Christopher Bell left World Wide Technology Raceway frustrated despite showing one of the fastest cars in the field. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver stormed to seventh in Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300, a finish that fell far short of the performance his No. 20 team displayed.
According to NASCAR Insights, Bell ranked as the best passer of the race, carried the second-best speed, and logged the third-best average running position. Yet when the checkered flag waved, he was stuck outside the top five — and his radio message said it all.
“We just [expletive] ran seventh with the best car on the track! Every [expletive] week, it’s the same [expletive]. We’re the last car on the road. I’m over it,” Bell fumed after the finish.
The frustration stems from a growing trend. Bell hasn’t scored a top-five on an oval since Kansas in May.
While he’s shown speed — including podiums at Watkins Glen and Mexico City on road courses — he’s watched teammates Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe rack up victories in the Playoffs.
At Gateway, Hamlin and Briscoe finished first and second, leaving Bell visibly dejected.
“I just think we are underperforming,” Bell told NBC Sports. “Clearly, the JGR Camrys are amazing… I honestly think the cars are as fast as I’ve had in my Cup career, and we are just not getting results out of it.”
Still, Bell banked valuable points and sits eighth in the Playoff standings, 32 points clear of elimination. Next up is Bristol Motor Speedway, where he’s scored five straight top 10s. For Bell, Saturday’s elimination race is a chance to finally turn raw speed into a finish that matches.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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