Christopher Bell Reveals the “One True Legitimate” Way to Crown the NASCAR Champion

Joe Gibbs Racing star driver Christopher Bell shared his thoughts on legitimacy of Cup champions in the NASCAR playoff era.

Christopher Bell Reveals the “One True Legitimate” Way to Crown the NASCAR Champion

Christopher Bell (Via @CBellRacing/X)

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The debate and discussion around the NASCAR playoff format have intensified in the last few years, with the sport witnessing drivers with clutch form getting rewarded the most. Many in the community has called for a change in format and the sanctioning body is planning changes for 2026. JGR racer Christopher Bell shares his thoughts on the best format that can crown the real winner.

Talking about the format change rumors, Christopher Bell declared that the only way to crown the true legitimate champion of the sport is to have a format that counts results from very races of the season. At the moment such a drastic return to the legacy format isn’t possible, but the youngster is hopeful that NASCAR can form a new format with enough compromises.

I think there’s only one true legitimate champion crowning format, and that’s to count every race, and I think that’s how you get a legitimate champion. I’m hopeful that there is compromise on what we have now.

Christopher Bell said via Frontstretch.

Furthermore, the ex-Truck Series champion pointed out that he has been one of the few racers who has actively voiced for the 36-race championship format and insisted that it is the best way to go. He is expecting the sanctioning body to introduce a format that is better than the current one, where a single event is crowing the champion.

I’ve been very vocal about taking as many as we can get. I think that 36 races or full points for the entire year is the way to go. And I think that is the best way to go. I don’t think that we’re going to get there. So, I’ll take whatever they give us. And anything more than one is better.

Christopher Bell added.

Christopher Bell addresses the Ty Gibbs-Denny Hamlin beefs and admits a line was crossed

In the same interview, Bell also talked about the beef between his teammates Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs. The former wrecked the latter last week at New Hampshire, during an aggressive duel which was avoidable. Bell believes a line was crossed last week and is hopeful that after the good team meeting they had, things will be better.

Christopher Bell
Christopher Bell (Via IMAGO)

No, I mean, I think it’s definitely fair to say that a line was crossed, and that was, that was bad. We don’t need to get any teammates wrecked. Hopefully, we do better moving forward. And yeah, I think that that’s, that’s the goal for us to, you know, race each other better moving forward.

Christopher Bell said.

Further talking about the point, the Joe Gibbs Racing star driver asserted that the team needs to get pass the drama in order to succeed together. He is optimistic about the discussing they had had at the productive meeting and is expecting better results moving forward.

I don’t know; I mean, I think we all want to see each other do well and succeed. So, yeah, I don’t know. I only think that I will sum this up is that we had a productive meeting. And I feel optimistic about, you know, changes and moving forward.

Christopher Bell added.

The comments from the star driver shows he was disappointed with how the most experienced and less experienced racers going at each other, while they are in an intense championship battle. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for JGR in the remaining races of the 2025 season.

Also Read: Ryan Blaney is Pissed off Over “Illegitimate Champion” Tag Given to playoff Era Winners