In an intense, nail-biting finale at the Shriners Children’s 500, seasoned racer Denny Hamlin narrowly missed out on the winning title, losing to teammate Christopher Bell in a photo finish. Hamlin, fighting tooth and nail through the track, found himself battling Bell in the final laps. The climax of the race saw Bell taking advantage of overtime, with Hamlin hot on his trail in the high lane.
While Bell managed to seize the white flag, Hamlin was a formidable presence right behind him. This could have been Hamlin’s chance to break his 28-race winless chain. The final lap saw the two racers turn on the heat, and it was Bell who managed to nose ahead of his veteran teammate. This was a significant victory for Bell and his team as this marked a three-peat in the Next Gen era, making him the first to achieve this feat. However, the taste of defeat was too bitter for Hamlin to swallow.
Post-race, Hamlin couldn’t hide his disappointment. His team’s attempt to comfort him was met with a frustrated outburst over the team radio. Despite his second-place finish, Hamlin showed grace by praising his #11 Toyota team. However, Hamlin, a few hours after the race, offered a rather blunt prognosis of Christopher Bell’s future in the Cup series. While he acknowledged Bell’s racing prowess, he argued that luck played a significant part in Bell’s fairytale finish.
Bell’s start to the 2025 season has been nothing short of spectacular. With three wins in the first four races, he has positioned himself as a potential championship contender. Hamlin, however, expressed doubts about the sustainability of Bell’s winning streak on his podcast, Actions Detrimental. He attributed a considerable chunk of Bell’s success to good fortune.
Hamlin drew upon NASCAR history to back his assessment. Past records have shown racers embarking on a winning spree, only to experience a downfall shortly after. Kyle Larson’s 2021 season serves as a prime example. Despite winning 10 races and the Cup Series title, his performance dwindled in the following years. Bell himself experienced the volatile nature of the sport in 2024 when a penalty at Martinsville Speedway saw him stripped off his Championship 4 place.
Bell’s recent success, according to Hamlin, is a combination of good luck, skill, and execution. However, Hamlin did not dismiss Bell’s competitive edge. In races in Atlanta and COTA, Bell was consistently near the leaders, culminating in his win in Phoenix.
While Hamlin remains uncertain about Bell’s continuing success, he has been quietly working on his performance. Despite a change in crew chief, he has shown consistent improvement in every race. His recent comments about Bell seem to stem from his frustration over his own near misses.
Bell, on the other hand, is enjoying his winning streak. His Phoenix win has landed him in the record books as the 18th driver to win three consecutive Cup Series races. Despite fluctuations in the sport, he remains optimistic.
As Bell savors his victorious start, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is focusing on its other drivers. While Hamlin is on the verge of a win, drivers Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs are proving to be a challenge for the team. Briscoe, despite a strong start at the Daytona 500, couldn’t maintain his momentum. Ty Gibbs has been struggling to finish in the Top 20, with multiple accidents in the first four races adding to his winless streak from 2024.