Bell Tolls for the Competition at New Hampshire

Christopher Bell doesn’t just win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. he owns the place. This past weekend, the Oklahoma native put on another clinic at the “Magic Mile,” reminding everyone why betting against him at this track is like throwing money into the wind. When the checkered flag waved, Bell had once again proven that some drivers are just built for certain places, and New Hampshire might as well have his name painted on both the start and finish lines.

The dominance wasn’t just Bell’s, though. Toyota as a whole has turned New Hampshire into its personal playground during the Next Gen era. They’ve won all three races here, swept every single stage, and led an absolutely staggering 83% of all laps run. It’s not just winning, but complete and total domination that makes you wonder if the other manufacturers even bothered to show up to the race.

Why Bell Was the Obvious Choice

Anyone who’s been paying attention to NASCAR knew this was coming. When the 2025 playoff schedule dropped with tracks like Gateway and New Hampshire getting prominent spots, you could practically see the dollar signs lighting up in the eyes of the No. 20 team. These shorter, flatter tracks are where Bell absolutely thrives, and his recent performance at Gateway, where he was the best passer on track with the second-fastest car, was just a preview of what was coming.

The new Goodyear tire brought to New Hampshire had some folks worried, but not Bell. He was one of just three drivers who tested these exact tires back in July, giving him a massive advantage over drivers who were seeing them for the first time under race conditions. That kind of preparation and familiarity is exactly what separates champions from also-rans.

Bell’s record at New Hampshire is borderline absurd. Two wins in the last three Cup races here, and that doesn’t even scratch the surface. Looking at his broader NASCAR career, Bell has seven victories and nine top-two finishes in just eleven national touring starts at this track. Those aren’t just good numbers—they’re the kind of statistics that make you question if the competition is even trying.

The Joe Gibbs Racing Dynasty at New Hampshire

Bell wasn’t carrying the Toyota flag alone this weekend. His JGR teammates, particularly Denny Hamlin, have made this track their second home. Hamlin, a three-time winner here himself, has been the bridesmaid six times at New Hampshire, finishing second in nearly 30% of his starts. That kind of consistency at any track is remarkable, but at a place as challenging as New Hampshire, it’s downright supernatural.

The Joe Gibbs Racing organization has now had a car finish either first or second in thirteen consecutive races at New Hampshire. Consider that for a moment. thirteen consecutive races with a top-two finish. That’s not just a streak; it’s the longest run of dominance by any team at any single track in NASCAR history. When you have that kind of organizational excellence at a venue, it’s not luck—it’s systematic superiority.

Chase Briscoe deserves mention here, too. Even though New Hampshire has traditionally been one of his weaker tracks, he grabbed a runner-up finish last year and now has back-to-back top-10s. More importantly, he stepped into the No. 19 Toyota that Martin Truex Jr. drove to victory lane here in 2023. Inheriting a ride with that kind of recent success at this track, combined with being the hottest driver in the series right now, made Briscoe a clever play for anyone paying attention.

The Competition That Actually Showed Up

Even with Toyota’s stranglehold on New Hampshire, a few other drivers managed to make some noise. Joey Logano, treating this as his home race as a New England native, was another driver who participated in that crucial July tire test. Word from the garage was that his No. 22 Ford was absolutely screaming fast during those test sessions, and Logano’s two previous wins here proved he knows how to get it done when it matters.

Brad Keselowski nearly spoiled Bell’s party, finishing runner-up after a strong run that reminded everyone why the 2012 champion has an average finish of 10.5 in 24 New Hampshire starts, which is inarguably his second-best among active tracks. Keselowski’s three top-fives and five top-10s in his last six visits here, including a dominant 2020 victory, show he’s always a threat at this track.

Tyler Reddick might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of New Hampshire contenders, but he’s quietly put together consecutive sixth-place finishes here with an average finish of 11.2 through five starts. Starting last in the Round of 12 standings, the No. 45 team needed a strong showing to stay alive in the playoffs.

The Reality of Tire Management Racing

This race continued a frustrating trend for fans who want to see pure speed determine the winner. Like the tire conservation battle at Bristol the week before, drivers had to manage their equipment rather than go all-out for 300 miles. It’s the kind of racing that rewards patience and strategy over raw aggression, which isn’t always the most exciting to watch but does separate the smart drivers from the desperate ones.

For Bell, tire management isn’t just about preserving rubber, but about understanding exactly when to push and when to coast, a skill that comes from years of experience and countless laps at each track. His ability to find that perfect balance between speed and conservation is what separates him from drivers who might have similar raw talent but lack his racecraft intelligence.

Looking Ahead in the Round of 12

Bell’s victory positions him perfectly as the playoffs continue. With tracks coming up that should favor his driving style and Toyota’s current speed, he’s not just advancing, he’s sending a message to the rest of the field that he’s the driver to beat for this championship. The win also reinforces something we’ve seen all season long: when NASCAR visits certain tracks, certain drivers become virtually unbeatable. Bell at New Hampshire, Kyle Larson at dirt tracks, and Joey Logano at Talladega.

These are no coincidences. They’re the result of years of work, perfect car setups, and an almost mystical understanding of what it takes to go fast at specific venues. For the rest of the Cup Series field, Bell’s dominance at New Hampshire serves as both inspiration and warning. Inspiration because it shows what’s possible when everything clicks perfectly. Warning, because it demonstrates just how much work it takes to reach that level of track-specific excellence.

Final Thoughts

Christopher Bell’s latest New Hampshire victory wasn’t just another win. It was a masterclass in preparation, execution, and the kind of dominance that defines championship seasons. As the playoffs continue, everyone else is chasing not just Bell, but the standard he’s set for what it means to master a racetrack truly.