Christopher Bell charged from the rear of the lead pack over the final two laps, pulling alongside teammate Chase Briscoe for a dramatic photo finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bell ultimately came up 0.029 seconds short — the closest margin of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season — marking his eighth runner-up finish of the year alongside a lone victory at Darlington’s Southern 500. The recurring near-misses are a source of frustration, as the 20 points surrendered each time could prove decisive in the championship hunt.
Bell had largely conceded the race after a significant slide with 35 laps remaining, only to be caught off guard by Briscoe’s sudden drop in pace over the closing circuits.
“I probably should have just stayed in it harder,” Bell admitted. “I got a little wonky and thought I could out-drag-race him.”
Onboard footage showed Bell craning his neck toward the right as the pair rocketed across the finish line, the two Joe Gibbs Racing Camrys slamming doors exiting the final corner and both sliding sideways down the frontstretch.
“We’re not teammates running to the line,” Bell declared. “I think he would have done the same thing to me. Honestly, it caught me by surprise because I didn’t expect to get there.”
Watch: Disappointed Bell reflects on heartbreaking Charlotte photo finish
The disappointment was evident in Bell’s post-race demeanor, with the driver struggling to find positives amid another victory that slipped through his fingers.
“This sport is about winning, and we haven’t won this year… that’s it,” he said. Despite the No. 20 team showing what Bell believes is the most consistent potential in the field, he lamented that “it doesn’t show on paper.”
Bell and crew chief Adam Stevens were both stunned by the sequence of events. “We were both shocked it ended up the way it did. I don’t think anyone on the No. 20 car expected it to end like that, but it is what it is,” Bell said.
Bell departs Charlotte third in the championship standings, 51 points adrift of leader Kyle Larson after gaining only four points on the weekend.
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