Christopher Bell Wins Thrilling NASCAR Race at Phoenix Securing Third Consecutive Victory in Dramatic Finish

Yesterday in Auto Racing: NASCAR Dominance, IndyCar Anticipation, F1 Preparations

NASCAR's Christopher Bell continued his impressive streak, securing his third consecutive victory in the Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver narrowly edged out teammate Denny Hamlin by a mere 0.049 seconds in a thrilling photo finish. Kyle Larson, Josh Berry, and Chris Buescher rounded out the top five.

Bell's win solidifies his position as the early championship favorite, now sitting second in the standings behind William Byron. The victory was particularly sweet for Bell, as he had to overcome a 13th place starting position after a challenging qualifying session.

Speaking of qualifying, William Byron claimed pole position with a blistering lap of 26.930 seconds, showcasing the strength of the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets. Joey Logano and Carson Hocevar completed the top three in qualifying.

The race featured several dramatic moments, including a late caution for Ty Gibbs' crash that set up the two-lap shootout finish. Will Power's disappointing weekend came to an early end with a first-lap incident, putting him in an early points deficit.

In IndyCar news, anticipation is building for the upcoming season opener at St. Petersburg this weekend. Josef Newgarden led the final warmup session, clocking a time of 1:01.1952. The two-time series champion and defending Indianapolis 500 winner will be looking to start his season strong from his 10th place starting position.

Scott McLaughlin secured pole position for the race, but struggled in the warmup session, finishing 21st. All eyes will be on how teams manage the new, softer Firestone alternate tires, which are expected to create more strategic options throughout the race.

Formula 1 teams are in full preparation mode for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on April 13th. Pre-season testing saw Red Bull's Sergio Perez top the timesheets, followed closely by Williams' Alex Albon and McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

The upcoming F1 season promises several intriguing storylines, including Lewis Hamilton's final year with Mercedes before his move to Ferrari in 2026. Fans are also eager to see if anyone can challenge Max Verstappen and Red Bull's recent dominance.

Looking ahead, NASCAR heads to Bristol Motor Speedway next weekend for its first short track race of the season. IndyCar kicks off its 2025 campaign on the streets of St. Petersburg, while F1 teams will continue their preparations for Bahrain.

For the hardcore fans, it's worth noting that Christopher Bell's average speed at Phoenix was 110.335 mph, with the race featuring 5 lead changes among 4 different drivers. In IndyCar, keep an eye on how teams manage the degradation of the new alternate tires, as it could create opportunities for unconventional strategies.