Christopher Bell is interested in more NASCAR dirt races

Christopher Bell says with a laugh: “Yeah, I mean, I’d be all for it. Hell, let’s make the whole schedule dirt.”

Christopher Bell is moving up the ranks of the NASCAR stock car racing world. The avid dirt racer has found success on the pavement. But, in his brief off-season, it’s spent at the dirt tracks.

“I was suppose to race at Volusia a couple nights But, I didn’t end up getting to,” Bell explained during the Daytona Media Day. “I ended up staying at home and watching Volusia on the internet.”

Speaking of dirt, Christopher Bell is now a back to back Chili Bowl Nationals winner. After the 2016 win, he unbolted the car and reassembled it, in his dining room.

“Just the first one was good enough for me. I’ll race this second car, next year.”

For the Chili Bowl Nationals, a lot of teams build cars specifically for that race. They put on the lightest and greatest parts and run it at the Chili Bowl. Then, the car gets put into storage until the following year.

Related: Christopher Bell put his Chili Bowl winning midget in his house

2017 Chili Bowl Results - January 14, 2016 - Christopher Bell Wins
Christopher Bell wins the 2017 Chili Bowl Nationals

What drivers did Christopher Bell idolize growing up?

“For me, I love Tony Stewart. I’ve always loved him since the Home Depot #20 days.”

In 2018, Christopher Bell will drive the #20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing. When Tony Stewart drove the #20, it was also for Joe Gibbs.

Bell has also driven race cars for Tony Stewart himself. Bell has piloted a dirt sprint car for the WoO Sprint Car Series team owner.

“That was a dream come true. I think you can go ask any dirt track kid across the country who they’d want to drive for and Tony would be right up there on that list.”

Both Tony Stewart and Christopher Bell come from the dirt racing ranks.

Christpher Bell and Tony Stewart in victory lane at Eldora Speedway
ROSSBURG, OH – JULY 22: Christopher Bell, driver of the #54 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota, celebrates with Eldora track owner Tony Stewart after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 1-800-CAR-CASH Mud Summer Classic at Eldora Speedway on July 22, 2015 in Rossburg, Ohio. (Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images) Tony Stewart

Favorite track?

“My favorite track, ever, would be Eldora. I love that place. Whether it’s a truck, a sprint car or midget. It’s just the place that I love.”

Christopher Bell won his first NASCAR race ever, on the dirt. That win came in the 2015 Eldora Dirt Derby as a part-time driver. He did it while knocking the right rear off the car.

Would you like to see more NASCAR dirt races in other NASCAR series?

“I think it would draw attention, that’s for sure. The Eldora truck race is one of the most watched races of the year. Just because it’s so different.”

“The only thing I would worry about it getting too many of them on the schedule. Where it takes away from the one-time event.”

“Yeah, I mean, I’d be all for it. Hell, let’s make the whole schedule dirt.”

Christopher Bell was the 2017 NASCAR Truck Series champion. This yeat he moves up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in a full-time ride with JGR.

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Christopher Bell | NASCAR

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