TULSA, Okla. — Christopher Bell didn’t waste any time reminding the dirt world why his name belongs in permanent Sharpie on the Chili Bowl chalkboard.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver locked himself straight into Saturday night’s Chili Bowl Nationals A-Main by winning his preliminary feature Thursday night, punching a clean ticket to the race everyone in the building is chasing — the one that ends with a Golden Driller hoisted overhead. No alphabet soup. No Friday-night chaos. Just Bell, parked safely in the big show.
It capped a dominant opening week for the NASCAR Cup Series star, who also won the Race of Champions on Monday night for the second consecutive year. In a building where legends are made and egos are humbled, Bell has been flawless when it matters most.
At the Cup level, Bell’s rise has been steady and undeniable since his days of overpowering the Xfinity Series. But diehard race fans know the truth: dirt is where Bell built his reputation. The tight confines of the Tulsa Expo Center reward throttle control, patience and confidence — traits Bell has mastered since his teenage years.
Thursday’s prelim win sends him directly into Saturday night’s A-Main, avoiding the brutal gauntlet of qualifier races earlier in the day. Waiting for him is familiar company. Kyle Larson, the reigning Cup champion and perhaps the most versatile driver of his generation, already locked into the A-Main by winning Monday night’s prelim.
That sets the stage for another Bell vs. Larson showdown, this time with the Golden Driller on the line. The Chili Bowl, now featuring more than 300 entries annually, remains the ultimate equalizer — a place where NASCAR stars, sprint car aces and local heroes collide on the same clay.
Bell has already proven he belongs at the front of that conversation. Saturday night, he’ll get a clean shot at the sport’s most iconic trophy. Buckle up.
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