Having earned 63 Cup Series victories and a career sprinkled with unforgettable moments, Kyle Busch has never hesitated to voice his opinions openly. However, despite his widespread respect within the NASCAR community, Busch has often expressed dissatisfaction over what he perceives as a lack of reciprocal respect from his peers on the track. This sentiment intensified in the last season where he consistently expressed frustration over aggressive racing tactics, accusing younger drivers of abandoning the deference traditionally shown to veterans by their predecessors.
A significant incident that ignited this debate occurred during the Hollywood Casino 400, where Busch found himself pinned against the wall by Chase Briscoe. A similar situation arose in Atlanta when Carson Hocevar cornered him. Busch’s discontent culminated in a threat to wreck the entire field in retaliation. However, a dramatic shift in his stance was observed following his race with Christopher Bell at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).
Despite a heated competition, Bell and Busch avoided a crash. Busch expressed appreciation for Bell’s racing style, a surprising turn of events considering that Bell had spun him out at the same track the previous year. Bell, however, insists his approach is not driven by fear, but by a deliberate decision to stray from the increasingly aggressive racing trend.
Christopher Bell isn’t merely another Cup driver striving for victory. He has a broader vision for the sport. Following his second consecutive win of the season at COTA, Bell made a daring statement. He strongly believes in winning without resorting to aggressive tactics like bumping other drivers off the track. He advocates for a racing style where drivers can navigate past each other without collisions—quite a challenge to the existing norms favored by younger racers.
Bell’s philosophy isn’t mere rhetoric. His actions at COTA, where he battled fiercely with Busch but refrained from engaging in any dirty tactics, are testament to his beliefs. Instead of sparking a controversy, his clean racing style earned him admiration from Busch, a stark contrast from the previous season when Busch was ready to retaliate for a similar incident.
Bell openly admitted that last year’s clash was on his mind. He was determined to pass Busch cleanly and avoid any past controversy. But there’s more to his approach than just averting conflict. Bell is intent on setting a precedent—a change that seems crucial given the ongoing debates over aggressive racing involving drivers such as Ross Chastain and Carson Hocevar.
As NASCAR moves to Phoenix, Bell continues his quest for competitive yet respectful racing. His back-to-back victories at Atlanta and COTA prove that respectful driving doesn’t equate to coming in second. NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick appears to be swayed by Bell’s approach, predicting him as the winner for the upcoming Shriners Children’s 500.
As the Shriners Children’s 500 in Phoenix approaches, Bell rides a crest of momentum with two consecutive wins under his belt. Some speculate that he could match Kyle Larson’s 2021 feat of three straight wins—a milestone yet to be achieved in the Next Gen era.
Kevin Harvick, a NASCAR veteran and broadcaster, has expressed his confidence in Bell. On his podcast, Harvick placed his bet on Bell, citing his impressive form. Harvick himself achieved a similar feat in 2018 with three consecutive victories.
Known for his victory in the spring race last year where he defeated Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs, Bell is also the reigning champion of the Shriners Children’s 500. Given his track record and current form, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him pull off another victory. Will Bell achieve a remarkable 3-in-3 triumph? Only time will tell.
