NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series Fans React As Christopher Bell Claims Shriners Children’s 500, Hits Trifecta At Phoenix Raceway

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By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published09 Mar 2025

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After becoming the first driver to win three consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races since 2021, Christopher Bell yelled to the crowd at Phoenix Raceway: “How about that one, race fans?” 

Bell then whopped it up after the photo finish.  

Joining legendary drivers like Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jeff Gordon and Richard Petty, Bell became the 18th pilot to hit the Victory Lane trifecta. 

On the final lap, Bell took the lead from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin along Turn 1, but lost the advantage on the next turn. Bell fought off Hamlin and Kyle Larson on the final turn to earn the win. 

Bell, who claimed this event last season, beat Hamlin by 0.049 seconds, the second-closest finish at the one-mile tri-oval. 

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Bell (+450) entered the day as the sports-betting favorite, according to NBC Sports Bet, and made good as the favorite … 

The day started out special for Katherine Legge, the first woman to compete in a Cup event since February 2018, even though she started P37. The green flag turned out to be her top highlight …

Alex Bowman’s No. 48 Chevrolet team takes the machine out for a pre-race stroll. Overcoming adversity, Bowman walked away with a P7 … 

The start … 

Legge spun out on Lap 4 while racing alone. She was able to continue and received a free pass following the Lap 99 mele. But more trouble awaited … 

 As Joey Logano claimed his first lead, Noah Gragson collided with Cole Custer, who hit Zane Smith. The chain reaction caused Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to spin out while racing for P23 …  

Austin Cindric, racing on option (softer) tires, passed Stage 1 winner William Byron on Lap 89, registering his first lead at Phoenix. Byron, meanwhile, scored at least one point in 18 consecutive stages … 

Justin Haley’s view of the Lap 99 pile-up… 

Bell overtook Logano for the lead coming off the final turn on Lap 178 and cruised to the Stage 2 win. He also won the second stage when he captured the event last season … 

Legge’s debut ended after spinning along Turn 2 from P28 and took out Daniel Suarez, who was running P6 …

Ryan Blaney’s Phoenix rising streak came to a fiery end. Entering Sunday with 10 consecutive top–10 finishes and seven straight top-fives, Blaney hovered around the lead pack, but complained about power issues on straightaways early in the third stage. The mechanical issues eventually forced him out with 29 laps remaining …

When racing resumed, Bell pulled away until the field was stacked with two laps to go. Bell’s final turn maneuver prompted the crew chief to suggest over the team radio, “Nobody wants it more than you.”

Tire strategy played a big part in Sunday’s game planning …