Connor Bell earned the 2026 Jostens Rookie of the Year title in his first full NASCAR Canada Series season with Ed Hakonson Racing, finishing seventh in the drivers’ championship with 455 points.
Across the 14-race schedule, Bell earned those points while competing on ovals for the first time, with eight of the season’s races taking place on short tracks.
“Our main goal going into the season was to win the Rookie of the Year title, so coming away with that means our season was automatically a success,” said Bell. “As a racer, I always struggle to contain my competitiveness, so coming away with seventh in the championship is a little bittersweet.
“The racer in me would have liked to have finished higher, but considering the fact that eight out of the 14 races this year were on ovals, something I had no prior experience with, I think we can be very proud of this result.”
Building on a Strong Debut
Bell entered his rookie campaign after making his NASCAR Canada debut at Calabogie Motorsports Park in 2025, where he won in his first series start. He followed that result with a second-place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park later that season.
Those early results set high expectations heading into his first full-time campaign.
“Winning in my series debut at Calabogie and following that up with a P2 finish at CTMP in 2025 certainly set a high bar heading into this season,” said Bell. “Coming into this year, my goal was to win at least a couple races.”
While Bell did not return to Victory Lane in 2026, his first full season gave him the opportunity to gain experience across the different tracks on the NASCAR Canada schedule.
“Heading into each road course race, there are always at least 10 cars that have a shot at winning on Sunday,” he said. “This is a reality I had to face in 2026, but I’m looking forward to taking my newfound experience into 2027 to compete for more wins.”
Learning the Ovals
One of the biggest adjustments came on the ovals. With a background in sim racing and road racing, Bell had to adapt his driving style to a new discipline.
“The biggest thing I had to learn was how to structure the corners,” said Bell. “Coming from a road course racing background, where braking as late as you can is crucial, I was a bit lost during my first handful of laps on an oval.”
Bell credited Jason Hathaway with helping him adjust his approach behind-the-wheel.
“I learned that braking late isn’t the fast way around, and I was instead told to let the car roll and get on the throttle as early as possible,” he said. “Once I figured this out, it became much more enjoyable, and something I looked forward to each time the series headed to an oval.”
That progression continued through the season finale at Delaware Speedway. Bell led 26 laps during the final 50 laps of the race, a moment he identified as the highlight of his season.
“Going into the season, I would have never thought the only laps we would lead would be on an oval, let alone 25 laps out front,” he said. “I gave it everything I had on 75-lap-old tires, led laps in front of some very experienced drivers, and put on a show for our sponsors.”
Looking Ahead to 2027
Bell’s move to stock cars has also influenced the direction he would like to take his racing career.
“Right from my first day driving these NASCAR Canada Series cars, I knew that they fit my driving style better than any other car I’ve driven,” said Bell. “Without any assists such as ABS, traction or stability control, the Canada Series cars put the driving back in the hands of the driver, which is what I love most about them.
“With how much I’m enjoying stock cars, I hope I can make a long career within this discipline of racing.”
After 14 races in his first full season, Bell pointed to tire management, qualifying, racecraft and knowing when to push as areas where he gained experience throughout the year.
“Compared to the start of the season, I would say I have more tools in my back pocket,” he said. “With 14 more races under my belt, I’ve had lots of seat time to gain experience and I look forward to putting these things into practice next year.”
For Bell, the Rookie of the Year title provides a starting point heading into his second full season.
“The Rookie of the Year title also serves as a great stepping stone heading into 2027, where I’d like to compete for the overall championship against the veterans of the series.”
Stay tuned to NASCAR Canada for the 2027 schedule announcement and all the latest news as the series prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary season.
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