Not even close to the halfway point, the 2023 Pocono 400 witnessed multiple cautions, wrecks, and restarts. Defending his lead from Kyle Larson throughout Stage 1, Team Penske’s #22 driver, Joey Logano, secured the stage one win. Seeking out the Stage 2 win, Logano’s bad luck flared up as he spun out and crashed into the outside wall. With caution being flown, the incident warranted a restart. But things wouldn’t run smoothly as Austin Dillon was spun out after contact with BJ McLeod leading to another restart.

With the race restarting for a second time during stage two, the Pocono Raceway then claimed another victim.

Kyle Larson gets bumped by Christopher Bell

Post Austin Dillon’s spin-out, the race was green-flagged on lap 46 with Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron in the lead with teammate Kyle Larson on the inside line. Closely following behind the lap leaders were #4 Kevin Harvick and #20 Christopher Bell. Approaching Turn 1, Christopher Bell tapped the rear bumper of Kyle Larson, causing him to lose rear wheel traction. 

Spinning out in front of the field, Larson’s #5 Chevy slid backward before rear-ending itself in the outside wall, leading to the third caution being flown in under fifteen minutes. Watching Kyle Larson spin out owing to his rear bumper tap, Christopher Bell quickly turned apologetic. Speaking to his crew chief, Adam Stevens, over the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing team’s radio, Bell admitted it was his fault that Larson spun out further adding that he didn’t mean to push the #5 car “that hard” into the corner.

Stevens first replied that it was okay and not a big issue, but proceeded to bash his team driver by saying, “We’ve been on the receiving end this season”.

Watch This Story: After Denny Hamlin’s Goodyear Criticism, Joe Gibbs Brings In New Partner

Although seeming harmless at first glance, Christopher Bell’s crew chief’s words were a sarcastic dig at the last lap event that transpired during last weekend’s Crayon 301 race event.

Bell was called out by his JGR teammate

During the final laps of the 2023 Crayon 301 Cup Series race at New Hampshire, Joe Gibbs Racing’s #19 driver, Martin Truex Jr was in the lead. Having won both Stage 1 and 2, Truex Jr was eyeing the win when his JGR teammate, Christopher Bell spun out, crashing into the outside wall.

As caution flew, Martin Truex Jr was informed by his crew chief that it was Bell who caused the caution. Frustrated by his teammate’s antics, Truex Jr then went on a rant over the team radio, saying, “We should have a company policy that says when one of your teammates is leading, don’t crash by yourself.”

Having cemented his spot in the playoff, can Christopher Bell win the regular-season championship title?

Read More: “Regular Season Championship Isn’t Out of the Question” – With Only 6 Races Remaining, HMS Driver Still Optimistic About the Championship