Christopher Bell’s adventure Down Under ended after he tumbled during the Boxing Day Bash in the United Truck Parts International Midget Series at Western Springs Speedway in Auckland, New Zealand, on Dec. 26.
According to a report in Velocity News, Bell has withdrawn from competition following the insistence of “his NASCAR management team.” The 25-year-old phenom is running for 2020 NASCAR Cup rookie honors with Leavine Family Racing.
LFR team owner Bob Leavine tweeted on Saturday, “Well I didn’t stop him from going.” He later added LFR “did not ask” Bell to come home from New Zealand. A Toyota spokesperson told RacinBoys.com, “Looks like he decided to come home on his own, he wasn’t asked to curtail anything.”
Bell confirmed that assertion in a statement provided to RacinBoys.com.
“After crashing on Boxing Day I decided it was best for me to skip the rest of the New Zealand tour in preparation for the 2020 Chili Bowl and Cup season,” Bell said.
— Racin Boys —