Christopher Bell thanks Joe Gibbs after triumphant return to dirt, win over Kyle Larson at Tulsa Shootout

In his big return to dirt racing, Christopher Bell did not disappoint. He came away with a Golden Driller over Kyle Larson on Saturday. Now that Bell is free to race away from NASCAR, Larson may have his biggest competition back in the sprint car world.

In the Non-Wing Outlaw main event, Christopher Bell was fantastic. Throughout the week, Bell struggled to find that winning speed. However, he kept advancing and kept advancing until he made it to the finale on Saturday.

In the best race of the weekend, Bell narrowly defeated Larson for the Golden Driller. Perhaps a preview of the Chili Bowl Nationals coming up at the same track?

In victory lane, C-Bell wanted to make sure he said one thing first:

“I’ve got four words, thank you Joe Gibbs!” the racer exclaimed on FloRacing.

He was then asked about the race and coming to the line with Larson. It was an epic battle between two of the best racers in North America.

“Oh my gosh, man. I live for moments like that man. Driving these race cars, especially here at Tulsa, there’s nothing else like it. Maybe after today, Kyle will actually like micros and want to come back.”

Despite not being on dirt for a couple of years, Christopher Bell remembers lessons learned in prior seasons. He wasn’t going to make the same mistakes that cost him a fourth Chili Bowl win.

“Well, so I lost the Chili Bowl by running the top on entry,” Bell continued. “So, I felt like if I just kept running the slider line, and there was a lot of good dirt, getting off on corners 2 and 4. So, I felt like if I could keep sliding across and get off really hard it was going to be hard for him to get me. He made a hell of a corner down there on the bottom that last corner to make it scary coming to the checkered.”

The Norman, Oklahoma native loves the Tulsa Shootout. He knows what it means for dirt racers and Oklahoma dirt racers specifically. Bell gave perhaps the best five-word summary of his win to finish the interview:

“That was a badass race.”

Yes, it was. And we get to do it all again with the midget cars next week. Before you know it, the NASCAR Cup Series will be racing at Bowman Gray and then Daytona. Time marches on.