Christopher Bell began his 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season with notable success, including a rare three-race winning streak in March, generating excitement around his prospects. However, since that early surge, Bell’s campaign has been marked by uneven results, with a few top-5 finishes but no further victories, raising concerns about his consistency.
Kevin Harvick, reflecting on Bell’s performance, expressed doubt about both Bell and Joe Gibbs Racing’s ability to maintain the momentum needed for a championship run this season.
Detailed Look at Bell’s Recent Race Results and Standings
After a fifth-place finish at Sonoma Raceway, Bell showed signs of relief from a troubling stretch where he placed 24th, 30th, and 17th in the three previous races. His performance prior to this downturn included a strong runner-up finish at Mexico City and solid spots of 16th at Nashville and 10th at Michigan.
Currently, Bell sits sixth in the overall Cup Series points standings, with 597 points accumulated. Despite this ranking, Harvick believes Bell’s results do not fully reflect the promise demonstrated early in the year. On his Happy Hour podcast, Harvick and his co-hosts examined Bell’s Sonoma race, acknowledging his return to the top 5 but noting inconsistencies.
Even at this race, it had some rocky moments with spinning out and everything,
Harvick commented.
But yeah, he had a fast car, and I think when you look back to COTA, we obviously know that he’s a good road racer.
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Champion
Harvick’s Observations on Joe Gibbs Racing’s Performance
Beyond Bell, Harvick assessed the overall results of the Joe Gibbs Racing lineup. He pointed out that while Denny Hamlin’s outing was disappointing, the other team drivers, including Bell, showed more competitive performances.
I think all the Gibbs cars, Hamlin seemed like he was out to lunch this week, but it seemed like the other three Gibbs cars were solid and running up front. Christopher Bell was one of those.
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Champion
Comparison of Bell and William Byron’s Season Trajectories
Harvick drew a parallel between Bell and William Byron, both of whom tend to begin their seasons strongly but encounter difficulties maintaining consistent performance throughout the year. This pattern leaves uncertainty about their ability to sustain championship-level form until the final races.
So, I still just, it’s like William Byron. I believe that Christopher Bell and William Byron, they go through this same streak every year of starting off strong, off in the middle, and you never know what’s going to show up at the end of the year.
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Champion
The Challenge of Achieving Consistency in Championship Pursuits
While Harvick acknowledged that Bell’s run at Sonoma was solid, he cautioned that such performances have not been steady enough to establish Bell as a consistent title contender yet. He stressed the importance of minimizing catastrophic setbacks on poor days if a driver hopes to win a championship.
It was a solid run. But they haven’t been consistently solid. If you’re gonna win these championships, you gotta be able to find that consistency of when you’re having an off day, not have it be a catastrophe.
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Champion
As the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season progresses, Christopher Bell’s ability to overcome this streakiness will be critical for both his individual ambitions and Joe Gibbs Racing’s overall championship hopes. Observers will be watching closely to see if Bell and JGR can stabilize their performance and return to Victory Lane before the season’s end.