Under NASCAR's new Chase format, Christopher Bell says every race matters again

NASCAR's new Chase format has, in the eyes of Christopher Bell, made every race much more meaningful. 

With wins no longer locking drivers into the postseason or the next round of the playoffs, consistency and winning both mean more. 

For Bell, who is yet to win this year but has a whopping seven runner-up finishes, the new format is much appreciated. 

Why Christopher Bell likes NASCAR's new points format

"The thing that I appreciate, these races today, these races that we've done since February, matter," Bell said Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, "And they impact what's going to happen in the Chase. Every race is more important in this format, which I greatly appreciate."

Bell said that, as opposed to years past, he feels consistent performance from a team over the course of an entire season will be rewarded. 

"Seven second-place finishes meant nothing in the previous format," Bell said. "Now, I'm getting rewarded for those finishes and those races that, obviously I came up short, but still got a lot of points in. I've enjoyed racing under this format."

Bell enters Sunday's race at New Hampshire tied with Chase Elliott for sixth in the series standings and only 20 points back of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate in Chase Briscoe for fifth. Bell will start sixth at NHMS on Sunday and will have an excellent shot to snap his 31-race winless drought and score his first win of 2026 at a venue where he has won twice before. 

Quotes provided by NASCAR Media.