TULSA, Okla.— No one is questioning whether Christopher Bell can close the deal as an owner/operator in the Chili Bowl Nationals following his dominant O’Reilly Race of Champions victory on Monday night.

Not even the driver.

Bell was eighth in practice, topped time trials, then went flag-to-flag for his fourth ROC victory.

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The Norman, Oklahoman told the press just hours earlier, “Win or lose, I’m here for a good time.” Still, Bell, competing in his own equipment, was wound a bit tight prior to the start of the 25-lap race.

“I was nervous, that's for sure,” Bell said. “It's just everything means so much more to do it on your on your own. Whenever you come here--and I've been so blessed beyond--I am completely blessed to come here and get to drive for Keith Kunz and Chad Boat, who are two of the best mechanics in the building, and you know that the car is going to be good. 

“It takes so much off your plate. The only thing you're focused on is hitting your marks, making sure that your helmet's got tear-offs on it, making sure that you're buckled in the car in time.

“I have just turned the chapter in my life where I've been there, done that. Now, I wanted to try and do it on my own and with a group of people that I love around me. And it's been the most rewarding thing I've done in a long time.”

As Bell embarks on the opportunity to become the first driver since Kevin Swindell in 2013 to earn four Golden Drillers, he appeared more fueled by the long-term potential of the No. 21CB midget and Christopher Bell Racing (CBR) than his rivalry with Kyle Larson. 

With his 2025 win, Larson tied Bell with three Chili Bowl National victories. Larson won a record ninth preliminary feature on Monday. Bell has the opportunity to match that mark when he qualifies on Thursday night.

“We were watching tonight, and Kyle got in a little accident there in the heat race,” Bell said. “Everything has to go right to win these races, to win this race. And it's pretty incredible that both of us have won the amount that we have here in this building. And then you look at Kevin and Sammy Swindell, it's just remarkable.

“If he gets it before me, I'll be happy for him. I may not even ever get four. I remember walking out of this building, I guess it would have been 2020, his first Chili Bowl (win) where I finished second to him. And in that moment I was like, ‘I could never win another driller in my career.’ 

“So nothing's guaranteed. Nothing's guaranteed for him. Nothing's guaranteed for me. And we’ve got to go out there and make it happen. ” 

Everything went right for Bell during the Race of Champions. And the joy emanating from the CBR hauler as Bell celebrated with best friend Chris Ball and Colt Smith was infectious.

Since the NASCAR season ended, Bell has poured himself into building his race team. Ball drove the transporter from North Carolina to Oklahoma last week. Not only is CBR fielding a midget for Bell, but for his friend Kaidon Brown. The 25-year-old two-time Australian Speedcar Champion is piloting the No. 21AU midget and qualifies on Wednesday.

As ecstatic as Bell was on Monday night, he was equally humbled and appreciative of the effort that elevated him to the pinnacle of open-wheel racing and the opportunity to drive the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“Just super blessed, grateful, thankful for the people that have put their time and effort and commitment into me,” Bell said. “And this whole week, this time period of preparing for this has been, just about thinking of the moments that led me to this. 

“And, Pete Willoughby, Keith Kunz, Jack Irving, Tyler Gibbs at TRD, those guys, they made me. They made me who I am, and I'm forever indebted to them and just taking it all in and soaking it all in.”

So when Bell beams and claims to have won the lottery, believe him. While it might not be Powerball or the typical gas station scratch-off, Bell feels like the luckiest man in the world.

“I get to race cars for a living,” Bell said with a smile. “Nobody would have been able to write the script of my life. Just so indebted, indebted to the people that have taken a chance on me. And the list is so incredibly long of people who have helped me get to this point. And if you remove any one of those people from the equation, I don't end up where I am today. 

“Just forever grateful and want to give back and do my part too to try and help someone else get this lottery ticket that I won.”