AVONDALE – Christopher Bell makes history winning his third straight race at Shriners Children’s 500, the closest race in NASCAR at Phoenix history. Bell becomes only 19th driver to achieve three straight wins in NASCAR modern history. Bell goes back-to-back years winning at Phoenix Raceway, leading at every single stage today in dominate fashion.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The race saw 10 caution flags, including one in the final two laps. Bell and Denny Hamlin were neck-and-neck. Throughout the weekend, drivers in the lead have faulter after a late yellow flag. That was not the case with Bell as he just squeaks by with the win.
Bell has won three out of the first four races to start the season, and is far and away the top of the NASCAR standings. Many drivers contested the 30-year-old with new softer option tires that gifted them the lead for a moment. The option tires give a driver more grip and gives them a short burst of speed. However, Bell conserved his option tires to the end of the race to win the Shriners Children’s 500.
Bell celebrating winning NASCAR Shriners Children’s 500:
CHRISTOPHER BELL HAS DONE IT! He goes back-to-back here at @phoenixraceway and wins third straight race in dominant fashion at the Shriners Children’s 500!#NASCAR #PhoenixRaceway pic.twitter.com/e7dLZeANAd
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) March 9, 2025
Stage One:
Mar 8, 2025; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) during qualifying for the Shrines Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Shriners Children’s 500 started off sloppy, with two caution flags within the first 10 laps. Phoenix Raceway is notorious for its rigorous course that has caused multiple yellow flags to fly, especially this weekend.
Joey Logano started in the second position and jumped to an early lead. However, a penalty for going under the yellow line, before the starting line, cost him the lead opening it for William Byron. Outside of five laps, Byron led for every lap in stage one. The 27-year-old won on Phoenix Raceway in 2023, and continued that success on Sunday.
Mar 12, 2023; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) holds his trophy after winning the United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale on March 12, 2023. Mandatory Credit: Alex Gould/The Republic
The Stage one win was Byron’s fourth stage win in Phoenix, the most at any course in his career.
Stage Two:
Mar 8, 2025; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) meets with driver Christopher Bell (20) during qualifying for the Shrines Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Christopher Bell started to make a real push at the beginning of the second stage. Bell started in the 11th position at the opening green flag, and spent stage one making up the difference. On Lap 75 Bell cut pass Tyler Reddick to get into second place, just behind the leader Byron.
Bell’s ascension overshadowed Austin Cindric’s rise. The 26-year-old started at 14th and ended stage one outside of the top five. However, on the new option tire, Cindric maneuvered through the field and flew into the first place. The top three now stood Cindric, Byron and Bell a third through the race.
Mar 2, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric (2) during the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Harms-Imagn Images
Cindric’s availability at Phoenix Raceway was up in the air after hooking Ty Dillion’s No. 10 car in COTA. But, NASCAR didn’t suspend Cindric for the Shriners Children’s 500, and he took advantage of the opportunity in stage two.
However, a seven-car pileup, that involved cars 88, 41,6,7,19,77, and 35, turned the race on its head. The crash allowed Logano to claw his way back into the top two. The former NASCAR champion put on the new option tire in the pit and clawed his way back from 30th to being on top of the leaderboard.
Mar 8, 2025; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) during qualifying for the Shrines Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Logano’s effort was admirable, but his tire conservation on the softer option tire led him to fade. The 34-year-old slowed down, allowing Bell to swoop in for the Stage two win, his second of the day and fifth of his career at Phoenix Raceway.
Final Stage:
Mar 2, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece (60) walks out onto the stage for driver introductions before the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Harms-Imagn Images
A new leader emerged, Ryan Preece joined the list of drivers to surge in front of the pack because of the new softer option tires. Preece became the third new leader to jumped into first place (Cendric and Logano) after falling down early and switching to the red tires.
The option tire is softer and gives the driver much more grip on the raceway, but its durability is limited and gives up quickly. Logano was able to go 57 laps, before having to switch back to the regular primary yellow tires. Preece was going to try and push it to 82 laps to get the win.
Preece’s attempt failed, as Bell reclaimed the lead. He maintained a comfortable cushion in front of the pack and was cruising. A yellow flag allowed Bell to finally put on the option tire that helped him pushed just ahead of Denny Hamlin in the final turn to win his third straight race and back-to-back in Phoenix Raceway.
NASCAR caps off historic weekend at Phoenix Raceway with Shriners Children’s 500
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
