At Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, Ryan Blaney claimed victory after leading 28 of the 312 laps, stopping Tyler Reddick and 23XI Racing from adding another win to their streak. The same weekend saw Team Penske celebrate success at the venue, with Josef Newgarden winning the IndyCar Series race on Saturday. However, the NASCAR Cup event ended in disappointment for Christopher Bell, whose loss mirrored a crucial pit strategy setback experienced by Denny Hamlin during last year’s NASCAR Cup Championship Race.
Christopher Bell’s Dominance Undermined by Pit Stop Choice
Driving the No. 20 Toyota, Bell led a race-high 176 laps and maintained control over much of the competition. Despite his strong pace, a critical pit road decision ultimately cost him the win. Like Hamlin’s approach in the 2025 title race, Bell opted for four fresh tires during the final pit stop, while his rival Blaney gambled on taking only two.
This divergence in strategy proved decisive, forcing Bell and his team to chase Blaney down after rejoining the track in eighth place. Although Bell rallied impressively, he was unable to secure the lead before the checkered flag.
Bell Reflects on the Narrow Defeat and Team Effort
Following the race, Bell acknowledged the sting of the loss but remained optimistic about his team’s performance.
“Yeah, I mean, ultimately, if we had more green flag laps, I think we could have made a run at them. But I don’t know. You win some, you lose some,”
he remarked.
He also praised his crew and staff for their efforts despite the setback:
“And this one stings, but on a positive side, I’m really proud of our entire team. The pit crew did amazing. Adam [Stevens, crew chief] brought an amazing car. Our engineers, our mechanics did really good. And it’s something to build on. I don’t know. It was a day that we needed. We got a lot of stage points, finished second. So, yeah, just bummed whenever they get away like that,”
Bell added.
Blaney’s Bold Pit Call Proves Game-Changer
Blaney’s No. 12 crew, led by crew chief Jonathan Hassler, faced challenges on pit road during the race but made the pivotal decision with 22 laps remaining to take only two tires. This strategic choice gave Blaney an edge on the aging tire surface, allowing him to maintain his lead in the closing laps.
Despite Bell closing the gap to just 0.399 seconds behind Blaney by lap 312, time ran out for a comeback as Blaney’s two-tire gamble paid dividends on the 1-mile oval track.
Implications of Pit Strategy on Race Outcome and Future Races
The outcome at Phoenix shows how crucial pit decisions remain in determining race winners, especially in tightly contested fields. Bell’s experience echoes Hamlin’s recent struggles tied to tire strategy, underscoring the importance of split-second judgments under pressure. With Bell and Team Penske continuing to battle at high-profile events, strategic calls like these will remain under intense scrutiny as the NASCAR season progresses.
"You win some you lose some. This one stings."- Christopher Bell@ReganSmith | https://t.co/kIpAkwq3Do pic.twitter.com/KibGFP25SR
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 8, 2026
