Kyle Larson, the Hendrick Motorsports driver, recently spoke about how his relationship with Christopher Bell has evolved over the years. His comments came during a Wednesday teleconference ahead of the Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway. With only one point separating them in the standings, both drivers are locked in a fierce battle for a spot in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4.
When asked about his long-running competition with Bell, Larson didn’t hold back. “I hated seeing him beat me all the time on dirt,” he said. “It pushed me to get better, which was nice. I appreciate that as a competitor.”
The rivalry between Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell began long before their NASCAR careers. Both drivers come from a dirt racing background, often going head-to-head in midget and sprint car events across the country. Bell dominated the Chili Bowl Nationals from 2017 to 2019, winning three straight titles while Larson finished second in 2019.
Larson eventually broke through with back-to-back Chili Bowl wins in 2020 and 2021, finally overcoming Bell on that stage. By then, Larson was already competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Bell was preparing for his first full season.
Six years later, both drivers are among NASCAR’s top competitors. Larson boasts 32 career wins, including his 2021 Cup Series championship, and currently sits third in points with three wins this season. Meanwhile, Bell, the 2017 Truck Series champion, continues to close the gap with 13 Cup wins, including a career-best four in 2025.
Larson shared that his feelings toward Bell have shifted from frustration to respect. “Once he got to NASCAR, I always liked seeing him do well,” he said. “I like to root for guys who come from the dirt background.”
Now, that rivalry is poised to take center stage again. Larson and Bell head into Martinsville separated by a single point, with one strong finish likely to determine who advances to the Championship 4 in Phoenix.
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### Kyle Larson Prepares for Decisive Martinsville Showdown Against Christopher Bell
Kyle Larson met with reporters this week during a pre-race Zoom session to discuss the final Round of 8 race, the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The event, scheduled for Sunday, October 26, will decide which four drivers move on to the Championship 4.
For Larson, the focus is clear: stay ahead of Christopher Bell.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver acknowledged just how critical Bell will be to his race strategy. Speaking to Jayski.com, Larson said, “I think the 20 (Bell) is the most important car for us on the track—and probably vice-versa. If either one of us outscores the other, we’re guaranteed a spot in the final four, regardless of who else wins. But you don’t want to spend too much focus on him either, but I think the majority of it revolves around Bell.”
Both Larson and Bell are no strangers to Martinsville. Larson earned his only win at the track during the 2023 spring race after starting 19th and leading 30 laps. Bell claimed victory in the 2022 fall race. These past successes inject even more unpredictability into Sunday’s 500-lap contest.
Christopher Bell enters Martinsville holding a 37-point cushion over the cutoff line, with Larson trailing by just one point and ranked third overall. However, a win from any driver below the elimination line could shake up the standings entirely.
This dynamic puts extra pressure on Larson and Bell—not only to race each other fiercely but also to stay ahead of the other championship contenders as they battle for a coveted spot in the final round.
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