Christopher Bell's Phoenix dominance yields disappointing runner-up result

There might not have been a better driver or a faster car than Christopher Bell and the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, but it was not Bell who collected the checkered flag in Sunday's Straight Talk Wireless 500. 

Instead, it was Ryan Blaney, who took two tires on the final pit stop and passed Ty Gibbs for the lead. Bell, who took four tires on his last trip down pit road, was able to get to second but didn't have enough time to run down Blaney.

Blaney even admitted in his frontstretch interview that Bell was the best car.

Christopher Bell handed tough Phoenix loss

The loss was a heartbreaking one for Bell, who swept the stages on Sunday and led 176 of 312 laps.

"If we had more green flag laps, I think we could've made a run at [Blaney]," Bell told Fox Sports. "You win some, you lose some. This one stings."

Still, it was a much-needed result for Bell, who entered Sunday 23rd in the Cup Series standings but vaulted up to sixth following his run at Phoenix. 

The loss snaps Bell's spring Phoenix win streak at two races. He'll look for his first win of 2026 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15.