Christopher Bell Admits Toyota Group “Epically Failed” at Kansas

Joe Gibbs Racingh veteran Christopher Bell shared his disappointment with Toyota drivers missing out on the win last week at Kansas.

Christopher Bell Admits Toyota Group “Epically Failed” at Kansas

Christopher Bell (Via @CBellRacing/X)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Toyota came into the R-12 full of confidence, after Joe Gibbs Racing swept the R-16, while 23XI Racing and LMC produced big runs. But things didn’t get according to plan as they got themselves in messy situation at New Hampshire and Kansas. Veteran Christopher Bell believes Kansas weekend was a major failure for TRD.

The controversial incident occurred on the last lap, when Bubba Wallace who was leading the race got used up by Denny Hamlin, giving Chase Elliott the opportunity to stun four Toyota’s and steal the win. Talking about it, Christopher Bell admitted that it was a poor couple week for he and his team and if he was racing at the place of Hamlin, he wouldn’t have caused the incident.  

It has not been good. Last two weeks have not been good… I mean, it’s so hard to say… I have no idea. I would have liked to have at least stay, not that he’d [Hamlin] let me stay side by side, but at least get both of us to the start finish line.

Christopher Bell said via Frontstretch.

This is because of the fact that he hates they couldn’t secure a win after taking out one of their own, making the day an epic failure. The fact that the all of the top-5 driver were Toyota’s coming into the green white checkered, only to let a Chevy win was just result of poor execution. Now they are close to losing the potential advantage they would’ve had by having more TRD cars in the playoffs, as 23XI driver might get eliminated in R-12.

And clearly, taking one driver out of it, the whole accumulation of the Toyota group epically failed at Kansas. So yeah, just line five of them up in a row coming to a green white checkered, and none of them win. That’s not it’s not very well executed.

Christopher Bell added.

Christopher Bell responds to Bubba Wallace’s apology

Denny Hamlin wasn’t the only driver to have an incident with Bubba Wallace, as late in the race the 23XI driver moved the No:20 JGR to the wall to take the lead. But after the race the Brickyard 400 winner admitted his mistake and immediately apologized.

Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace
Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace (Via IMAGO)

I texted C Bell after the race and said my full intentions were to make you lift, not put you in the fence, and I apologized for that. He took it, I guess, as best as he could, but I reached out immediately because I saw the replay after the fact, and was like ‘damn, I did not want that…

Bubba Wallace asserted.

The JGR veteran talked about the apology ahead of the Roval race. He pointed out that he appreciates the gesture from Wallace. Though he is someone that believes in actions after apology, Bell is happy with the fact that the NO:23 driver was quick to say sorry.

I appreciate it that he acknowledged it for sure. it is what it is. I’m a big believer in apologies and the actions afterwards matter equally as much, but apologies absolutely do matter.

Christopher Bell responded.

The comments from the Toyota drivers shows the whole TRD garage isn’t happy with their drivers’ actions and the results in the last two races. It would be interesting to see how they are going to redeem themselves on Sunday at the all-important road course race at Charlotte Roval.

Also Read: “I Wanted to Come in Here and MF the Guy!” Bubba Wallace Spills the Beans on Peace Talks with Denny Hamlin