Can anyone stop Christopher Bell? It certainly doesn’t look like it. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is on the verge of winning four races in a row, a feat that has not been achieved since Jimmie Johnson in 2007. To say that the No. 20 Toyota driver is a favorite would be an understatement, as C Bell has won as many fixtures in four races as he did for the entirety of 2024! Talk about dominance, right?
With momentum on his side, expectations are high from the Oklahoman going into the Pennzoil 400. However, are the odds being on his side justified going into the race in Las Vegas? Or should his rival Kyle Larson be the overwhelming favorite at ‘The Diamond in the Desert’?
Could Christopher Bell secure his first win in Las Vegas?
The excitement is at an all-time high. Why would it not be? NASCAR returns to Las Vegas again, promising all the action, drama, and controversy at the 1.5-mile tri-oval. Christopher Bell is on quite a winning streak, having secured three consecutive race wins at Atlanta, Circuit of The Americas, and Phoenix. However, his hunger to win remains stronger than ever, which makes him a compelling choice going into the 2025 Pennzoil 400. If the odds are anything to go by, the Oklahoman is +400 going into Sin City, tied with Kyle Larson as per DraftKings Sportsbook. However, is Christopher Bell the right pick for the fifth race of the season?
A quick look at the statistics indicates very mixed results. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver finished 33rd at the Pennzoil 400 last year, but he also ended up in second place during the South Point 400 in Las Vegas during the playoffs. The Oklahoman has three top-five and five top-ten results on the track, but despite leading 248 laps, he has an average finish of just 17.4 in 10 appearances. In comparison, Kyle Larson might prove to be a safer bet.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver is also +400 going into the 2025 Pennzoil 400, a fixture that he knows all too well. ‘Yung Money’ won on the track last year and has an average finish of 9.4 in 17 appearances at the 1.5-mile oval. With three wins, two in the last three races at LVMS, no driver in recent history has a better record at Las Vegas Motor Speedway than the No. 5 Chevy racer, which makes him a favorite. And the fact that he is sitting without a win so far in 2025 only makes us feel like he is due a trip to victory lane.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 04: Christopher Bell speaks with the media during NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day at the Charlotte Convention Center on September 04, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Could the 2025 Pennzoil 400 be the venue where Larson secures a playoff spot? Time will tell. Even though Christopher Bell has the same odds at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Hendrick Motorsports driver’s familiarity with and success at the track might make him a more favorable pick. However, Bell has momentum on his side, but his struggles at the venue may prove to be his undoing.
Larson and Bell, a rivalry built from respect
Both Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell have quite a rivalry, don’t they? Growing up on dirt tracks, the racers have experienced plenty of close battles where they were fighting for victories. After the 2025 Atlanta race, which saw them both finish on the podium while battling it out in the final laps, race winner Bell said, “We’re not enemies. We’re not going to sit here and go throw fists, but we respect each other. We’re rivals.” The 2023 race in Las Vegas was another such occasion, where the Joe Gibbs Racing driver managed to close down Larson in the final few laps, only to settle for second after finishing 0.082 seconds behind. Could the narrative change this time around?
It’s the question on everyone’s mind. Who can stop Christopher Bell and the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team? The Oklahoman became the first driver in the Next-Gen era to secure three wins in a row, a feat that was last achieved by Kyle Larson in 2021. With the upcoming race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the expectation is that both the drivers will be up front, battling for the lead once again as a new chapter brews in this rivalry.
Larson remains a force to be reckoned with, especially in Las Vegas. He has led 629 laps on the track, second only to Kevin Harvick. Moreover, his record at 1.5-mile tracks is very impressive, having led 13 of the last 14 races on intermediates, winning eight fixtures in the process. After finishing third at Atlanta and Phoenix, the California native will have a point to prove this time around and could give Christopher Bell a run for his money by finally ending his winning streak. Who do you think will prevail in Las Vegas? Let us know in the comments!
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