Next week, Christopher Bell will balance his NASCAR Cup Series schedule with a return to Eldora Speedway for the prestigious Kings Royal sprint car event on July 16-17 in Rossburg, Ohio. Bell, who pilots the No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing, will compete before heading to NASCAR races at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California and Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware.

The dual commitment highlights Bell’s unique racing versatility as he tackles one of sprint car racing’s most celebrated competitions between two major NASCAR events.

Significance of the Kings Royal in Sprint Car Racing

The Kings Royal holds a revered place in sprint car racing, a sport known for its raw and intense competition. Bell noted the importance of the event, comparing it to iconic NASCAR races.

NASCAR has the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. Sprint car racing has the Kings Royal and the Knoxville Nationals. Those are always the big events,

said Bell, who rose through the ranks in sprint cars and midgets before establishing himself in NASCAR Cup Series competition.

The Kings Royal is a huge event and it’s always an honor to be a part of it, even if it’s only for the first two nights.

Bell’s Sprint Car Role and Sponsorship

During the Kings Royal, Bell will drive the No. 69k 410 winged sprint car for team owner Don Kreitz, Jr., a National Sprint Car Hall of Famer. Interstate Batteries, a longtime sponsor in motorsports, backs Bell’s car, proudly displaying its familiar bright green paint scheme.

Interstate Batteries’ commitment to motorsports is impressive,

Bell remarked.

They’re synonymous with NASCAR because they’ve been with Joe Gibbs Racing since its beginning – 34 years and counting. But Interstate Batteries has been on dragsters, powerboats, bikes, sprint cars – all kinds of racing machines. To get a win at Eldora, and to do it with Interstate Batteries, would make for a heckuva night. They’ve bought a suite and they’re all coming in for the two nights I’m racing. Would love to be able to deliver for them.

Christopher Bell’s Racing Background and Versatility

The 26-year-old driver boasts 12 NASCAR Cup Series victories, with three wins earlier this year alone. Bell’s extensive racing experience began at age six in go-karts and evolved through USAC’s top-three national divisions—Midget, Silver Crown, and Sprint Car—racing across a mix of asphalt and dirt tracks.

Dirt racing, for sure, gives you versatility, and you have to be versatile to be successful at it. You have to be good at adapting to ever-changing track conditions and the conditions the cars throw your way,

Bell explained, reflecting on his 29 career USAC wins and his 2013 National Midget championship.

That’s something I grew up with, just racing different disciplines, different styles of cars, and I think that’s translated to my NASCAR career, just being able to not get set in your ways, and racing with an open mind and knowing that sometimes different lanes are going to open up. You use different driving styles and techniques, and I do think that comes from my background.

This mix of dirt and asphalt experience shapes his adaptable driving style, valuable when switching between sprint cars and NASCAR stock cars.

The Benefits of Racing at Eldora for Bell’s Performance

Returning to his roots at Eldora lets Bell refine his race craft while enjoying competition in the environment that launched his career. He emphasized the importance of constant racing for skill improvement and physical conditioning.

Racers race, and the more you race, the better you are,

Bell said.

You can go lift weights and run as much as you want, but being in that racing environment and focusing on the task at hand, it’s different – a lot different – and there’s no way you can prepare for it other than doing it.

Challenges and Competition Level at the Kings Royal

The Kings Royal spans four intense nights and draws sprint car elites from series including Kubota High Limit Racing and the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. Bell’s participation is limited to Wednesday and Thursday nights due to his NASCAR schedule.

He will race for a $12,000 prize during the Double Down Duels on Wednesday and compete for a $100,000 prize in the Joker’s Jackpot on Thursday. Bell will observe Friday’s $25,000 Knight Before and the $200,000 main Kings Royal event from his motorcoach in Dover’s infield. All events stream live on DirtVision starting at 6:45 p.m. EDT.

Eldora is just an amazing facility,

Bell said.

It has a ton of history and it’s been around forever. It’s just a special place.

Bell’s History of Success at Eldora Speedway

Bell has a strong track record at Eldora across different racing disciplines. His first Eldora win came in a NASCAR Toyota Tundra during the 2015 Craftsman Truck Series, followed shortly by victories in the 4-Crown Nationals for USAC Midget and Silver Crown cars. His initial sprint car triumph at Eldora occurred in May 2016 in a 360 winged sprint car during the Johnny Appleseed Classic’s NRA Sprint Invaders event.

Further wins include the 2017 Knight Before and the 2018 season finale, #LastCallForThemAll, both sprint car victories achieved with the World of Outlaws.

Raw Nature of Sprint Car Racing According to Bell

Bell highlighted the demanding and authentic qualities unique to sprint car competition.

Sprint car racing is just so real and raw and true. You can’t fake it,

said Bell, a six-time World of Outlaws feature winner.

You’ve got to qualify well and you’ve got to race well. There are no pit stops. It’s just the driver and the car once it’s on the track. You still have a team. You have a crew chief and mechanics who work on the car, but it’s all really in your hands, and you can’t fake your way around a sprint car, that’s for sure.

Upcoming Racing Schedule for Christopher Bell

Bell’s packed racing week starts on Sunday, July 14, at 3:30 p.m. EDT with the Toyota/Save Mart 350k at Sonoma Raceway, a 1.99-mile road course broadcast live on TNT and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. His Kings Royal sprint car events follow on Wednesday and Thursday nights, aired via FloRacing and FS1. Bell then competes in the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway on July 21 at 2 p.m. EDT, also televised live on TNT and covered on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This week exemplifies Bell’s commitment to mastering diverse racing disciplines, juggling high-profile NASCAR competitions while embracing his passion for dirt track sprint car racing at Eldora.