T. J. Bell
Encyclopedia
Timothy Peter Bell Jr. is an American racing driver. He currently drives the #50 Liberty Tire Recycling Chevrolet Silverado
for MAKE Motorsports in the NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series.
Bell began racing at the age of eight in go-karts and went on to win six consecutive championships in the state of Nevada. In 1997, he began racing in the SCCA Formula 2000 series and won one out of the nine races he competed in. He soon moved up to the United States Formula 2000 Series and was named the national spokesman for the Special Wish Foundation. In 2000, he joined the CART
Toyota Atlantic Series, driving for Michael Shank Racing and posting five top-five finishes. After another tun in Toyota Atlantic, Bell joined the ASCARI
factory team, participating in several endurance races for the team, including the 24 Hours of Daytona
, 12 Hours of Sebring
, and 24 Hours of LeMans.
In 2003, Bell switched to stock car racing and began racing in the Truck Series. He drove a total of nine races in the #86 Defiant Clothing Chevrolet Silverado
for Team Racing
, his best finish a twelfth at Dover International Speedway
. He also drove three races in the #53 truck owned by Mary Ward, but did not finish higher than 23rd. The following season, he moved to the ARCA RE/MAX Series
to drive for Powertech Motorsports. He finished third in points and was named Rookie of the Year. He made eighteen starts in ARCA in 2005 and returned to the Truck Series, finishing sixteenth at Kentucky Speedway
in a one-race deal with Glynn Motorsports
. In the summer of 2005, he was hired by DCT Motorsports to drive their #36 Pontiac, earning a best finish of 22nd in eight races.
He drove a limited schedule for Bobby Jones Racing in 2006 in the ARCA Series, as well as driving the #07 Green Light Racing
truck in the Truck Seres. In 2007, Bell signed to drive sixteen races for Roush Fenway Racing's #50 Ford F-150
in the Trucks in 2007. He had one top-ten finish and ended the year 22nd in points. He finished out 2008 with TRG Motorsports when he replaced Andy Lally
in the #7. Bell impressed many, scoring five top tens for TRG before leaving to drive Red Horse Racing
's #11 Toyota vacated by David Starr
. In 2010, he drove the #50 for new team MAKE Motorsports, and will drive with them in 2011.
Bell made his Cup Series debut at the May Darlington race, driving the #50 Chevrolet for Joe Falk, a Virginia car dealer who owned LJ Racing from 1997-2000. The car finished 38th after the transmission gave out after 67 laps. Bell ran more races, later declaring for Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors. He failed to qualify for Charlotte and Kansas before picking up his first Cup points at Pocono
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
for MAKE Motorsports in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series.
Bell began racing at the age of eight in go-karts and went on to win six consecutive championships in the state of Nevada. In 1997, he began racing in the SCCA Formula 2000 series and won one out of the nine races he competed in. He soon moved up to the United States Formula 2000 Series and was named the national spokesman for the Special Wish Foundation. In 2000, he joined the CART
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
Toyota Atlantic Series, driving for Michael Shank Racing and posting five top-five finishes. After another tun in Toyota Atlantic, Bell joined the ASCARI
Ascari
Ascari Cars Ltd. is a British automobile manufacturer that was based in Banbury, United Kingdom founded by Dutch millionaire Klaas Zwart. The company was named after Alberto Ascari who was the first double world Formula One champion. Besides manufacturing cars, Ascari also manages a racetrack,...
factory team, participating in several endurance races for the team, including the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
, 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
, and 24 Hours of LeMans.
In 2003, Bell switched to stock car racing and began racing in the Truck Series. He drove a total of nine races in the #86 Defiant Clothing Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
for Team Racing
Team Racing
Team Racing is a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. It is owned by driver Phil Bonifield. The team has fielded multiple trucks, usually with sponsorship from Red Line Oil and the Coverall Carports.- Truck #23 history :...
, his best finish a twelfth at Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
. He also drove three races in the #53 truck owned by Mary Ward, but did not finish higher than 23rd. The following season, he moved to the ARCA RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
to drive for Powertech Motorsports. He finished third in points and was named Rookie of the Year. He made eighteen starts in ARCA in 2005 and returned to the Truck Series, finishing sixteenth at Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned...
in a one-race deal with Glynn Motorsports
Glynn Motorsports
Glynn Motorsports is a former NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series team. The team was owned by businessman Scott Glynn before it filed for bankruptcy in January 2006....
. In the summer of 2005, he was hired by DCT Motorsports to drive their #36 Pontiac, earning a best finish of 22nd in eight races.
He drove a limited schedule for Bobby Jones Racing in 2006 in the ARCA Series, as well as driving the #07 Green Light Racing
Green Light Racing
SS-Green Light Racing is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. Owned and operated by businessmen Ken Smith and Steve Urvan and former driver Bobby Dotter, the team fields the #07 Toyota Tundra for several drivers and the #81 Zachry Industrial, Inc. Toyota for David Starr...
truck in the Truck Seres. In 2007, Bell signed to drive sixteen races for Roush Fenway Racing's #50 Ford F-150
Ford F-Series
The F-Series is a series of full-size pickup trucks from Ford Motor Company which has been sold continuously for over six decades. The most popular variant of the F-Series is the F-150...
in the Trucks in 2007. He had one top-ten finish and ended the year 22nd in points. He finished out 2008 with TRG Motorsports when he replaced Andy Lally
Andy Lally
Andrew Lally is an American race car driver and Street Luge racer. Although Lally has driven partial schedules in all three of NASCAR's premier series he is best known for his road racing expertise in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series as well as the American Le Mans Series...
in the #7. Bell impressed many, scoring five top tens for TRG before leaving to drive Red Horse Racing
Red Horse Racing
Red Horse Racing is an American racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. It is co-owned by business executive Tom DeLoach and NASCAR on Fox broadcaster Jeff Hammond...
's #11 Toyota vacated by David Starr
David Starr
David Starr is an American stock car driver. He currently drives the #95 WRL General Contractors/TWD Drywall/B&D Electrical/Fenton Motor Group Ford Fusion for Leavine Fenton Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series part-time and the #81 Zachry Holdings, Inc. Toyota Tundra for SS-Green Light Racing...
. In 2010, he drove the #50 for new team MAKE Motorsports, and will drive with them in 2011.
Bell made his Cup Series debut at the May Darlington race, driving the #50 Chevrolet for Joe Falk, a Virginia car dealer who owned LJ Racing from 1997-2000. The car finished 38th after the transmission gave out after 67 laps. Bell ran more races, later declaring for Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors. He failed to qualify for Charlotte and Kansas before picking up his first Cup points at Pocono