C.Bell debuts for Leavine Family Racing (2020)
Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).
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Why? Independent team Leavine Family Racing aligned itself with Joe Gibbs Racing for 2019. This allowed them to field a car for Rookie of the Year candidate Christopher Bell—a JGR-contracted driver—for the 2020 season.
How successful were they? One year after fielding a car for Matt DiBenedetto, C.Bell’s results were largely the same, with occasional top-five finishes and near-identical points finishes (22nd vs. 20th, respectively).
What was the aftermath? A combination of the COVID-19 pandemic, a desire to put C.Bell in JGR equipment, and the value of their charter convinced LFR to close down after the 2020 season. Bell has since gone on to post nine Cup wins from 2021 through 2024 and is a regular championship contender.
Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 5 skull-and-crossbones paint schemes out of 10—good on JGR for getting Bell some experience in a mid-level car, a la Formula 1.
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