About TJ

Bell began raing 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 F2000 Championship Series and won one out of the nine races he competed in. He soon moved up to the U.S. F2000 National Championship 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 several more races later in the year, attempting a run for Rookie of the Year honors.

In 2012, Bell ran full-time in the Nationwide Series for MAKE Motorsports,[1] in addition to making selected Sprint Cup Series starts for FAS Lane Racing.[2] Bell also ran selected races in the Camping World Truck Series for JJC Racing.

 

 

Career Overview

TJ Bell “FAST FACTS

Full Name:: Timothy (TJ) Bell Jr.
Birthplace: Reno, Nevada
Resides:: Mooresville, NC
Height: 5’ 8” (170 cm)
Hobbies: Wakeboarding, biking, soccer
Afiliations:

2009

  • Competed in 25 Camping World Truck Series for Red Horse Racing
  • Ranked 15th
  • Ranked in the top 15 drivers for fastest speed in traffic, quality passes, laps run on lead lap, laps in top 15, fastest on restarts, fastest drivers early and late run, and closer
  • 6 top 10’s
  • 1 top 5
  • Competed in 17 Nascar Craftsman Truck Series with TRG Motorsports #7
  • 7 Top tens in which 5 were consecutive.
  • Ranked #1 Closer for the entire season with 1,765 spots and 30 positions
    moved up.

2008

A quick look at the high points of the Nationwide, Truck series seasons
By Jim Utter
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Friday, Dec. 12, 2008
"Most Improved Driver: TJ Bell. The native of Sparks, Nev., competed in 17 of the series' 25 races and compiled seven top 10 finishes, including five in a row at one point. It was by far his most productive season in NASCAR competition. Given a shot with a full time and fully funded team, Bell may well be the next big surprise in the sport."

  • TRG Motorsports
  • 13 Races...6 top 10's, 3 top 20's
  • Highest ranked "closer" for entire season as of 10/18/08
  • 2007
  • Signed with Roush/Fenway for 16 of 25 races for Nascar Craftsman Truck Series
  • One top 10, 2 top 15's, and 5 top 20's
  • Finished 22 in championship points out of 60 driver

2006

  • ARCA RE/MAX Series, Bobby Jones Racing, Dodge
  • Lack of funding forced to quit series after 6 races, 2nd Championship points

2005

  • ARCA RE/MAX Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Busch Series
  • Eighteen starts, with a best finish of 2nd at Salem in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
  • Four top ten, one top five finish in ARCA RE/MAX Series
  • Glynn Motorsports, NCTS, 1 race, finished 16th
  • NASCAR Busch earned respect and positive feedback from drivers such as Tony Steward and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
  • Best finish in Busch Series was 22nd at Dover in the fall

2004

  • ARCA RE/MAX Series “Rookie of the Year” driving for Powertech Motorsports
  • THERMO-TEC Durable Driver of the Year with “Most Laps Completed” (96%)
  • Finished 3rd in series points with 6 top 5's and 13 top 10's

2003

  • TJ Bell ran his first stock car races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
  • Ran a 12 race program
  • Finished 20th in overall points
  • Captured two “Raybestos Rookie of the Race” awards

2002

  • Drafted into the ASCARI factory line up at age 21
  • Raced in all five major classic Sportscar Endurance events in 2002
  • 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Lemans, and the Petit Lemans.

2001

  • CART Toyota Atlantic Championship - Price Cobb Racing
  • Drove in 10 races being one of the youngest drivers in the series.
  • Posted one top-three, three top-five and six top-ten finishes for the season.

2000

  • CART Toyota Championship - Michael Shank Racing
  • Drove in 12 races
  • Youngest driver in the series.
  • Posted five top-ten finishes.

1999

  • United States Formula 2000 Championship Series Cape Motorsports
  • Drove 14 races as the youngest driver in the series
  • Recorded four top three, seven top five, and 11 top ten finishes
  • Placed fourth in overall standings, third in Oval Crown Championship
  • Set a new USF2000 track record for fastest lap at the Mid‐Ohio
    Sportscar Course
  • Appointed as National spokesperson for “A Special Wish Foundation”
    helping grant wishes to children with life‐threatening diseases

1998

  • United States Formula 2000 Series
  • Limited to driving in just 6 of the series 12 races due to age regulations
    for under the age of 18

1997

  • SCA Formula 2000
  • Competed in 9 events
  • One win, seven top three finishes
  • Upgraded Regional SCCA License to National level at age 16
  • Received Dual Pro/National competition license, one of the first
    issued to a minor by the SCCA