This past weekend, Christopher Bell added another feather to his hat after winning the Cup Series for the third consecutive weekend at the Phoenix Raceway. He has become the first driver to achieve this in a Next-Gen car, and he is not even 30 years old yet.
Despite his achievements, Bell is surprisingly not as big a deal in NASCAR compared to other, more popular drivers, who have won less. ESPN’s Ryan McGee started a thread on X asking followers why, in spite of Bell’s stellar achievements, he was not more popular.
Is Christopher Bell Going Down the Same Road As Jimmie Johnson?
McGee posted on X, “Christopher Bell: 12 Cup wins, 19 Xfinity wins, 7 Truck wins, Trucks title, 3 Chili Bowls, USAC Midget title, 2 Champ 4 appearances (nearly a 3rd). Now he’s first to win 3 straight Cup races in a Next-Gen car…and he’s barely 30. Why is he not a bigger deal?! #NASCAR”
Christopher Bell: 12 Cup wins, 19 Xfinty wins, 7 Truck wins, Trucks title, 3 Chili Bowls, USAC Midget title, 2 Champ 4 appearances (nearly a 3rd). Now he's first to win 3 straight Cup races in a Next Gen car…and he's barely 30. Why is he not a bigger deal?! #NASCAR
— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) March 9, 2025
Fans reacted to his post, stating that skill has taken a backseat in NASCAR. Drivers who are more entertaining on the track and grab attention off the track with their outlandish personalities are now a bigger deal than just those who win races.
One fan said, “Winning isn’t enough to make a character great in sports. Needs some spice. People latch on to athletes that do things no one else is willing to do. Push envelopes that most only day dream about. It’s a busy world in 2025.”
“Great results, but no personality, non-controversial, & nothing interviews transforms Christopher Bell into a top driver with zero charisma,” added another fan.
Fans have compared him to the seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. He is a driver with many achievements to his name but never as crowd-popular as veterans like Dale Earnhardt, Sr.
A fan shared, “Because he’s quiet when he wins and whines when he loses. Not a dislikable guy, but a lot like Jimmy Johnson in that respect.”
Because he’s quiet when he wins and whines when he loses. Not a dislikable guy, but a lot like Jimmy Johnson in that respect.
— RLH (@RLH2377) March 10, 2025
Another fan added, “Not comparing him to one of the GOATS, but he reminds me of pre-title Jimmie Johnson. Wildly talented but kind of flew under the radar because he wasn’t outspoken. And when he won, it was because it was Gordon’s car, so of course he should win.”
