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BRISTOL, Tennessee – Christopher Bell does not know what he will do next season in NASCAR, and Joe Gibbs Racing's driver does not seem worried about his schedule to reach the Cup series.
"If ever I arrive at the Cup," Bell told reporters on Friday afternoon
Wait, "if"?
"I mean, yes, unless you know something I do not know," Bell said with a smile.
It was a decidedly different tone from Bell, who hit the headlines eight months ago talking openly about his desire to be in the Cup by 2019 because he did not want to "lose another year of my career." premium "in Xfinity.
But 24-year-old Bell spent much of his Friday media session touting his joy at running the Xfinity series and seemed happy to stay on the circuit for another year. Is there a new attitude this season?
"Yes, I'm trying to figure out how to express that," he laughs. "So obviously, I want to go to the Cup, right? But I never wanted to say this sentence: "I do not want to be in Xfinity", because I like the Xfinity series and, as I just said, I like cars and I have the feeling that they run well.
"In the end, I can drive racing cars, so it's really cool."
Bell's status and career path is an open question that has prompted many reviews. Toyota Racing Development officials, who have invested millions of dollars to help the prodigy of the race on land, have repeatedly said that Bell will remain in Toyota's camp for its inevitable promotion to the Cup.
This prompted speculation as there are only five viable Toyota seats – four of which belong to Joe Gibbs Racing, which will bring Bell into Xfinity for the second consecutive season.
The only JGR driver in a contract year is Erik Jones, who recently told NBCSports.com that he was working on an extension with the team. The only other option would be Leavine Family Racing, whose Matt DiBenedetto will occupy the # 95 Toyota this season.
Bell said he had not asked any questions about his 2020 program and was indifferent.
"It's early in the year," said the Norman native, Oklahoma. "Normally, I do not know where I'm going to land until August. So we are certainly at the beginning of the year to know where I will be.
And when he knows it, he does not expect to take the place of Jones or any other Gibbs.
"I never really imagined Erik as my hole," Bell said. "If you look at the Gibbs camp now, I can not imagine anyone like my hole because the four cars run exceptionally now. Look at all the races, the four are in the top five. I do not know where I'm going to land. I'm just enjoying the ride now. "
But is the conjecture embarrassing for the rising star who set a rookie record at Xfinity with seven wins last season and who has a win this season?
"It's cool, all right," said Bell. "I'm honored that people want to know where I'm going. It's better than people who do not care. It's really cool. But I do not know. I would not say distractions because it goes in one ear and in another, so it's not something I contributed to or control. The only thing I can control is finish the races and hope to win. "
And have fun.
"Honestly, I love these Xfinity cars," he said. "They are very fun to drive. And a lot of fun to run too. I think the Xfinity races have been excellent. "
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