Much like the predictions and previews, the 312-lap feature at Phoenix Raceway was a proving ground for Toyota. The Japanese manufacturer was so strong in practice, qualifying, and the actual race.
While Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin clinched the pole starting at the front with his teammate Ty Gibbs following him in the second spot, it was the 23XI Racing #45 Toyota of Tyler Reddick that took stage 1, edging out Gibbs to win his first stage win of 2024. However, the story soon changed as JGR’s Christopher Bell rose to the occasion and snatched the lead from Reddick for a stage 2 win.,
Christopher Bell’s thrilling Stage 2 win
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Christopher Bell brought Joe Gibbs Racing their first win of 2024 after battling back from 20th on the final restart. The #20’s blitzkrieg got the Toyota camp their first win this season after Chevrolet collected the first three wins, dominating Daytona, Atlanta, and Las Vegas.
Tyler Reddick continued his dominance throughout the second stage, running at the top and challenging the race leader multiple times. But in the end, it was the ever-consistent #20 JGR driver, Christopher Bell, who won stage 2 of the race before he repeated the same in the final stage to win the race with over a second margin.
Christopher Bell wins Stage 2 over Tyler Reddick.
1. Bell
2. Reddick
3. Hamlin
4. Byron
5. Truex
6. Blaney
7. Elliott
8. Gragson (!)
9. Keselowski
10. Buescher— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 10, 2024
Bell put on a show with a rally to catch up to Hamlin and Reddick in the third on lap 166. He then passed the #11 Toyota, only to overtake the 23XI Racing Toyota of Reddick in lap 181 and kept the lead till lap 187 to win stage 2 of the race.
Redemption at Phoenix – Bell flaunts a stellar rally to seal the deal for Toyota
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C. Bell brought home JGR’s first win of 2024 after battling back from 20th on the final restart. This was the first win by any Toyota driver this season after Chevrolet collected the first three win,s including William Byron’s Daytona triumph, Daniel Suarez’s Atlanta thriller, and Kyle Larson’s Vegas masterclass.
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Bell. Christopher Bell. 🏁 pic.twitter.com/drkLUmLnQe
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 11, 2024
The #20 driver finished the race with a margin of over six seconds over Chris Buescher, sending out a strong statement, and adding to the theme of dominant wins in motorsports this weekend. Bell led 50 laps to victory after starting 13th while his JGR teammates got better starts. But that did not stop the #20. Bell was on a roll stopping at nothing as he put on a classic, outgunning his fellow Toyota drivers and ending HMS‘ streak.
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In fact, the early win can be attributed to Bell’s redemption, his stellar comeback after his disappointing championship race last season ending in a disastrous mechanical failure that led to Bell being ruled out.
READ MORE: Tyler Reddick Edges Past Dominant Ty Gibbs as He Claims First Stage Win of 2024