Bell Makes It Three in a Row in Phoenix
On March 9, 2025, Phoenix Raceway hosted the Shriners Children’s 500, the fourth race of the NASCAR Cup Series season. Christopher Bell, driving the No. 20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing, secured his third consecutive victory, a feat not achieved since Kyle Larson’s 2021 season.
The race commenced with William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports on pole position, having clocked a qualifying lap of 26.930 seconds. Byron capitalized on his pole start by winning the first stage of the race. Christopher Bell showcased his prowess by leading 105 laps and clinching the second stage, underscoring his dominance throughout the event.
A significant incident unfolded on lap 99, involving multiple drivers: Brad Keselowski, Carson Hocevar, Riley Herbst, Justin Haley, Chase Briscoe, Austin Dillon, Cole Custer, and Shane van Gisbergen. This massive pile-up led to the retirement of all involved from the race, altering the dynamics for the remaining competitors.
Tire strategy played a pivotal role in the race’s outcome. Teams had access to two sets of “option” tires—softer compounds offering increased speed over a 40-50 lap span. Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing leveraged this by propelling Chris Buescher into a top-five finish and enabling Ryan Preece to lead during the later stages.
The race concluded with an overtime finish, where Bell fended off teammate Denny Hamlin to claim victory. Kyle Larson secured third place, followed by Josh Berry and Chris Buescher, who rounded out the top five.
Post-race, William Byron maintained his lead in the championship standings, holding a 13-point advantage over Bell. The series now shifts focus to the upcoming Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Bell aims to match a milestone set by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, who won four of the season’s first five races in 1992.
