LAS VEGAS—Once he arrived at the pinnacle of stock car racing, Christopher Bell was convinced that winning three consecutive NASCAR Cup races wasn’t out of reach.

The 30-year-old Oklahoman had the talent. He had the resources from Joe Gibbs Racing. And he had the guidance of crew chief Adam Stevens, who won two championships and 28 races with Kyle Busch before Bell arrived. 

Though Bell, the poster child for Toyota Racing’s driver development program, had every tool at his disposal to succeed, the spark just wasn’t there—until now. 

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Who knew that an infusion of dirt track racing would be the magic Bell needed to flourish in stock cars?

“It’s just so enjoyable and refreshing,” Bell said. “I love my day job. I love getting to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing. And I’m forever grateful that he’s given me this opportunity to go and run some dirt races whenever time allows.

“It truly is the best of both worlds, and I am living my best life right now. I want to make sure I reward Coach (Gibbs) and the whole JGR team by making this the best season, and hopefully, I can continue to wrack up wins.”

Truth be told, it was JGR co-owner Heather Gibbs who lifted the three-year dirt racing moratorium for Bell. Her father-in-law’s anxiety about dirt racing for his drivers dates back to Tony Stewart’s eight-year tenure with the organization. 

Try as he might, Gibbs couldn’t keep the USAC triple crown winner from extracurricular racing. And Stewart rewarded JGR with two Cup titles and 33 wins. 

Heather Gibbs, however, is a dirt track enthusiast. Her son, Ty, who drives the No. 54 Toyota for JGR, has become a weekly regular at Millbridge Speedway and competed in the 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals. The 22-year-old third-generation racer will make his High Limit  Racing debut alongside Bell this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

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VIDEO: Ty Gibbs made his Chili Bowl earlier this year prior to his 410 Sprint Car debut. 

“These guys are so unique, they’re so special, and most of the time their hobby is racing,” Heather Gibbs said. “That’s all they want to do. So when you restrict them. it’s not fun. I’m like, ‘Go run your race. Go do what you want to do. Have fun and enjoy it.’”

She has seen the joy and passion return with Bell since he stopped watching dirt from the sidelines.

“It’s evident,” Gibbs added. “Just watching him out there. He didn’t give up. He didn’t stop. And with the dirt racing, it’s fun. He enjoys it. And you can tell with all the effort he puts out there.

“And yes, I went to the Chili Bowl for the first time this year and I loved it.” 

Gibbs isn’t the only one to notice Bell’s reenergized demeanor. Kyle Larson referred to his friend and rival as “giddy” after racing dirt with Bell in Tulsa during the Shootout and Chili Bowl Nationals, then in February at Volusia (Fla.) Speedway Park. 

Once the dirt shackles were removed last fall, Bell beat Larson in the Outlaw Non-Wing A Feature in the Tulsa Shootout. In his first Chili Bowl Nationals appearance, following a four-year absence, the three-time Golden Driller winner won the Race of Champions and finished 10th in Saturday’s A-main. 

Two nights into his sprint car return at Volusia, Bell won his heat race and then out-dueled Larson for his first World of Outlaws victory in six years.

From experience, Larson knows the additional racing has contributed to Bell’s recent success.

“Well, I don’t think it hurts, for sure,” Larson said. “But for me, the more I race, the better I feel like I am, the fresher I am, the more focused on racing in general I am. So, yeah, I don’t think it hurts, for sure.”

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., experienced a similar funk when asked to shelve his dirt activities when he graduated to NASCAR’s top tour in 2013. The two-time Xfinity Series champion was racing sprint cars 30 to 40 times a year before his dirt competition came to an abrupt halt.

“I was super bummed and it kind of made you resent racing NASCAR a little bit,” Stenhouse said. “It was like until really 2016 that I didn't get back in a sprint car for those years. And so, I could see that in Christopher, as well.

“That's the most excited I've seen him be was Daytona 500 media day when we were talking about him racing sprint cars again. So it's cool to see. Obviously, I think you put Christopher in a better headspace with as fast as they are already and you're already seeing those results.”

On Sunday, Bell will attempt to become the first NASCAR Cup driver to win four consecutive races since Jimmie Johnson pulled off the feat in 2007—but not before he straps into a 410-sprint car for his High Limit coming-out party on Thursday, March 13. 

“I remember talking to Kyle back in 2022,” Bell said. “I asked him to run my micro-sprint race at Texas Motor Speedway. He said, ‘OK, I will do that if you can race my first-ever High Limit race at Putnamville.’ 

“The timing didn’t work out to run that event, but I’ve certainly watched High Limit grow and turn into one of the powerhouse organizations. I’m excited about making my High Limit debut.”

So is Larson. He believes having Bell in dirt competition elevates all of motorsports. Larson has never seen Bell in a better frame of mind.

“He’s like giddy—it’s weird, but it’s cool, for sure,” Larson said. “He’s like a child. But I’m glad to have him back.”