Christopher Bell has already delivered a career-best season by winning three consecutive races for the first time. Now, he has an opportunity to match a mark last set by Jimmie Johnson in 2007.
Johnson is the last driver to win four consecutive races in a season.
"Man, that's special. That is incredibly special to hear that and know that I have that opportunity ahead of me," Bell said after winning at Phoenix on Sunday. "We're going to a darn good place for it."
Bell has won three races on three different styles of tracks. He punched his ticket to the playoffs at Atlanta Motor Speedway (drafting track). He then won at Circuit of the Americas (road course). His third win took place at Phoenix Raceway, the first traditional oval of the season.
Next up is Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a track where Bell has contended for multiple wins. He has two runner-ups and one fifth-place finish in the last four trips to the Nevada track. He has led 248 laps and won the pole three times at Las Vegas in the Gen 7 era.
"I'm just kind of in disbelief that I have that opportunity, but I'm looking forward to it," Bell added.
Johnson achieved his four-race win streak at the end of the 2007 season while clinching his second of seven championships. He entered the fall race at Martinsville with six wins in the season. He then won at Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, and Phoenix to clinch the title over Jeff Gordon by 77 points.
Other drivers have come close to matching Johnson's mark of four races in a row. Kevin Harvick won three races in a row early in 2018, but Martin Truex Jr. snapped his streak. Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski also posted three-race win streaks in 2018.
Kyle Larson had two separate three-race win streaks during the 2021 season -- the final season of the Gen 6 era -- but never scored that fourth consecutive win. Now, Bell has the opportunity to match Johnson's mark and make his season even more significant for him and his No. 20 team.
"Three in a row is a huge deal," team owner Joe Gibbs said after Bell's Phoenix win. "If we could do that, I know they'll be going there with excitement and thinking that they have a chance (to win four in a row).
"I think that's all you can ask in pro sports, is a chance to do something great. They'll have a chance to do that next week."