NASCAR
Christopher Bell Takes First Win of Year at Phoenix in Toyota Onslaught
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Nearly 300 of the 312 laps ran at Phoenix Raceway were led by a Toyota. The manufacturer came to the desert with a win on their mind, and nearly pulled off a perfect afternoon. Representing three different teams, many Camrys showed contending speed. The race’s second half would quickly turn into a Christopher Bell clinic. Having to come through the field twice, the No. 20 left little doubt as to who the fastest man in town was. After crashing out of November’s Championship race here, Bell now leaves Arizona riding a victory high.
In a replay of Las Vegas last week, Tyler Reddick was a closer in the opening Stage. Even though Ty Gibbs held serve out front from lap one, the No. 45 stalked him down and completed the pass.
Reddick mirrored this run in Stage 2, taking command with about 50 laps left. The 45 appeared unstoppable out front, until Christopher Bell came to life. Bell’s No. 20 chased down Reddick from multiple seconds back, and made a very similar late pass for the Stage win.
Reddick would be involved in a tight dogfight with his boss Denny Hamlin on many restarts all day. One of these moments saw Hamlin go spinning with about 100 laps left. Miraculously Hamlin was able to continue, and claw his way back to finish 11th.
A rash of cautions mid-race jumbled up the running order, and buried Bell. Restarting 20th with 92 laps left, the 20 methodically worked forward picking off cars one by one. Bell regained the lead with 40 laps left and managed a gap over teammate Ty Gibbs. The mammoth lead for Bell would at one point rise to seven seconds, showing off a late race beat down. With no caution, Bell cruised to the checkers in a desert domination.
“This one feels really good,” Bell said. “Just a credit to Adam (Stevens, crew chief). My crew chief, engineers, all the mechanics on this thing. You don’t get cars like that very often, so proud to be on this 20 team. This Rheem Camry was amazing today. I feel like we have capability of running races like this a lot. Hopefully this is the first of many this year.”
Chris Buescher just got by Ty Gibbs in the closing laps for second place, a distant five seconds behind Bell. Fords of Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top five. The rest of the top-10 were: Ross Chastain, Martin Truex Jr, Michael McDowell, Chase Briscoe, and Tyler Reddick.
Bell is the first non-Chevrolet winner this season, putting Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota back in victory lane. This is Bell’s seventh career win, all coming on very different racetracks.
Sunday also marked the first time ever in Cup Series history where five Toyotas led 50+ laps. Bell, Reddick, Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, and Martin Truex Jr all spent extended time out front. The sight of the Championship finale once again, it’s now hard to bet against a Toyota taking this year’s Cup.
Bell will try and go back-to-back at one of his favorite racetracks–Bristol Motor Speedway. Returning to the concrete in the spring for the first time in four years, Bell is coincidentally the last winner of Bristol Dirt. The Food City 500 will go green Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. In a retro 1990s throwback event, which driver can leave The Last Great Coliseum standing tall with the sword?
Written by Peter Stratta
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