Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson Race Without Friendship at Phoenix Raceway
Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson head into the final stretch of the Chase presented by Mobil 1 while openly acknowledging a competitive rivalry built on a decade of hard racing. Bell sits 51 points behind Larson with three races remaining ahead of Sunday’s Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
The two drivers share a history dating back to dirt tracks like the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, where each driver has secured three victories. In 2020, Larson halted Bell’s quest for a fourth straight Chili Bowl title. That long-standing battle on the dirt has carried over to the NASCAR Cup Series, where both compete for the Bill France Cup.
Drivers Address Their Relationship in Joint Media Appearance
During a joint media session on Saturday at Phoenix Raceway, Bell addressed his dynamic with Larson directly on the media center dais. Denny Hamlin joined the drivers for the appearance, sitting 49 points back from Larson in the standings ahead of the 3 p.m. ET race broadcast on USA, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Christopher Bell is charging after Kyle Larson pic.twitter.com/5SldW8JWqf
“We’re not friends,” Bell said of Larson. “I think Kyle and I have raced each other hard basically our entire career, and I think it’s fair to say that we’re different people, and we hang out with different people and I think were not friends. But we are acquaintances and will race each other hard.”
Larson agreed with Bell’s characterization while crediting his rival for elevating his performance on the track. “Nobody’s pushed me more than Christopher to become a better racer, so I appreciate that,” Larson said. “I think in all forms of sports, there’s always athletes that push athletes, and he’s been the guy to push me to be better because he’s beaten me so much throughout my career.”
Hamlin weighed in on the difficulty of maintaining close personal relationships at the elite tier of stock car racing. “Close friends is difficult,” Hamlin said. “It’s easy when one is good and one is not. It’s tougher when they’re both good, because you’re going to race each other a lot, and there’s always going to be contact at times, and feelings get hurt.”
Power Steering Debate and Points Chase Urgency
Earlier friction between Bell and Larson over a power steering failure at Las Vegas surfaced when Chase Briscoe suggested a hypothetical question for the panel about who could handle a car best without power steering assistance. Larson previously questioned whether Bell truly had zero power assist during the Las Vegas race, prompting Bell to respond in a prior media availability by stating he hopes the same mechanical issue happens to Larson.
When Briscoe’s question was brought up on Saturday, both Bell and Larson quickly dismissed the idea of driving an intermediate speedway with zero power assist, drawing laughter from the media center.
Beyond the lighthearted exchange, the battle for the championship remains tight. Larson has finished no worse than sixth and won twice in the first six postseason races. Hamlin stressed the need to cut into Larson’s lead immediately, while Bell pointed to upcoming challenges.
“So, certainly myself and Denny are both 50 back right now,” Bell said. “We need to close that gap. But looking at the rest of the races, we are all going to be running up front and scoring stage points and competing for wins, so the difference maker is who gets those wins.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the NASCAR Cup Series Chase
What is the points gap between Kyle Larson and his closest pursuers?
Christopher Bell trails Kyle Larson by 51 points and Denny Hamlin trails by 49 points as the series heads into the final three races of the Chase presented by Mobil 1.
Where is the Freeway Insurance 500 taking place?
The race is being held at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, a one-mile track scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
Which television and radio networks are broadcasting the race?
The event is broadcast live on USA, with audio coverage available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
“Whatever happens at Talladega, the likelihood of a crash at Talladega is a lot higher at that track than other tracks,” Bell said regarding the upcoming race on Oct. 25. “It can hinder your points that you take away. Between Talladega and race wins, that’s going to be the deciding factor.”