Key facts
- Christopher Bell will race at Pocono with a cast on his broken left wrist.
- Bell sustained the injury during a crash at Michigan International Speedway last week.
- Doctors expect Bell to fully recover in six weeks.
- Bell plans to drive the full 400 miles, with Brandon Jones on standby.
- Denny Hamlin is the betting favorite for the Pocono race.
Christopher Bell plans to race at Pocono Raceway with a cast on his broken left wrist, an injury sustained during a crash at Michigan International Speedway last week. The impact registered 69 Gs, and Bell reported that his car was on fire and he lost communication with his spotter after the crash.
Despite the injury, which doctors expect to fully heal in six weeks, Bell has had his cast molded to fit around the steering wheel and his team has modified the wheel to accommodate it. He intends to drive the full 400 miles of the race, though Brandon Jones is on standby and has undergone simulator sessions in Bell's No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Bell also mentioned injuring his foot, which was diagnosed as badly bruised, and expressed relief that his head was not injured and he retained full memory of the incident. He recalled his earpiece popping out during the crash, leading to a lack of communication.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin is the consensus betting favorite for the Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono, where he has a strong record. Hamlin is seeking his third consecutive win and fourth in five races. Tyler Reddick is the second betting choice. The start time for Sunday's race has been moved up two hours due to inclement weather forecasts.