Christopher Bell’s Phoenix race result left him just short of victory on Sunday, as he finished second after leading much of the NASCAR Cup Series event at Phoenix Raceway. Bell, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, dominated the field for most of the day before a late pit strategy cost him the win in a dramatic finish.
Strong Start and Dominant Performance Fizzle at the End
Bell arrived at Phoenix Raceway seeking his third straight spring victory at the track, having won the event in both 2024 and 2025. The Oklahoma native began the day in twelfth position, steadily advancing to take second by the conclusion of the first stage. During the second stage, Bell’s momentum continued, allowing him to control the race by leading every lap of that segment. His race-leading total topped out at 176 laps at the front of the field, showing both speed and poise behind the wheel.
As the race neared its conclusion, a right front tire failure for Austin Dillon with 26 laps to go brought out a caution and prompted the final round of pit stops. At that moment, Adam Stevens, Bell’s crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing, made the call for four fresh tires. This decision dropped Bell from the lead to eighth place as other drivers opted for only two tires to save time in the pits, hoping to benefit from track position.
Late Race Incidents and a Difficult Climb
The restart that followed the pit stop quickly turned chaotic as a three-car crash ensnared Zane Smith, Ty Dillon, and John Hunter Nemechek, causing another caution and limiting Bell’s chance to use his new tires to their full potential. Restarting from eighth position with just 12 laps to go, Bell began a hard charge forward. Nevertheless, the time lost pitting and the reduced number of laps remaining meant he could not retake the lead, rallying only as high as second, ultimately finishing behind winner Ryan Blaney at the checkered flag.
The result was particularly stinging for Bell, who acknowledged the disappointment but also recognized the positives from the day. As he put it,
“You win some, you lose some. This one stings, but on a positive side, I’m really proud of our entire team. … It’s something to build on. It was a day that we needed. We got a lot of stage points, finished second. … Just bummed whenever they get away like that,”
said Christopher Bell, Driver.
The Four-Tire Gamble and Its Aftermath
The strategic choice to take four tires was agreed upon by both Bell and his crew chief, reflecting their belief that fresh rubber would allow him to regain lost positions quickly. Bell commented on the situation:
“Adam made the call for four tires and I was in total agreeance whenever he made that decision. I’m like, ‘Yeah, absolutely. I’ll be able to get back up through there. Then, whenever so many cars took two [tires] and we had that immediate yellow, that was a bummer,”
said Christopher Bell, Driver. Unfortunately, the plan was upended by the timing of the caution and the traffic ahead, putting Bell at a disadvantage in the closing moments.
Despite the setback, Bell’s impressive performance on Sunday delivered a significant boost in the season standings. Entering the day in 24th place in points, his runner-up finish vaulted him 17 spots to seventh, affirming the race was a much-needed turnaround following recent disappointing results at Daytona and Atlanta.
Looking Forward After Phoenix
Bell’s fierce effort at Phoenix, after recent challenges including a third-place at Circuit of The Americas and tough outings in previous weeks, demonstrated the speed and resolve of the No. 20 team. While the disappointment of missing a third consecutive spring win at Phoenix lingers, the points gain and display of competitiveness offer optimism for the season ahead. As the NASCAR Cup Series progresses, the lessons and momentum from Sunday’s race could play a pivotal role for Bell, his crew chief Adam Stevens, and Joe Gibbs Racing in future events.
"This one stings."
With 176 laps led, @CBellRacing showed plenty of speed today, but he'll have to settle for a second-place finish. pic.twitter.com/mFPsUDgdrO
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 8, 2026
"The cream is able to rise to the top." –@CBellRacing spoke favorably of the increased horsepower at Phoenix and wants to keep bumping it up.
Presenting Partner: @MyPlaceHotels pic.twitter.com/P86rvYrzq7
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) March 9, 2026
