Another Year, Another Championship Charge From Interstate Batteries Driver
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 3, 2026) – When 76 points is the maximum a driver can earn in a single NASCAR Cup Series race, overcoming a 67-point deficit is indeed a tall order.
That is what faces Christopher Bell in the Cup Series season finale this Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The driver of the No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is second to championship leader Kyle Larson, who has crafted a Tony Stewart-esque drive during the 10-race Chase by winning three times and having only one finish outside the top-nine.
Bell is still focused forward, but the 31-year-old racer from Norman, Oklahoma, must also keep an eye on his rearview mirror. His JGR teammate Denny Hamlin is just three points behind in third, and 17 points back in fourth sits another JGR teammate, Chase Briscoe. Fifth-place Joey Logano lurks 36 points away, sixth-place Tyler Reddick is 58 points out, and seventh-place Ryan Blaney is a distant 66 points behind. Those are the only drivers still eligible to overtake Bell.
Bell has finished among the top-five in points for the past five seasons. A sixth season beckons. It is a remarkable run of consistency, but one that is also bittersweet. Most of Bell’s counterparts have spent entire seasons chasing what Bell considers an average Sunday.
“I’m proud of where we’re at, and certainly proud that we’ve been so close year in and year out, but we do want to get that golden egg,” Bell said.
Like Interstate Batteries, the leading replacement battery brand in the United States, Bell has been outrageously dependable in his seven-year Cup Series career. He finished 20th in his rookie season in 2020, and then won his first race in 2021 on his way to a 12th-place points finish. From 2022 onward, Bell has always been in the championship conversation.
“My team has done a really good job,” Bell said. “They’re resilient, they’re just really resilient. They’ve shown throughout the years that whenever it matters the most, they show up in the biggest ways.”
The belief is mutual within the No. 20 team, as crew chief Adam Stevens, who has been paired with Bell since 2021, explains.
“Christopher brings his best every weekend, and his resilience has really impressed me,” Stevens said. “It’s been a very odd year for us to be as competitive as we’ve been and really not have a lot to show for it. He doesn’t get too distracted by whatever happened last week or the week before that, and that’s a big part of the sport. You race a lot of times every year. It’s 38 times we show up, and even the guys who’ve had outstanding years, 30 times they go home disappointed. And it’s been a few more than 30 for us.
“But having a season like this is something we can certainly build off of. We’ve been bringing competitive cars and Christopher’s been doing a fantastic job. Sometimes that’s just not enough, but I think that’s meant a lot of growth for him, especially through some of the trials and tribulations we’ve had this year. That’s something that’s going to pay dividends in his future.”
The near future is Sunday at Homestead. The 1.5-mile oval at the gateway to the Florida Keys is a driver’s track. It is a favorite among competitors because of its weathered asphalt, long straightaways and variable banking. It allows drivers to search different racing lines while managing their tires.
“Homestead is a driver’s track, for sure,” Bell said. “It’s really slippery, and you have to be able to drive the car loose. You have to be able to move your line around. You have to be able to adapt to changing conditions. It takes two pedals and a steering wheel to go fast there. Some of these other tracks, it doesn’t.”
Bell knows what he’s talking about. He clinched a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship at Homestead in 2017 and won the sixth of his 14 career Cup Series victories at the South Florida track in 2023.
“I love Homestead, and I think it’s a really good place to crown a champion,” Bell said.
“There’s a lot on the line for everyone. There’s a lot of money invested, and we have partners who expect results.
“Interstate Batteries has been with Joe Gibbs Racing since its very beginning, and they’re on the car at Homestead, sharing it with DEWALT. Between them and the 600-plus employees at Joe Gibbs Racing that put effort into this racecar, we go in with our best foot forward to try and win.”
The championship race weekend at Homestead begins Friday with a 50-minute practice session starting at 5:30 p.m. EST. Teams will have Friday evening and Saturday morning to debrief and make changes to their cars before qualifying Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The final race of the 2026 season goes off Sunday at 3 p.m. truTV will provide live coverage of practice and qualifying, with NBC broadcasting the 267-lap race. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will serve as the audio home for the entire race weekend.
About Joe Gibbs Racing:
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR with four NASCAR Cup Series teams, four NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series teams, an ARCA Menards Series team, and a driver development program. JGR is based in Huntersville, North Carolina, and owned by 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Joe Gibbs, who also earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was named as one of the NFL’s top-10 coaches of all time with a winning career that included three Super Bowl championships as head coach of the Washington franchise. JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, capturing more than 400 wins over that span. No team has more combined wins across the sport’s three national series in the history of NASCAR. In addition, JGR has won five Cup Series championships along with four O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver championships and seven O’Reilly Auto Parts Series owners’ championships. The organization also has captured four Daytona 500 titles, considered to be NASCAR’s premier event.
About Interstate Batteries:
For more than 70 years, Interstate Batteries® has powered people down roads, trails and waterways and businesses to succeed. Best known for its starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) batteries, this product has been under car hoods since 1952, each one backed by the company’s service, quality and value. Interstate All Battery Center® provides portable power in both retail and commercial markets. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Interstate Batteries is an industry leader in recycling efforts, as well as a global leader in safe lead handling practices. Guided by a set of common values, the company’s purpose is to glorify God and enrich lives while delivering the most trustworthy source of power to the world. For more information, visit www.InterstateBatteries.com.
