Christopher Bell embraces NASCAR Playoffs pressure with another clutch win: 'I love it'

At Homestead-Miami Speedway it wasn’t the dirt racer we all expected would win the race, it was Christopher Bell earning the checkered flag. For the third time in just two seasons, Bell has won a NASCAR Playoffs race to advance himself to the next round.

A year ago, it was his unbelievable performance at the Roval. Back against the wall, had to win to make the Round of 8. Then, he had to do it again at Martinsville. Now, he has another playoff victory that came in the biggest moment.

How fitting is it that Christopher Bell solidified his reputation as a clutch driver during the 4EVER 400? Named after Kevin Harvick, The Closer, it only makes sense that Bell stepped up in the biggest moment.

After the race, Bell talked about embracing the pressure of the playoffs.

“Well, I mean, I don’t think that it means anything for me. I certainly thrive on pressure and I love it. I live for those type of moments. That’s why last week hurt so bad because I live for those moments. Whenever you have an opportunity to be great…It didn’t work last week [at Las Vegas], and that really, really hurt me.”

At one point in this race, Christopher Bell was fighting to stay in the top-20. His crew chief Adam Stevens, who has won two championships with Kyle Busch in the past, tried to keep his driver calm. Bell couldn’t help but quip at his crew with an “OK, I’ll start trying.”

Of course, Bell would rather just win races by a comfortable margin. He doesn’t want to be running down leaders or looking in his rearview mirror. Still, he can’t deny he performs his best in these situations.

“But I do live for those moments. I love being great or trying to be great, I should say. Yeah, I love it.”

Christopher Bell isn’t Kevin Harvick and he doesn’t want to be

This race wasn’t even in Christopher Bell’s mind as a win until late. His team had to make adjustments all day. Then, on a late restart with Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney battling for the lead, Bell had a shot.

Hamlin and Blaney used each other up. They dropped like rocks to the back of the top-5. That’s when Bell split the 12 and the 11 cars, went three-wide. Like a shot from a cannon, he found a lane and took off. William Byron tried to follow, but Bell was gone. Byron would take the lead again on a following restart, but Bell once again, made the right moves.

Christopher Bell TO THE LEAD!#NASCARPlayoffs | NBC pic.twitter.com/YWcSl8eY9l

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 22, 2023

Watching Ryan Blaney start to reel Bell in late, it looked like Las Vegas last week. Instead of Bell coming up short to Kyle Larson, it was the 20-car pulling away from Blaney. He raced it perfectly.

In the post-race press conference, the topic of Kevin Harvick came up. As far as being this generation’s “The Closer,” Bell is fine just being himself.

“I don’t know. I mean, Harvick is obviously one of the greatest to ever do it. I’m a far stretch from that. I am proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish I guess is the right way to say it. But I don’t think that anybody will be The Closer. That’s Kevin’s motto, that’s what he did. Hopefully, I’m Christopher Bell.”