Christopher Bell shines at Phoenix
Christopher Bell’s triumph in the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday was a result of numerous factors, making it challenging to single out the decisive element.
For the first time this season, Toyota showed up in a big way, with Bell and his fellow Camry drivers dominating the Duel in the Desert. The race saw Bell and his counterparts lead an impressive 298 out of 312 laps, showcasing the Camry’s prowess. Notable performances came from Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, and Martin Truex Jr., each contributing significantly to the team’s success. Hamlin began the race on the pole and had the enviable first pit box, but despite success in Stages 1 and 2, a late race spin in Stage 3 caused an eventual finish of 11th. And Tyler Reddick, driving for 23XI Racing, added to the Camry’s dominance by leading 68 laps.
Bell’s victory, which effectively ended Chevrolet’s three-race winning streak to kick off the season, wasn’t merely a display of speed; but also demonstrated his ability to navigate traffic effectively. Despite starting 20th on a restart on Lap 221, he showcased remarkable skill, eventually clinching the lead and securing a comfortable 5.465-second lead over Chris Buescher. He expressed his gratitude to his team and crew chief, Adam Stevens, for providing him with an exceptional car. His victory marked his first at Phoenix and the seventh of his career, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the season.
Much like the last three races, Phoenix also began with an early race wreck that started with a spin by Derek Kraus, and collected both Austin Dillon and Austin Cindric. Dillon re-entered 3 laps down after his team managed to make repairs; however, the #2 of Cindric incurred significant damage and ended his day. Teammate Joey Logano also suffered a frustrating day and was mired back in traffic until John Hunter Nemechek hit him from behind in Stage 3 and took Logano out completely. The wreck also involved Zane Smith, Derek Kraus once again, and Corey Lajoie, who had been a lap down and had just gotten it back.
The race took a turn under the final caution, with divergent pit strategies shaking up the running order. Truex, along with several other drivers, opted to stay on track, while others made pit stops. However, Bell’s strategic pit decision ultimately paid off, allowing him to maintain the lead until the end.
Despite finishing second, Buescher was content with his performance, acknowledging the gap between his and Bell’s performance and expressing determination to improve. Ty Gibbs finished in third place, followed by Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney.
Blaney’s fifth-place finish propelled him to the top of the series standings, leaving Phoenix with a ten-point lead over Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr., who are tied for second place.
Looking ahead, the Cup Series moves to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 500 on March 17. Post-race inspections confirmed Bell’s victory, with further inspections scheduled at the R&D Center for the HMS #5 car of Kyle Larson and RFK’s #6 of Brad Keselowski.
