Joe Gibbs Racing has confirmed that Christopher Bell sustained a significant injury in a crash last weekend at Michigan International Speedway. He has fractured his left wrist.
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The organization announced the news Tuesday, two days after fans spotted Bell walking with his left hand in a cast.
"After being evaluated and released from the infield care center, Bell returned home to North Carolina where X-rays confirmed the fracture," Joe Gibbs Racing said in a statement.
"Bell has been cleared and will be behind the wheel of the No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE this weekend at Pocono Raceway."
The injury occurred after a violent crash at the 2-mile track. As Bell and Chase Elliott raced side-by-side for second place, Elliott's car suddenly shot to the right and sent Bell's car into the outside wall at full speed.
Contact between @chaseelliott and @CBellRacing brings out the yellow on Lap 148. pic.twitter.com/R4qc5Fv61k
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 7, 2026
Flames shot from Bell's No. 20 Toyota as the car remained against the outside wall. It then slid across the track and onto the apron.
Bell climbed from the destroyed race car and headed to the infield care center. He underwent evaluation before being released. However, he did not meet with media members. He exited out another door away from the cameras.
Team owner Joe Gibbs met with media members after Denny Hamlin won the race. Gibbs said that Bell dealt with both wrist and ankle injuries and that he would undergo evaluation upon returning to North Carolina.
"When he gets home, we're going to make sure that he gets everything he needs to get there, whatever it might be," Gibbs said. "And then we'll just have to kind of wait. It's his wrist and his ankle. We're just going to have to wait."
While the Oklahoma native fractured his wrist, he did not undergo surgery. Sources also say that he will also have a cast that molds to the steering wheel as he continues with the 2026 NASCAR season.
"Thank you to each and everyone who reached out to check on me, I truly feel the love," Bell posted on X on Tuesday night.
"I'm grateful for my team of doctors, JGR, NASCAR and all of the previous drivers who have helped pave the way for the safety standards in our sport. See you in Pocono!"
It is likely that Joe Gibbs Racing will still bring in a reserve driver for the race weekend. The team did not provide any details thus far, but it has previously relied on Ryan Truex to fill this role.
Truex previously replaced Denny Hamlin during the race weekend in Mexico City as the veteran driver remained in North Carolina for the birth of his third child.
