Joe Gibbs’ Phoenix-Winning Crew Chief Lets Slip of Christopher Bell’s Unique Race-Winning Advantage

Christopher Bell soared to an impressive victory at Phoenix Raceway less than a day ago. What made him stand out was how he expertly zoomed past any setbacks. The introduction of the new short-track package made things difficult for some drivers. But Bell and his pit crew managed to learn the tricks of the game.

Well aware of the importance of each decision, Bell and his team chose to tread carefully and took meticulously calculated calls on the track. Their strategy placed the crown on Christopher’s head. His crew chief later spilled the beans, commending Bell as an “an exceptional, short-track racer.” However, beyond his skills, the pit crew was key to JGR’s success at Phoenix.

Christopher Bell had some pretty cool hands in his pit team

The Shriner’s Children 500 race went somewhat smoothly in the first two stages. There were only three cautions in the first 185 laps. But as they say in racing: cautions breed cautions. Three more cautions were flagged over 19 laps in the final stage, prompting teams to resort to pit stops and on-the-spot strategies.

The lap 215 caution flag determined the latter part of the race. Martin Truex Jr and nine other drivers chose to continue on track and attained the lead. But Christopher Bell and most of the top finishers opted for tire changes and ultimately had cars fast enough to drive through to the front row.

Following the race, Christopher Bell’s crew chief, Adam Stevens, shared thoughts about the No. 20 team’s strategy. “I think we focused on some very specific things with our set-up, with this package. And he was able to really tell us how he wanted to run this race, and the line he wanted to run. And we optimized to it, so. I think we just hit it better than everybody and that made that gap to the field today.”

He further commended Christopher Bell’s exceptional skills. “But you know, he’s really really good, everywhere we go. He’s an exceptional, short-track racer, and he showed that today. So really thankful that we were able to put it all together for him.”

A 12-second pit stop in stage 3 pushed Bell back into the race in the 10th position. But the right rear tire change was crucial for his win. Pit crew member, Michael Hicks, said he had to double-check: “I had to stay on the lugnut just to ensure and watch that the back of the wheel made it to the backplate. Sometimes, you have to stay there longer to ensure the wheel’s tight.”

Other drivers of the Joe Gibbs Racing team also benefited from the expert pit crew. Ty Gibbs would not have finished third if it wasn’t for his crew chief.

Ty Gibbs scored a career-high result due to a good pit strategy

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The JGR team was poised for an impressive race in the desert heat of Phoenix. Ty Gibbs started out strong, but a 17-second pit stop on lap 17 sent him outside the top 10. To make up for lost laps, the No. 54 crew chief Chris Gayle made a two-tire decision. Soon, Gibbs ended in third place after the checkered flag was waved.

“I felt really good early in the run but just in that middle section, we just struggled really bad,” Gibbs said. “But we got it figured out and we had a great strategy call by my crew chief. We just got to get a little bit better, but we kind of know where we need to get better at.”

Christopher Bell is aided by a great pit team in his winning campaign for 2024. Only time will tell how many more victories the No. 20 JGR team can bring home this year.

Read More: With Phoenix in the Bag, Christopher Bell Readies a Third Successive Championship Bid