After two high-speed superspeedway events and a technical road course challenge, the NASCAR Cup Series finally hit the desert for its first short-track-style race of 2025 at Phoenix Raceway. The race didn’t disappoint, delivering intense battles, a record number of cautions, and a thrilling finish that saw Christopher Bell claim his third consecutive win in the NexGen car. From early-race penalties to strategic pit stops and a nail-biting final lap, here’s how it all unfolded.

William Byron and Joey Logano share the front row with Byron on the pole (inside lane). As the checkered flag fly’s, Joey Logano takes the quick lead and crosses the start/finish line just ahead of Byron to lead the first lap. But that didn’t last that long as William Byron battles back and takes the lead in lap two.

The first stage is 60 laps long.

LAP 4: The caution comes out. Katherine Legge spins out coming off of turn two. She is able to keep the car off the walls and will head to the pits for some fresh rubber.

Restart on lap 10. It’s William Byron and Joey Logano battling it out for the lead with Logano getting ahead of Byron coming out of turn two.

Lap 10: The caution fly’s again after Noah Gragson got into Cole Custer. Custer then gets into Zane Smith, which also caused both Smith and Stenhouse to spin down the backstretch. It appears both cars were able to stay off the walls. They should both be able to continue.

Restart on lap 15: It’s still Logano and Byron up front battling it out for the lead. Joey Logano jumps ahead with Byron behind him, followed by Tyler Reddick, Carson Hocevar, and Josh Berry.

Penalty to the leader, Joey Logano for crossing the yellow line before the start/finish line at the restart. Logano gives up the lead to do a pass-through on pit road at pit road speed. William Byron inherits the lead with Tyler Reddick right behind him. Logano exits pit road down a lap.

END OF STAGE 1: William Byron takes the green/checkered flag signaling the end of the first stage. This continues a very impressive streak for Byron at Phoenix Raceway where he has scored stage points in 18 consecutive stages. He is now tied for the second largest such streak all time at this track.

William Byron was followed by Tyler Reddick, Ryan Preece, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney. Josh Berry, Carson Hocevar, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson round out the top ten.

Race off pit road: William Byron leads the field off pit road. Tyler Reddick maintains his position behind him. Christopher Bell, Ryan Preece, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Josh Berry, Chris Buescher, and Kyler Larson round out the top ten.

Penalty: Ross Chastain too fast entering his pit stall.

Coming to the checkered flag to start Stage Two, William Byron and Tyler Reddick lead the field to the green flag. William Byron quickly jumps into the lead once again after clearing Tyler Reddick coming out of turn two.

Lap 89: Austin CIndric who is on the softer “optional” tires, passes William Byron for the lead. All cars started the race with two sets of the optional tires, and six sets of the sticker tires.

CAUTION on lap 92: Michael McDowell gets into the outside wall coming out of turn three. Looks like he had a flat right rear. Damage is not too bad, he should be able to continue.

On the restart, it’s Christopher Bell and William Byron up front. Bell takes the lead coming out of turn two.

CAUTION on lap 99: Multiple cars involved in the mess. Looks like Riley Herbst, Justin Haley, Chase Briscoe, Shane Van Gisbergen, Alex Bowman, Todd Gilliland, Carson Hocever, Brad Keselowski, Noah Gragson, and Cole Custer all involved.

This is the first time that five cautions have occurred inside the first 100 laps of a race at Phoenix Raceway, setting a new milestone. Five cautions are also more than the entire race at Phoenix last fall.

Out of the race from the wreck: Justin Haley, Riley Herbst, Carson Hocevar, Shane Van Gisbergen, Cole Custer, Brad Keselowski, Chase Briscoe.

Christopher Bell and William Byron once again lead the field to the green flag on lap 113. Christopher Bell takes the lead from the inside lane.

Joey Logano, equipped with the optional tires, charges forward after restarting in 17th, and takes the lead from Christoper Bell on lap 130.

LAP 178: Christopher Bell has caught Joey Logan and retakes the lead just one lap later.

END OF STAGE TWO: Christopher Bell takes the stage, followed by Joey Logano, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson, and Josh Berry.

All of the leaders hit pit road. Joey Logano is first out of the pits, followed by Christopher Bell, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Josh Berry, and Kyle Busch. Daniel Suarez and Kyle Busch both pick up six spots on pit road.

Joey Logano takes the lead heading into turn one and holds it with Tyler Reddick close behind. The majority of the field has the optional tires on.

CAUTION LAP 216: Kathrine Legge spins coming out of turn two. She is hit by Daniel Suarez who was currently running in sixth position. They are both out of the race.

Pit road is open and the leaders come in. Christopher Bell is the first off of pit road, followed by Tyler Reddick, William Byron, Joey Logano, Josh Berry, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Ross Chastain.

Christopher Bell takes the lead coming out of turn two.

With 76 laps remaining, Ryan Preece passes Christopher Bell. Preece has the softer optional tires on his car. Christopher Bell has the primary tires on his car.

CAUTION IS OUT ON LAP 266! Bubba Wallace hits the wall in Turn One after blowing a tire. He was in 11th position. It appears he’ll make it to pit road. At the time the caution flew, William Byron was on pit road. He will now be a lap down. Bubba Wallace takes his car directly to the garage.

All leaders hit the pits. The race off the pits sees Christopher Bell coming out first, followed by Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Erik Jones, Ryan Blaney, Ryan Preece, and Ty Dillon.

PENALTY: Tyler Reddick speeding on pit road, he’ll go to the back.
PENALTY: Ty Dillon too fast entering pit road.

Restart on lap 277: Christopher Bell takes the lead on Denny Hamlin with Kyle Larson close behind in third.

CAUTION LAP 290! Ryan Blaney has blown an engine while running inside the top 10.

Restart on lap 296 with 16 laps remaining: Christopher Bell once again takes the lead on Denny Hamlin with Kyle Larson again close behind and challenging Hamlin.

CAUTION COMES OUT AGAIN! Lap 305 (7 laps remaining): Ty Gibbs (running 13th at the time) hits the wall between turns three and four. This is the tenth caution of the race.

Under caution, all of the leaders stay out with Christopher Bell in first, followed by Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Josh Berry, Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Zane Smith, and Chase Elliott rounding out the top ten.

Restart on lap 311: Christopher Bell and Hamlin battle it out. Hamlin takes the lead heading into the final lap by a nose. Christopher Bell and Hamlin side-by-side heading into turn three. Bell and Hamlin nose-to-nose and Bell edges away crossing the finish line! Denny Hamlin finishes second, followed by Kyle Larson, Josh Berry, Chris Buescher, William Byron, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Zane Smith, and Chase Elliott.

The finish was the second closest finish (0.049 seconds) in the history of Phoenix Raceway.

Christopher Bell’s victory at Phoenix Raceway wasn’t just another win—it was a statement. Holding off a hard-charging Denny Hamlin in a photo-finish, Bell made history with his third straight win in the NexGen era. With the season heating up and the competition tighter than ever, all eyes now turn to Las Vegas, where drivers will take on the high-speed 1.5-mile oval for the Pennzoil 400. Can Bell keep his streak alive, or will another contender rise to the occasion?
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