Christopher Bell
FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2019, file photo, team owner Rick Hendrick laughs on pit road during qualifying for the Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Reinstated last week by NASCAR, driver Kyle Larson on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, signed a multi-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet next season. Hendrick has sold no sponsorship as of yet for Larson and only needed the blessing of Chevrolet, one of the partners that originally dropped Larson for using the n-word, to finalize the deal. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
The Latest: NASCAR pit crew benched for positive COVID tests

By The Associated Press Oct. 29, 2020 05:40 PM EDT

Joey Logano celebrates in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR heads to Texas as finale draws near

By The Associated Press Oct. 21, 2020 03:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2020, file photo, Erik Jones celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Busch Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The pandemic only accelerated the inevitable: The driver market bubble, pushed to its limit with multi-million dollar salaries for nearly two decades, is about to burst. A major reset has arrived and team owners have all the power. They can pick and choose between drivers who bring sponsorship dollars (Bubba Wallace) or drivers who have won races (Erik Jones). (AP Photo/John Raoux, FIlre)
Jones lands iconic No. 43 with Richard Petty Motorsports

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 21, 2020 08:39 AM EDT

Reed Sorenson (77) and Tyler Reddick, right, pit during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Logano wins at Kansas to clinch spot in Cup Series finale

By Dave Skretta Oct. 18, 2020 01:16 PM EDT

Chase Elliott (9) leads the way out of Turn 7 in a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte

Oct. 11, 2020 03:21 PM EDT

Alex Bowman, left, Chase Elliott, center, and Denny Hamlin listen to the national anthem before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Column: NASCAR's dizzying silly season will change landscape

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 21, 2020 09:34 PM EDT

Brad Keselowski (2) and Kevin Harvick (4) drive into turn one during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Kevin Harvick nabs 9th win of season to roll into 2nd round

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 20, 2020 12:10 AM EDT

Sam Mayer celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Truck Series auto race, Thursday Sept. 17, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Ryan Blaney hopes to avoid playoff elimination at Bristol

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 18, 2020 03:02 PM EDT

AUTO RACING: Auto Racing Glance

By The Associated Press Aug. 19, 2020 05:52 PM EDT
All Times Eastern NASCAR CUP SERIES Drydene 311 Site: Dover, Delaware ...

Kevin Harvick drives through Turn 3 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Road king: Elliott wins at Daytona for 3rd straight roadie

By Mark Long Aug. 16, 2020 06:47 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2020, file photo, Christopher Bell takes a parade lap in front of fans before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Bell understands the path to his new seat at Joe Gibbs Racing was bumpy in that it cost Erik Jones his job. But Bell's current team is closing at the end of the year and if Gibbs didn't pull him into the organization, he's not sure his Cup career would have continued. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Bell promotion to Gibbs' car bittersweet because of Jones

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 11, 2020 01:35 PM EDT

Erik Jones waits to enter his car before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Bell returning to Joe Gibbs Racing, replacing Erik Jones

Aug. 10, 2020 04:10 PM EDT

Kevin Harvick (4) competes with Brad Keselowski (2) during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Harvick denies Keselowski in overtime at Michigan

By Noah Trister Aug. 08, 2020 03:19 PM EDT

Erik Jones (20) and William Byron (24) head into the first turn during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, July 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Erik Jones won't return to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2021

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 06, 2020 08:14 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 12, 2020, file photo, Christopher Bell (95) drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Sparta, Ky. Leavine Family Racing, which owns the Cup car driven by Christopher Bell, announced Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, it had sold its charter and will exit NASCAR at the end of the season. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Leavine Family Racing to close at end of 2020 season

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 04, 2020 12:40 PM EDT

Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, July 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Hamlin holds off Keselowski for fifth Cup victory of season

By Dave Skretta Jul. 23, 2020 11:20 PM EDT

Brandon Jones (19), Joe Graf Jr. (08) and Ross Chastain (10) drive down the front stretch during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, July 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)
Busch disqualified after Xfinity win, Cindric 3rd win in row

By Stephen Hawkins Jul. 18, 2020 05:48 PM EDT

AUTO RACING: Auto Racing Glance

By The Associated Press Jul. 14, 2020 08:14 PM EDT
All Times Eastern NASCAR CUP SERIES All-Star Race Site: Bristol, Tennessee ...

Kevin Harvick festeja en el círculo de ganadores, luego de conquistar la carrera de la Cup Series de la NASCAR en el Pocono Raceway de Long Pond, Pensilvania, el sábado 27 de junio de 2020 (AP Foto/Matt Slocum)
Late scratch: Harvick knocks off Pocono from winless list

By Dan Gelston Jun. 27, 2020 07:36 PM EDT

Drivers make their way around the track past empty stands during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway Monday, June 1, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. The race is being run without fans in the stands due to the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
AUTO RACING: Auto Racing Glance

By The Associated Press Jun. 03, 2020 03:29 PM EDT