Christopher Bell Injured But Cleared for NASCAR Cup Race at Pocono

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell suffered a fractured wrist in a crash during Sunday's FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. 

Bell will race his No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE this Sunday at Pocono Raceway with a fractured left wrist. He suffered the injury as a result of a crash on lap 148 of 200 at Michigan.

While racing for second in turn three, Chase Elliott's No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet snapped loose and made contact with Bell's No. 20 Rheem Toyota. The contact sent Bell's car almost head-on into the outside wall at over 170 mph and ricocheting back into Elliott's car.

After being evaluated and released from the infield care center, Bell declined comment. However, team owner Joe Gibbs gave an update on his status.

"We're going to continue he gets everything he needs and then we'll have to wait. It was his wrist and his ankle, I think, so we'll have to wait," Gibbs said.

Bell didn't say anything over the radio after the crash, instead hopping out of the car to the attention of safety personnel. Elliott walked over to Bell and apologized, making sure he was okay. 

“It was totally my fault. I feel really bad for (Christopher) Bell, just taking him out. I was trying to run the bottom, make use of our fresh tires and at least get to second, I was hoping, and stay side-by-side with him. I just got in there and got free. I thought I was going to spin and was kind of committing to spinning out. As soon as I was committed to spinning, it just hooked up and, unfortunately, sent Christopher into the wall really hard and me shortly thereafter. We were just racing really hard. I thought it was a turning point in the race to make something happen, but just stepped over the line and paid for it," Elliott said.

Elliott was treated and released from the infield care center, while Bell spent an extended period of time in there. Gibbs came over to check on him before he was evaluated and released.

Bell is 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings, 81 points above the Chase cutline. 

Bell has finished 17th, 12th, sixth and fourth in the Gen 7 car's Pocono races. He hasn't led laps at the track since 2022 when he finished fourth after leading 14 laps.