Bell, who made it to the Championship 4 last season with hopes of securing the series title at Phoenix, faced an early setback when he experienced a brake rotor issue during the race, leaving him out of contention.
However, on Sunday, Bell displayed a remarkable comeback, clinching victory in Stage 2 and then maneuvering from the 20th position to claim the lead after the final pit stop. He comfortably maintained his position, crossing the finish line 5.465 seconds ahead of Chris Buescher, marking his first win of the 2024 season.
The triumph ended Chevrolet’s streak of three consecutive wins at the start of the season and secured a notable victory for Toyota at a track where it had previously led for only 15 laps over the past four races. Bell led for a total of 50 laps during Sunday’s race.
Opting to pit on lap 218 out of 312 during the last caution of the race, Bell emerged with four new tires and sufficient fuel, allowing him to regain the lead when Martin Truex Jr. made a pit stop for fuel. He maintained control for the final 41 laps, securing the win.
Bell’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, Ty Gibbs, finished third, followed by Brad Keselowski in fourth and Ryan Blaney in fifth.
In the top 10 were Ross Chastain, Truex, Michael McDowell, Chase Briscoe, and Tyler Reddick.
Expressing his elation after the race, Bell credited his team for their outstanding performance, stating, “Man, this one feels really good. Just a credit to Adam (Stevens, crew chief), my engineers, all the mechanics on this thing. You don’t get cars like that very often. Just super, super proud. Proud to be on this No. 20 car.”
He added, “This car was amazing today. I feel like we have the capability of running races like this a lot. Hopefully, this is the first of many this year.”
In Stage 1, Reddick claimed victory, while Bell secured the win in Stage 2, marking his first stage victory of the 2024 season.
As the race progressed into Stage 3, with several cautions and strategic pit stops, Bell managed to maintain his lead, eventually securing the win with Buescher finishing in second place over six seconds behind.
The race showcased Bell’s resilience and skill, solidifying his position as a formidable contender in the NASCAR Cup Series.
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