Christopher Bel emerged victorious in Sunday’s race, showcasing his dominance behind the wheel of the most formidable car of the day. Bel secured Toyota’s first win of the season in the Cup Series in Phoenix, defying the odds after starting in 20th on the final restart. With no yellow flags in the last 92 laps, Bel maneuvered quickly to the front, reclaiming the lead for the final time after his teammate was forced to pit.
This victory in Phoenix carries significant weight for Bel, considering his previous misfortunes on the track during the Championship-4 finals in the last two seasons, where car issues hindered his races. The win will undoubtedly give him the necessary boost and momentum for the rest of the season and his pursuit of a third consecutive entry into the Championship-4 in the Next-Gen era.
It is important to note that Bel’s win also marks the end of Chevrolet’s dominance at the start of the season. Chevy teams had claimed victory in the first two races at Superspeedway and last week’s race in Las Vegas, showcasing their skill on the track. However, this weekend, the win belonged to JGR and Toyota.
During Saturday’s pole position qualifying, Bel secured the top spot and lined up alongside his JGR teammate. All four JGR drivers led laps on Sunday, with Bel leading the fewest laps at 50, while Hamlin led 67 laps, Gibbs led 57 laps, and Martin Truex Jr. led 55 laps. Additionally, Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing, another Toyota driver, led 68 laps.
Après sa victoire, Bel a exprimé sa joie et a crédité son chef d’équipe et toute l’équipe No:20 pour leur rôle essentiel dans la victoire. Il a loué les performances exceptionnelles de sa voiture et a exprimé une immense fierté pour le résultat de la course du dimanche.
En regardant vers l’avenir, Bel cherche à capitaliser sur l’élan initial qu’il a acquis, luttant pour assurer plus de victoires avant la fin de la saison régulière. Cela le positionnera favorablement pour naviguer à travers tout chaos potentiel en séries éliminatoires. Bel a une fois de plus prouvé être l’un des pilotes les plus fiables sur la piste pour Joe Gibbs Racing.
