Christopher Bell’s late-race spin at Dover has sparked championship concerns. After leading 67 laps and dominating much of the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, Bell lost control while battling teammate Denny Hamlin with just six laps remaining, dropping from contention to an 18th-place finish. The mistake has veteran Kevin Harvick questioning whether Bell can learn the delicate balance between aggression and championship discipline.
Why Does Kevin Harvick Think Christopher Bell Must Learn To Back Off?
Bell had been one of the strongest drivers at Dover on July 20. He led 67 laps, won Stage 2, and started the final stage as the race leader. After an hour-long delay late in the race due to rain, Bell restarted on the front row with teammate Denny Hamlin.
However, with just six laps to go, he spun out while battling for the lead. Bell dropped to 18th place by the time the race ended. Speaking on his podcast about how the race ended, Harvick believes Bell needs to learn how to balance aggression with control.
Christopher Bell spins! This changes everythingpic.twitter.com/tNTbMlhmGB
— Always Race Day (@AlwaysRaceDay) July 20, 2025
“When you’re racing for the win, you’ve got to be able to capitalize on… If you don’t win, finish second,” Harvick remarked. “And being able to do that, not step over the edge, that’s just one of the things that Bell needs to get better at in my opinion.”
The former Cup Series champion didn’t stop there. Harvick sees a troubling pattern that could derail Bell’s championship aspirations if left unchecked.
“We’ve seen it happen a number of times, and it puts him in a bad spot and, ultimately, I think that makes it harder to win a championship because you’re going to make those mistakes in those pressure moments of not finishing second. And it becomes extremely important in the last 10 weeks. I love the mentality, but it’s just not NASCAR productive all the time, to win a championship, to finish it off,” Harvick added.
What Makes Dover Such A Problem Track For Bell?
This is not the first time Bell has lost control while running up front at Dover. Sunday marked the fourth time in his Cup career that he spun while inside the top three at the “Monster Mile.” Harvick pointed to that pattern as a concern if Bell wants to win a championship.
The concrete surface at Dover creates unique challenges that have consistently tripped up Bell when he’s in position to capitalize. Each time, the mistake has cost him valuable points and potential victories.
Speaking after the race, Bell also shared his disappointment with the result, saying (via Motorsport.com):
“I definitely wasn’t going to lift, and I knew he wasn’t going to lift either. We were gonna race really hard, and I just spun out. Dover and spinning out; I’ve got a problem with that. It’s a bummer.”
Despite the tough finish, Bell said he was proud of the team’s effort. He praised the No. 20 crew for improving their pace on intermediate tracks. He also expressed some relief that his teammate Hamlin still brought home the win for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Bell sits sixth in the points standings, 67 behind leader Chase Elliott. With three wins already locked in, Bell has secured his spot in the Playoffs but now faces pressure to clean up his late-race mistakes before the postseason starts. The championship window won’t stay open forever, and Harvick’s words serve as a stark reminder that talent alone won’t be enough if Bell can’t master the art of knowing when to push and when to protect.