Christopher Bell’s near-miss at Las Vegas Motor Speedway feels eerily familiar—like a racing version of Groundhog Day. For the third year in a row, he’s stood on the podium, watching someone else celebrate a win that could’ve been his. Is it fate, bad luck, or just the cruel twist of NASCAR’s high-stakes playoffs? One thing’s for sure: Bell is no stranger to this heart-wrenching déjà vu.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Bell simply missing that final piece of the puzzle, or is there something more at play? This year, it was teammate Denny Hamlin who clinched his 60th Cup Series win and a spot in the Championship 4, leaving Bell to wonder what might have been. Hamlin’s victory marked his first Championship 4 berth in the Gen 7 era, a milestone Bell is still chasing.
“It’s kind of déjà vu from last year,” Bell admitted after his third-place finish. “We were a little off at the start, but we really found our rhythm in the second half. I felt like I had the car to win—I just didn’t execute on the restarts. It’s frustrating, but hopefully we can do better in the next two races.”
Bell’s day was a rollercoaster of close calls and near-misses. He spent the first two stages in the back half of the top 10, racking up nine stage points. While his car was solid early on, he couldn’t quite match the speed of Kyle Larson and William Byron, who dominated with a combined 184 laps led for Hendrick Motorsports.
And this is the part most people miss: As the race progressed, Bell’s team put him in a position to contend for the win—just like in past playoff appearances. But it wasn’t without drama. He narrowly avoided two major wrecks that could’ve ended his race prematurely.
The first incident involved Byron rear-ending Ty Dillon as Dillon slowed for a pit stop. Byron had no idea Dillon was pitting, and the collision was unavoidable. Bell, racing right behind Byron, somehow escaped unscathed. “It was pure luck,” Bell said. “There was tire smoke everywhere, the sun was blinding—I just prayed, hit the brakes, and stayed as far left as I could. Thankfully, we missed it.”
The second wreck came with just 22 laps left. Ty Gibbs spun while racing three-wide with Shane van Gisbergen and Hamlin, triggering a multi-car pileup. Bell, once again, dodged disaster by going wide in his No. 20 Toyota, keeping his car clean and in contention.
Despite his skill and fortune, Bell couldn’t secure his first Las Vegas win. For the third consecutive season, he fell just short, though he did move 20 points above the Championship 4 cutline. But here’s the kicker: Last year, Bell left Las Vegas in a strong points position, only to miss the Championship 4 after a fourth-place finish at Homestead-Miami and a penalty at Martinsville. Is history repeating itself, or can Bell break the cycle?
“It literally feels like déjà vu,” Bell reflected. “I’m proud of the Rheem team—we came close to a win, but it wasn’t meant to be. I guess we’ll roll the dice at Talladega.”
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Is Christopher Bell’s repeated heartbreak at Las Vegas a matter of bad luck, or is there something more he needs to change in his strategy? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your take!
