Christopher Bell's Playoff Frustrations

Christopher Bell is expressing frustration despite a top-ten finish, claiming his team is "underperforming" and not meeting expectations with a fast car.

[{"selector":"#anim-2b1a54b3-6bf2-43b3-ae12-716b0627dfbe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.65496%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d74dea6-a0b7-4d89-8814-8ee3c0ca3eec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7c9d399-2a31-45bd-9fbd-2d60e2c304b8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32e1f073-44a9-4a84-a6d5-208b2f70b1c0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(56.772688242358925%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The disappointment is particularly sharp because his teammates, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, secured a one-two finish at Gateway.

[{"selector":"#anim-40edcdb1-153d-43b2-b227-8ae0010aedd9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-911e563d-f747-46f8-a3dc-db7207a7ee6d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25b2966f-43bd-4e57-89df-719557dd121e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] This isn't the first time Bell has had issues. He recently had a pit road collision with Carson Hocevar at Darlington, a setback that compounded his frustrations.

[{"selector":"#anim-c6fe60d1-1b97-4731-8bd9-848346f057f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83bc5440-e010-475d-8756-521edf973204","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87f729b3-4c6e-4c2c-88ce-5684839b64c8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(44.506835841502955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] After the race at Gateway, Bell's heated radio exchange showed his frustration with his team's pit strategy, telling them he's "over it."

[{"selector":"#anim-0cc11510-fc0e-450e-955e-a8184f2d7345","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ff2bcd1-3d18-4452-b9db-8fad085774c9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(51.303100472074334%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Despite his recent struggles on oval tracks, Bell remains in a good position in the playoffs, ranked eighth and sitting 32 points above the cut-off line.

[{"selector":"#anim-ddb28b4e-b389-43d1-83a4-c385fbd4a3dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.97444%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8becc5dd-038f-49b2-aada-99d8193d9fa5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40735584-3e1b-4e91-a92f-77df058fb777","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15942999-32f4-4ea3-bff0-651c17db7019 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(47.3943226819834%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] He is currently the lowest-ranked driver among the Joe Gibbs Racing stable, with his teammates and even fellow Toyota drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick ahead of him.

[{"selector":"#anim-e862e2f0-b7b5-47dd-ad05-b62e49af9949","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.65496%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d486580-6957-4b66-8f55-c2c240c3142f","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-660f964e-16bc-449a-b67c-dbaa0909d3c5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-56.372070216502955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The pressure is on for Bell to find his rhythm at the upcoming race at Bristol Motor Speedway, a track where he has a strong record.

[{"selector":"#anim-049ff31e-c13f-49c5-b87e-43739ec7ccbf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.97445%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77809a62-8387-488a-ae6d-f1f6497815d8","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-313d3178-ce20-4680-8f6f-fd3043d96d62 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(58.569335841502955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Bell has a positive history at Bristol, with an impressive five consecutive top-ten finishes, which he hopes will help turn his playoff run around. Learn more