NASCAR Cup Series Star Christopher Bell Has a Wicked Good Time in Boston – Speedway Digest

In anticipation of the Sept. 21 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Playoffs race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS), defending two-time NHMS NCS race winner Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, spent Wednesday in Boston, Mass. touring the city and enjoying some of what it has to offer.

Bell began with a tour of Boston aboard an iconic Duck Boat, affectionately named “Symphony Hal” after Boston’s Symphony Hall, the home of Boston Symphony Orchestra, with NHMS Executive Vice President and General Manager David McGrath and members of local media. The tour was led by driver Tony and narrator “The Great Garabaldi,” whose historic narration of the landmarks throughout Boston was filled with NASCAR puns, playful jabs at McGrath and nods to Bell’s career. The tour showcased iconic Boston landmarks such as the Omni Parker House (the birthplace of Boston Crème Pie), the Freedom Trail, the Massachusetts State House, Boston Common (America’s oldest public park), the Public Garden (America’s oldest public botanical garden), the bronze “Make Way for Ducklings” statues, Faneuil Hall and more. The Duck Boat drove straight into the Charles River, where Bell took the wheel and did his first donuts on the water.

Once he returned to land, Bell visited the North End, Boston’s oldest residential community known for its Italian restaurants. Bell strapped on an apron and joined Head Chef Felipe Gustavo Pereira Santos and Chef de Cuisine Alonso Cedillas in the kitchen at Umbria. The chefs taught Bell how to make their Short Rib Caramelle Pasta and then walked Bell through an incredible display of appetizers, including Potato Croquets, Cacio E Pepe Arancini, Antipasto Skewers, Chicken Parmesan Skewers, Caprese Skewers, Smoked Salmon Crostini, Sausage and Pepper Spiedini, Tomato, Basil and Garlic Bruschetta and Prosciutto and Melon. They then took him on a tour of delectable desserts including cupcakes, cannoli, tiramisu, beignets and more.

After fueling up on the authentic Italian fare, Bell concluded his tour of Boston with a visit to Seacrest Studios at Boston Children’s Hospital. A few patients joined Bell in the studio where they played “Arty Party” and designed race cars, racetracks and even new firesuits for the 12-time NCS winner. The studio feature was broadcast to the more than 470 rooms throughout the hospital where the patients could interact and play along with Bell. He then left his studio guests with signed hero cards, a plush moose or lobster from NHMS and of course, a picture.

Before heading back to Boston Logan International Airport to return home, Bell reflected on the day:

“It was an amazing day to get just the history of this place,” said Bell. “Overall a really, really fun day, and I can’t wait to see everybody at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Round of 12 opener. It’s going to be a really important race, and a lot more serious when we come back to New England.”

NHMS PR