christopher Bell has a unique opportunity in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend at Watkins Glen International.
Bell will attempt to tie two-time series champion Sam Ard’s 1983 record of four consecutive wins in the series. The rookie driver could also join the ranks of Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch with the most wins in a rookie season at five.
“It’s really, really cool to see the list of drivers that have won five races. I have a great opportunity to get five, and I think we have a great opportunity to get six or even more throughout the course of the year. It would be really special to join that elite group of race car drivers that have won five, and I’ve got the best team in the business to go out and try and do it,” Bell said.
Although tying and surpassing these records is a great opportunity, Bell recognizes that the second trip to Iowa could be his last win of the season.
“You’re only as good as your last race, and that’s something that I’ve been preached to since I got into this sport, and it definitely turns out true. You’re only as good as your last race. Hopefully I can continue to win the rest of this year and prove that I deserve to be here,” the rookie driver said.
At the unofficial midpoint of the season at Daytona International Speedway, Bell only scored one win at Kansas. Since Daytona, Bell has been the only driver to find the way to victory lane in Xfinity.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver believes that the mile-and-a-half facilities are the ones where he a driver tends to shine the most. However, the series heads into a stretch of three road courses and one oval. Bell recognizes that he is not one of the best road races on the circuit. As this stretch of road course races arises, Bell is focused on gaining as many points as possible.
“The biggest thing that I’m worried about right now going into the road course season is points. Allgaier is an excellent road racer. Daniel Hemric does a really good job on the road courses. So there’s a lot of guys that I’m in a really tight points battle with that are really good road racers, and unfortunately for me, I don’t have that star by my name that says I’m a really good road racer,” Bell continued
“So luckily with the stages, the way that the strategy works out, I feel like the guys that are competing for wins will pit before the stage ends, and that’ll open up some stage points for us if I’m not up to speed and I’m not competing for the win. So that should help us a little bit. But definitely the points are what I’m worried about going into these road courses.”