In January 2025, a familiar rivalry lit up the dirt track scene once again. Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson, two of NASCAR’s elite, squared off at the Tulsa Shootout in a breathtaking finale. The pair went wheel-to-wheel like it was 2014 again, battling on the 0.2-mile oval inside the Tulsa Expo Center. With Joe Gibbs Racing finally lifting restrictions on Bell’s extracurricular racing, he returned to his dirt roots and made it count. In a dramatic photo finish, Bell edged out Larson to win the Non-Wing Outlaw feature. “I’ve got four words: Thank you, Joe Gibbs!” Bell shouted in the victory lane. The race wasn’t just about the trophy; it reignited one of motorsports’ most intense rivalries.

Just weeks later, at the Chili Bowl Nationals, the rivalry took a new turn. Bell, a three-time winner, struggled and finished a disappointing 10th after starting 12th. On the other hand, Larson claimed his third Golden Driller, tying Bell’s career total. Yet, in victory, Larson made it clear where the bar had been set. “I just wanted to tie Christopher. When I come here, I just want to beat him… or be at least on par with him,” Larson said. These two aren’t just battling for bragging rights, they’re building a legacy that spans dirt and asphalt, sprint cars and stock cars.

While Larson and Bell continue their epic duels across dirt tracks and NASCAR circuits, a new chapter may soon unfold, one that stretches beyond stock cars. Chip Ganassi, the man who gave Larson his early big break, has his eyes on the other half of that rivalry. The kid from Oklahoma. The one who gave Larson all he could handle in dirt midgets and now in Cup cars. Ganassi is ready to drag Kyle Larson’s fiercest NASCAR rival, Christopher Bell, into IndyCar. And if things line up, Bell may just take the shot. But why?

Chip Ganassi eyes another half of the NASCAR rivalry!

Christopher Bell isn’t just hot right now. He’s been on fire for the last three seasons. Bell has carved his name deep into the Next Gen era. More than ten wins across six different track types speak louder than hype. And now, the soft-spoken assassin from Joe Gibbs Racing might be heading into uncharted territory. Chip Ganassi, a man with deep IndyCar roots, sees Bell as the next Cup star who can make the leap to the Indianapolis 500.

Speaking with Kevin Harvick, Ganassi didn’t hesitate when asked who he’d bring to Indy outside of Larson. “Yeah, maybe the kid that drives for Gibbs, Bell. Christopher Bell. He’d be somebody,” Ganassi said. It wasn’t a throwaway comment. Ganassi reminisced about watching Bell and Larson go at it in USAC midgets, back when few knew either name. “I went to Turkey Night, and we were watching Larson. It was after we’d already signed him, and there he was duking it out with Christopher Bell in a USAC midget. I remember thinking, Not much has changed. Nothing. Not much has changed on this side,” he added. It’s not just versatility, but Bell’s rise has been monumental, and he is seen as Larson’s direct rival in stock car racing.

And Joe Gibbs Racing star also wants to make it to IndyCar. On multiple occasions, he has shared his dream of racing in the Indy 500. “Yeah, for sure. They haven’t just been a huge part of my career; they have been my career… I’d be the first one to raise my hand to do it,” Bell said when asked if he’d raise his hand if Toyota returned to IndyCar. But there’s a catch: Bell is loyal to Toyota. Unlike Larson, who drives a Chevrolet, Bell’s route to Indy would need to go through Toyota’s pipeline.

Bell is realistic, though. On the Rubbin is Racing podcast, he admitted the Indy 500 is a beast of its own. “There’s no promise that I could be competitive. But I would hope that I would be, you know, in the mix at some point in my career,” Bell confessed. He knows the importance of preparation and the depth of competition. Yet, like Kyle Larson, his passion for racing in all forms keeps that fire burning. Meanwhile, Larson is prepping to make history again. For the second straight year, he’s attempting the “Double”, racing both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.

Last year, the weather ruined his plans, but this time, things look more promising. He’s qualified 21st and hopes to complete all 1,100 miles, something only Tony Stewart has done successfully. Larson’s IndyCar ambitions have already earned him deep respect in the open-wheel world. Tony Kanaan, who will be Larson’s backup at Indy, called him “one of the biggest talents we’ve ever seen around the world.” That’s high praise from a former Indy 500 winner. If Larson finishes both races, he’ll etch his name into global motorsports history. And if Bell follows, the Kyle Larson-Christopher Bell rivalry could shift from NASCAR to the Brickyard.

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Ganassi is considering a NASCAR return!

Chip Ganassi has never truly left racing. After selling his NASCAR operations to Justin Marks in 2021, he focused on IndyCar, IMSA, and Formula E. But NASCAR still tugs at his heart. On Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, he hinted at a potential return, but not alone. “Of course, I would. I would never say never. (But) I would want somebody else to help shoulder the responsibility… I just couldn’t do it the way I like to go racing,” he said.

Ganassi’s vision isn’t casual. He doesn’t want to be a silent investor. “I’m not one of these owners who sit up in the suite eating and drinking. I’m down in the pit lane with the team, and it was just hard for me to do that in NASCAR,” he said. The Next Gen car’s costs and logistics have made solo ownership tough. Entry fees, charters, and personnel make re-entry expensive. But he’s not ruling it out.

With Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. growing their influence through the CARS Tour and beyond, Ganassi sees potential partners. A joint venture could bring him back. The spark is there. If the pieces fall into place, the right driver, the right backer, the right opportunity, NASCAR fans may see the Chip Ganassi name on the grid again. Maybe with Bell in the Indy 500 and a new Cup Series team in the making, Ganassi’s next chapter is just beginning.