Christopher Bell is setting his sights on redemption and a fresh approach as he prepares for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After securing pole position with a lap speed of 185.344 mph, Bell aims to turn his strategy around from last year's campaign, where he narrowly missed a win to Kyle Larson.
Bell's determination to capitalize on his third pole position of the 2024 season, and third overall at Las Vegas, marks another chapter in his impressive racing career.
The challenge at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is not new to Bell. In the previous year's race, he was bested by Kyle Larson leaving Bell with a second-place finish. This repeat of history is something Bell is keen to avoid this time around.
He and his crew chief, Adam Stevens, have opted for a change of strategy, choosing to skip the customary preference for the number one pit stall.
Bell recounted their conversation about this decision the Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass.
Christopher Bell nearly won at Vegas a year ago but Kyle Larson was able to hold him off at the end of the race. Bell on why he thinks he could be there at the end this year -- and why he didn't choose the first pit stall. pic.twitter.com/fiZGPbBeig
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 20, 2024"Adam and I actually talked about what we were going to do if we were in this position to win the pole and what pit stall we were going to choose.
"You know last year I had that number one pit stall and I couldn't quite accelerate out of it and I lost a couple positions in the drag race to the camera that last pit stop."
The pit strategy shift is a direct response to previous issues, as the driver aims not to repeat last year's difficulties when he encountered acceleration issues exiting from the prime pit stall. This move could prevent the loss of valuable positions during crucial points in the race.
Aside from strategy, the competition offers its own set of challenges. Kyle Larson, a dominant driver of the new generation of cars, has been a strong rival for Bell. His performance at Las Vegas has been exceptional, making him a clear favorite.
"There's no doubt I mean he's the favorite here Kyle is. He's won I think about every stage in every race since the history of next gen car here.
"So he's going to be fast tomorrow but I promise you we're going to be right there with him."
Despite Larson's strong record, Bell is resolute in his intent to match and, ideally, surpass his competitor's efforts.
In the broader scope of the NASCAR Cup Series season, Bell is one of the potential championship contenders still vying for a spot in the playoffs with him sat second with 3105 points. His performance in the 2024 season, with two wins, five top-5 finishes, ten top-10 results and the leading of 302 laps in 17 races, shows a strong consistency.
A victory at Las Vegas would match his championship aspirations, guaranteeing him a place in the finals, which is crucial given the competition currently being exhibited by the drivers on the grid.
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