This past Sunday at the Phoenix Raceway, Christopher Bell claimed victory in the NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children’s 500, marking his third consecutive win of the 2025 season. The race ended with Bell edging out his teammate Denny Hamlin in an intense two-lap shootout.
After a rough start to the season, where he crashed out in the Daytona 500, Bell bounced back with wins at Atlanta and the Circuit of the Americas. His impressive streak makes him the first driver since Kyle Larson in 2021 to achieve three wins in a row, and he is also the first to win the second, third, and fourth races of the season since Kevin Harvick in 2018.
During the race, Bell confidently took the lead early and led for a total of 103 laps. The excitement reached its peak when a caution brought out by Ty Gibbs forced a last-minute restart. Hamlin, who was close behind, challenged Bell but ultimately, Bell secured the win by skillfully navigating the final corners.
Kyle Larson finished third, while Josh Berry and Chris Buescher rounded out the top five. The day was clearly all about Bell, who was the standout driver throughout the race.
The race also featured new tire options. NASCAR and Goodyear tested a softer tire to prepare for the championship race later this year. While these option tires provided better speed, their durability raised questions. Many teams opted for them, and Bell, along with other leaders, ended their races on the primary tire, indicating a strategic advantage going forward.
Bell now stands as a strong contender for the championship, marking him as one of the top drivers at Joe Gibbs Racing, even surpassing Hamlin, who has yet to claim a Cup title. Bell’s consistent performance places him as a front-runner for the title this year.
The race wasn’t without its drama. There was a significant crash during Stage 2 involving drivers like Justin Haley and Chase Briscoe. This incident took several competitors out of the race, altering the dynamics significantly.
In a historical moment, Katherine Legge made her debut in the Cup Series, becoming the first woman to race in this series since Danica Patrick in 2018. However, her day was challenging. She faced two cautions, one involving her alone early in the race and another that caused issues for Daniel Suarez. Legge finished 30th, while Suarez placed 23rd despite previously navigating the top 10.
Here’s how the race concluded:
- 1. Christopher Bell
- 2. Denny Hamlin
- 3. Kyle Larson
- 4. Josh Berry
- 5. Chris Buescher
- 6. William Byron
- 7. Alex Bowman
- 8. Kyle Busch
- 9. Zane Smith
- 10. Chase Elliott
- 11. Ross Chastain
- 12. Austin Dillon
- 13. Joey Logano
- 14. John Hunter Nemechek
- 15. Ryan Preece
- 16. Ty Dillon
- 17. Todd Gilliland
- 18. Erik Jones
- 19. Austin Cindric
- 20. Tyler Reddick
- 21. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- 22. AJ Allmendinger
- 23. Daniel Suarez
- 24. Cody Ware
- 25. Ty Gibbs
- 26. Noah Gragson
- 27. Michael McDowell
- 28. Ryan Blaney
- 29. Bubba Wallace
- 30. Katherine Legge
- 31. Shane van Gisbergen
- 32. Cole Custer
- 33. Brad Keselowski
- 34. Justin Haley
- 35. Chase Briscoe
- 36. Carson Hocevar
- 37. Riley Herbst
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Christopher Bell,Joe Gibbs Racing,NASCAR,Denny Hamlin,Kyle Larson,Ty Gibbs,Ryan Preece,Cup Series,Josh Berry,Katherine Legge,Chris Buescher
