NASCAR and ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Phoenix Raceway)

Winners: Christopher Bell (Cup); Aric Almirola (Xfinity); plus Brent Crews (ARCA West)

Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics

 

NASCAR Cup

Christopher Bell Gets Third Consecutive #Win

 

Christopher Bell prevailed in a dramatic side-by-side finish with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin – the second-closest finish in Phoenix Raceway history – to earn Bell his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory this season, a record in the sport’s Next Gen Car era.

 

Bell’s No. 20 JGR Toyota went high alongside Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota as the two cars dueled it out in the final two corners of a two-lap shootout on the one-mile speedway. The 30-year-old Oklahoman claimed the historic win by a mere 0.049 seconds, marking his second straight victory in this spring race at Phoenix.

 

“How about that one, race fans? Oh my gosh!” a jubilant Bell shouted to the Phoenix crowd after collecting the winner’s checkered flag at the start-finish line.

 

“Whenever you’re sitting there dreaming it up, that’s about as ugly as it gets. You put the red [option] tires on, and you’re like, all right, what I don’t want to happen is go 20, 30 laps, get a yellow. That happened. Then we went 10 more laps, had another yellow.

 

“It was all about who could get clear on the restart. Neither of us could. We were racing really hard coming to the line. JGR ran 1-2 — how about that?”

 

Post-race inspection was completed without issue in the Cup Series garage, confirming Christopher Bell as the winner.

 

Bell now heads to the 1.5-mile Las Vegas high banks next week, hoping to match a milestone set by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, who is the only driver to win four of a season’s first five races, doing so in 1992.

 

No better way to celebrate back-to-back than this 🍾#ShrinersChildrens500 pic.twitter.com/vJNbgRbDFZ

— Phoenix Raceway (@phoenixraceway) March 10, 2025

Pole: William Byron

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 3:30 pm ET for the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Xfinity

Aric Almirola Wins in Overtime Thriller

 

Aric Almirola made a dramatic last-lap pass in overtime to claim the win in Saturday’s GOVX 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway, making door-to-door contact with Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman in the final two turns. The 0.045-second margin of victory was the second-closest finish in the track’s history.

 

Almirola led 25 laps on the afternoon, but his last-lap move to the checkered flag was the only one he led in the final 50 laps of the 208-lap event. His No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota emerged from a four-wide battle for the lead on the final restart with two laps remaining, then finally overtook Bowman less than 200 feet from the finish line.

 

“I just knew I needed to get from there to here first,” Almirola said, standing by his car at the start-finish line. “I knew I was going to use him up a little bit, but was trying to win the race. I feel like it was warranted. I didn’t feel like I did anything overly egregious. I just throttled up, and it was a drag race to the start-finish line.”

 

WHAT. A. FINISH!! pic.twitter.com/T9HrPc20Xn

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 9, 2025

Pole: Alex Bowman

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 4:30 pm ET for the The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Trucks

NASCAR CRAFTMAN Truck Series – Off-Track this Weekend

Only one week until the #Ecosave200! Still need tickets? ⬇️

🎟️ : https://t.co/OfoRaLrxqF pic.twitter.com/Kv8hvlX968

— Las Vegas Motor Speedway (@LVMotorSpeedway) March 7, 2025

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 9:00 pm ET for the Ecosave 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

ARCA

Last-Lap Heroics Propel Brent Crews to His First ARCA Menards Series Pavement Win

 

Coming to the white flag in Friday’s General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway, it appeared Brent Crews would settle for a strong-but-disappointing second in his first outing with Joe Gibbs Racing.

 

Instead, Crews found himself celebrating his first pavement victory in the ARCA Menards Series. A second attempt at a one-lap shootout provided Crews an opportunity to chase down the dominant driver of the night in Brenden Queen, who he edged to the finish line after muscling his rival out of the way in Turn 3.

 

Long familiar with the efficiency Queen has displayed at short tracks in the southeast, Crews knew a perfect restart was imperative to overtake him on the final lap. Besting Queen on the ARCA Menards Series platform was something Crews took pride in as he celebrated his victory.

 

“I raced Brenden [Queen] the whole year last year,” Crews said. “We raced him for CARS Tour wins, and then coming here to the ARCA Menards Series at a track like Phoenix to race for the win was really special. A great job to [Pinnacle Racing Group]. They had a winning car today, so I’m grateful for the caution at the end.”

 

What a race! 😤

👀 Recap of last night's #GeneralTire150 at @phoenixraceway! pic.twitter.com/uhwnjmPNzF

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) March 8, 2025

Pole: Brent Crews (Practice and Qualifying Canceled Due to Weather)

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA Series West will return on Saturday, April 5, 2025 for the an event on the 0.375-mile paved oval at Tucson Speedway.

 

source: NASCAR Media

Phoenix Raceway Cup Fast Facts

Phoenix Begins Stretch of Traditional Tracks

 

Fast Facts

• Track: Phoenix Raceway
• Location: Avondale, Arizona
• Track length: 1 mile
• When: Sunday, 3: 30 p.m. ET
• Where to tune in: FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
• Race purse: $11,055,250
• Race distance: 312 laps | 312 miles
• Stages: 60 | 185 | 312
• Defending winner: Christopher Bell, March 2024
• Starting lineup: William Byron wins Busch Light Pole

History tells us…

Team Penske will be the trio to beat Sunday. Since the debut of the Next Gen car in the 2022 season, no driver has led more laps at Phoenix than reigning (and three-time) Cup champ Joey Logano, who’s paced the field for a combined 298 laps in those six races. Next in line? His teammate at Team Penske, Ryan Blaney. The duo has won each of the last three Cup titles, with Logano claiming the 2022 and 2024 titles and Blaney in 2023, all at Phoenix in the November finale. Logano starts second Sunday, and Blaney 12th. Blaney has still yet to find Victory Lane at Phoenix, but that could change in a hurry.

 

He may not be the favorite to win, but watch out for …

 

ROSS CHASTAIN - The Trackhouse Racing driver won the season finale in 2023 at Phoenix, preventing Blaney from winning the race but not the championship. Chastain is averaging a 9.2 finish in his last six Phoenix starts, with three top fives in that span. He finished runner-up to Chase Briscoe in the spring Phoenix event in 2022 and may be in contention to score a second Arizona win on Sunday.

 

Three-in-a-Row Bid at Phoenix

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell — the defending Phoenix spring race winner — is attempting to make history this weekend by claiming a third consecutive win early in the season. It would be the 29th time a driver has done that in the NASCAR Cup Series’ modern era (post-1972) although no driver has ever won three straight with the Next Gen car that debuted in 2022.

 

PHX🦂@RCRracing x #zone_partner pic.twitter.com/LugSOQ7GtK

— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 8, 2025

Most recently among current full-time drivers, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch earned three straight trophies in 2015. Brad Keselowski and Busch won three races in a row in 2018. Kyle Larson is the last to accomplish the feat — doing it twice in his 2021 championship-winning season. Eleven times the driver who has won three straight has gone on to win the title that same year.

 

Lineup for Shriners Children's 500

(24) William Byron, Chevrolet

(22) Joey Logano, Ford

(77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet

(21) Josh Berry, Ford

(43) Erik Jones, Toyota

(9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet

(71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet

(7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet

(45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota

(11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota

(20) Christopher Bell, Toyota

(12) Ryan Blaney, Ford

(17) Chris Buescher, Ford

(2) Austin Cindric, Ford

(8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet

(16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet

(5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet

(35) Riley Herbst, Toyota

(23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota

(6) Brad Keselowski, Ford

(3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet

(47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet

(41) Cole Custer, Ford

(1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet

(10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet

(38) Zane Smith, Ford

(34) Todd Gilliland, Ford

(60) Ryan Preece, Ford

(88) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet

(19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota

(99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet

(48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet

(4) Noah Gragson, Ford

(54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota

(51) Cody Ware, Ford

(42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota

(78) Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

        (Car Number in Parentheses)

Her debut on stock car racing's biggest stage happens today. @katherinelegge | @teamlivefast pic.twitter.com/6qkh9148qb

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 9, 2025

 

source: NASCAR Media

NASCAR Phoenix Weekend Schedule

ARCA – Friday / Xfinity – Saturday / Cup - Sunday

 

This weekend at Phoenix Raceway offers three exiting events: ARCA Series, Xfinity,  and #NASCAR Cup.

 

Christopher Bell, the Cup race’s defending winner, is trying to become the first driver to win three consecutive races in the Next Gen era after victories the past two weeks at Circuit of The Americas and Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

Friday, March 7, 2025

• 6:30 am --- Camper Pad Open --- CAMPER PAD
• 8:00 am - 10:00 am --- Free Camper Shuttle to Fry’s Grocery Store --- NEAR STAGECOACH AND ROAD COURSE ROAD
• 9:00 am --- Ice Sales Open --- Camped Pad
• 9:00 am - 11:00 am --- Merchandise Shopping --- GATE 4
• 9:00 am --- Gate 3 Ticket Office Open | Open till End of Stage 2 --- GATE 3
• 11:30 am - 2:00 pm --- Free Camper Shuttle to Fry’s Grocery Store --- NEAR STAGECOACH AND ROAD COURSE ROAD
• 11:00 am --- AMR Hauler Parade --- PHOENIX RACEWAY
• 12:00 pm --- Parking Lots Open --- ALL PARKING LOTS
• 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm --- Huss Brewing Co. Alehouse Open | *6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Open to Campers --- HUSS BREWING CO. ALEHOUSE
• 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm --- ARCA Menards Series Practice --- ON-TRACK
• 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm --- Photo opportunity with the General Tire 150 Trophy --- MOBIL 1 VICTORY LANE
• 3:30 pm - 3:50 pm --- ARCA Menards Series Qualifying --- ON-TRACK
• 4:00 pm --- Q&A with Carson Kvapil --- DESERT DIAMOND CASINO INFIELD EXPERIENCE
• 4:00 pm --- Q&A with Zach Magras & Dave Magras --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 4:15 pm - 4:45 pm --- ARCA Menards Series Autograph Session --- MOBIL 1 VICTORY LANE
• 4:30 pm --- Q&A with Harrison Burton --- DESERT DIAMOND CASINO INFIELD EXPERIENCE
• 4:30 pm --- Q&A with Brice Bonnett --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 5:40 pm --- ARCA Menards Series Driver Introductions --- PRE-RACE STAGE
• 6:00 pm --- GENERAL TIRE 150 RACE | ARCA MENARDS SERIES --- ON-TRACK
• 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm --- The Barn Brewed by Busch Light featuring Josh Roy (21+) --- THE BARN ---

Saturday, March 8, 2025

• 6:30 am --- Parking Trams Open --- ALL PARKING LOTS
• 6:30 am --- Camper Pad Open --- CAMPER PAD
• 7:00 am --- Parking Lots Open --- ALL PARKING LOTS
• 8:00 am - 11:00 am --- Free Camper Shuttle to Fry’s Grocery Store --- NEAR STAGECOACH AND ROAD COURSE ROAD
• 9:00 am --- Spectator Gates / Infield Experience / Ally Curve / Suites Open --- PHOENIX RACEWAY
• 9:00 am --- Gate 3 Ticket Office Open --- GATE 3
• 9:00 am --- Ice Sales Open --- CAMPER PAD
• 9:00 am - 9:00 pm --- Huss Brewing Co. Alehouse Open *3:00 PM – 9:00 PM Open to Campers* --- HUSS BREWING CO. ALEHOUSE
• 9:35 am - 10:30 am --- NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice --- ON-TRACK
• 10:00 am - 10:15 am --- Q&A with John Hunter Nemechek --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 10:00 am --- Mariachi Nueva Fusion Performance --- VIVA LA FIESTA ZONE
• 10:15 am - 10:30 am --- Q&A with Noah Gragson --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 10:30 am - 10:45 am --- Michael McDowell Q&A --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 10:40 am - 11:30 am --- NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying --- ON-TRACK
• 10:45 am --- Q&A with Denny Hamlin --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 11:00 am --- Q&A with Ty Dillon --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 11:00 am - 12:00 pm --- Photo opportunity with the GOVX 200 trophy --- MOBIL 1 VICTORY LANE
• 12:00 pm - 12:15 pm --- Q&A with Taylor Gray --- TOYOTA GAZOO RACING EXPERIENCE
• 12:00 pm --- Ballet Folklorico De Colores Performance --- VIVA LA FIESTA ZONE
• 12:05 pm - 12:50 pm --- NASCAR Cup Series Practice --- ON-TRACK
• 1:00 pm --- Q&A with Josh Williams --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 1:10 pm - 2:00 pm --- NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying --- ON-TRACK
• 1:30 pm --- Mariachi Nueva Fusion Performance --- VIVA LA FIESTA ZONE
• 2:25 pm --- NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Introductions --- PRE-RACE STAGE
• 3:00 pm --- GOVX 200 RACE | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES --- ON-TRACK
• 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm --- The Barn Brewed by Busch Light featuring Friendly Jesture (21+) --- THE BARN
• TBD --- NASCAR Xfinity Series Mobil 1 Victory Lane --- DESERT DIAMOND CASINO INFIELD EXPERIENCE

Sunday, March 9, 2025

• 6:00 am --- Parking Lots Open --- ALL PARKING LOTS
• 6:00 am --- Parking Trams Start --- ALL PARKING LOTS
• 6:30 am --- Camper Pad Open --- CAMPER PAD
• 7:00 am --- Camping Shuttle --- CAMPGROUNDS
• 8:00 am --- Spectator Gates / Infield Experience / Ally Curve / Suites / Hillside / Busch Light Lounge Open --- PHOENIX RACEWAY
• 8:00 am --- Gate 3 Ticket Office Open --- GATE 3
• 8:00 am --- Mariachi Nueva Fusion Performance --- VIVA LA FIESTA ZONE
• 8:00 am - 6:00 pm --- Huss Brewing Co. Alehouse Open *12:30 PM – 6:00 PM Open to Campers* --- HUSS BREWING CO. ALEHOUSE
• 8:00 am --- Ice Sales Open --- CAMPER PAD
• 8:15 am - 9:00 am --- Sunrise Service --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 8:45 am - 9:00 am --- Q&A with Christopher Bell --- MOBIL 1 VICTORY LANE
• 9:00 am - 9:15 am --- Q&A with Erik Jones --- TOYOTA GAZOO RACING EXPERIENCE
• 9:00 am - 9:15 am --- Q&A with Cole Custer --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 9:00 am --- Q&A with Christopher Bell --- MOBIL 1 VICTORY LANE
• 9:20 am - 9:35 am --- Q&A with Christopher Bell --- TOYOTA GAZOO RACING EXPERIENCE
• 9:30 am --- Mariachi Nueva Fusion Performance --- VIVA LA FIESTA ZONE
• 9:35 am --- Q&A with Ross Chastain (BLL TICKET REQUIRED) --- BUSCH LIGHT LOUNGE
• 9:40 am - 9:55 am --- Q&A with Alex Bowman --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 9:45 am - 10:00 am --- Q&A with Noah Gragson --- DESERT DIAMOND CASINO INFIELD EXPERIENCE
• 10:00 am --- O’Reilly Auto Parts Pre-Race Party --- INFIELD & TURN 3 AND 4 CROSSOVER GATES
• 10:00 am - 10:15 am --- Q&A with Justin Haley --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 10:00 am - 10:20 am --- Autograph Session with Denny Hamlin --- TOYOTA GAZOO RACING EXPERIENCE
• 10:15 am - 10:30 am --- Q&A with Todd Gilliland --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 10:30 am --- Mariachi Nueva Fusion Performance --- VIVA LA FIESTA ZONE
• 10:30 am --- Q&A with Cody Ware --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 10:30 am - 11:30 am --- Harry Luge Pre-Race Concert --- PRE-RACE STAGE
• 10:45 am - 11:00 am --- Q&A with Latasha Causey --- NASCAR EXPERIENCE STAGE
• 11:20 am --- Driver Red Carpet Walk --- DESERT DIAMOND CASINO INFIELD EXPERIENCE
• 11:55 am --- NASCAR Cup Series Driver Introductions --- PRE-RACE STAGE
• 12:30 pm --- SHRINERS CHILDREN'S 500 RACE | NASCAR CUP SERIES --- ON-TRACK
• TBD --- NASCAR Cup Series Mobil 1 Victory Lane --- DESERT DIAMOND CASINO INFIELD EXPERIENCE




There's magic in these mountains. 🏜️ pic.twitter.com/3LWaGQzIRu

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 6, 2025

Weekend weather

Friday: Showers in the morning and afternoon. Mostly cloudy, high of 56 with a 70% chance of rain.

 

Saturday: Sunny with a high of 68 degrees. It’s expected to be 65 degrees and no chance of rain for the start of the Xfinity race.

 

Sunday: Sunny with a high of 76 degrees and a 0% chance of rain at the start of the Cup race.

  

source: NASCAR Media