No one could fill the Intimidator’s legendary shoes- the sentiment echoed after Dale Earnhardt’s tragic crash in 2001. Three weeks later, Kevin Harvick won his first Cup race in Atlanta, and a new icon was born. At the brink of his retirement, the racing community lamented the gaping hole he would leave behind until a new driver imitated The Closer’s memorable Homestead finish.

Christopher Bell stunned the playoff field with an unexpected victory in the closing laps at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, carrying forward the remarkable legacy of Stewart-Haas Racing’s outgoing driver. However, despite his excellence on the track, the racer refused to bring himself under the category of the preceding legend.

Christopher Bell takes pride in repeating Kevin Harvick’s Homestead feat

Joe Gibbs Racing’s #20 driver spent the entire playoff season accumulating pole positions and falling just short of the checkered flag. Bell nearly made it in Bristol and was merely 0.082 seconds behind Kyle Larson in the South Point 400 last weekend. But when it came to survival in this championship race, Christopher Bell refused to stay 2 points below the cut line and achieved a triumphant ride all the way to Phoenix. 

In a similar situation last year, the JGR driver registered his first win at the Martinsville Speedway to finish 3rd in the driver’s standings. This year, the accustomed pole winner started 13th and was not favored to win against Homestead stalwarts Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and William Byron, two of whom he defeated toward the end. 

Nowhere near the Top 5 in the first two stages, Bell battled multiple cautions to take the final lead with 15 laps to go and never looked back.  Despite that, Christopher Bell modestly shrugged off the comparison with the outgoing Kevin Harvick.

Watch this story: Christopher Bell Had Kyle Larson’s Heart in His Mouth During Lucky Championship 4 Escape

Speaking to Matt Weaver of sportsnaut.com, Bell asserted, “I am proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish I guess is the right way to say it. But I don’t think that anybody will be The Closer. That’s Kevin’s motto, that’s what he did.” Bell continued, “Hopefully I’m Christopher Bell.” But Kevin Harvick’s Homestead’s trophy run bore a stark resemblance to last weekend’s 4EVER 400.

Homestead Miami Speedway continues to shape NASCAR closers

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The 2014 Ford Eco Boost 400 went through multiple cautions and lead changes to decide the season’s title nine years ago. Contesting against Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, and Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick took the final lead with 8 laps to go and eventually won the championship. It seemed fitting that the race meant to be a tribute to the outgoing star had an unexpected win at the hands of the new generation’s closer, a feat Christopher Bell also achieved at the Charlotte Roval last year.

The Bank of America Roval 400 last season was nearly clinched by pole winner Chase Elliott. But in the final overtime restart, Bell surpassed Harvick himself to hold on to his playoff post and eliminated defending champion Kyle Larson in the process. This season, Bell confirmed his place next to Larson and two other championship contenders at the Phoenix Raceway.

The disastrous run of teammates Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr makes him the only JGR representative in the season finale so far. Bell now faces the mammoth task of closing the most important race of his career. However, perhaps the #20 driver did not need to be another Kevin Harvick for that. As he said, being Christopher Bell might just be enough to produce yet another surprising victory in the crucial title race in the coming weeks. 

Read More: Joe Gibbs Admits Lack of Faith in Christopher Bell, Claiming He Thought Bell Couldn’t Make a “Dent”; Emotionally Recalls Deceased Son Coy Gibbs