Behind the Wheel with a Fractured Wrist: Christopher Bell’s Near Win at Chicagoland

Christopher Bell proved something more than just toughness over the weekend. 276 seconds behind teammate Chase Briscoe. The runner-up result was his strongest outing since breaking his left wrist at Michigan International Speedway, and it signaled that one of NASCAR’s top contenders is finding his stride again.

Bell revealed Saturday that he had ditched the hard cast, though he admitted the splint hasn’t exactly unlocked full mobility. “The pain level has been low from the start, but my ability to drive is the same as it was,” Bell said. “I keep using the word clunky. ” He added that while the splint is more comfortable, his movement hasn’t improved yet.

” Still, he entered Sunday optimistic, and 24 hours later, he backed it up with one of his best drives of the season.

Rolling off sixth, Bell worked his way into contention and, after the final round of green-flag pit stops, became Briscoe’s biggest challenger. He passed William Byron for second and spent the closing laps hunting for an opening. Briscoe never slipped, crossing the line first for his first win of 2026.

Denny Hamlin finished third to round out a banner day for Joe Gibbs Racing. While Bell missed Victory Lane, the runner-up finish may be just as important. After weeks of managing the injury, he showed he can still race with NASCAR’s best — and that a win is likely a matter of when, not if.