AVONDALE, Ariz. — In a thrilling race at Phoenix Raceway, Christopher Bell made history by becoming the first NASCAR Cup Series driver to win three straight races in the NextGen car. Bell held off his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin by a mere 0.049 seconds, marking the second-closest finish in Phoenix Raceway history.
Bell’s victory came after starting 11th in the 312-mile race and winning in Atlanta and Circuit of America in the previous weeks. He took the lead out of the pits on a caution and managed to stay ahead on two late restarts, securing his place in NASCAR history.
The race at Phoenix saw the return of two sets of option tires, with the red tires offering better grip but wearing out quicker. Bell strategically saved one set of red tires for the final stretch, allowing him to pull away from Hamlin on a restart with 17 laps left.
Katherine Legge made her debut in the Cup Series, becoming the first woman to race since Danica Patrick seven years ago. However, Legge faced challenges throughout the race, spinning her car and finishing in 30th place.
Other notable moments included an early mistake by Joey Logano, Preece’s strategic use of the red option tires, and Kyle Larson finishing third.
The series will head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend for the next race. Bell’s historic victory and the thrilling race at Phoenix Raceway have left fans eager for more exciting NASCAR action in the coming weeks.
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