NASCAR: 5 drivers who have underperformed so far in 2020
By Konner Metz
Underperforming drivers in 2020: #4 – Christopher Bell
Expectations for Christopher Bell, as they usually are with most NASCAR Cup Series rookies, were probably too high. However, his short stint in the series so far has been quite disappointing, save for the past few races.
Bell entered NASCAR’s prolonged break from racing due to the coronavirus pandemic with no top 20 finishes and no signs of speed even close to that of his four satellite teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Despite these early struggles, the Leavine Family Racing driver showed decent speed at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway races, finishing in ninth place in two of those three events and 11th in the other.
Still, Bell sits in 25th place in the championship standings behind fellow rookies Tyler Reddick (18th), John Hunter Nemechek (20th) and Cole Custer (24th).
Bell landed in arguably the best situation in a pseudo-Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with a path to take a seat with the powerhouse team whenever one opens up. Yet his race pace and average finish (21.1) have been behind those of the lesser-funded Reddick and Nemechek.
Of course, moving to a new series with a different team and car is a massive learning curve that will inevitably have its ups and downs. The small sample size of the season and his recent improvement can also be used to argue on Bell’s behalf, but there’s no denying his performance has not met expectations.
Bell won eight times in the Xfinity Series in 2019, and he was lauded as one of the best young talents in recent memory. The expectation of contending and winning the Rookie of the Year battle is a fair one, and so far, Bell is a step behind multiple rookies who are outperforming their equipment and inexperience.