After winning the previous two races of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series campaign at Atlanta and Circuit of the Americas, a main storyline heading into Phoenix Raceway was Christopher Bell going for three in a row at a track where’s had success in the past, including a win in the 2024 spring race.

Unlike his previous two victories this year, where he led a combined total of nine laps, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver dominated in the desert, running out front for a race-high 105 laps. Despite that dominance, victory was uncertain until the checkered flag waved and the No. 20 crossed the finish line first.

Christopher Bell crosses the finish line ahead of Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson at Phoenix Raceway

But before that happened, the 30-year-old battled with his teammate Denny Hamlin in the final laps after restarting next to him on the front row with two laps to go.

Heading into Turn 3 on the final lap, both JGR cars ran side-by-side — almost as if their doors were attached — and began drifting up the track, which seemed to open a door for Kyle Larson to pass underneath. 

Instead, the No. 20 car moved down in front of the fast-approaching Hendrick Motorsports driver and got a nudge from behind — something he noted in his post-race interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“Denny just did an amazing job timing the restart staying on my outside and you know we were both driving until we saw Jesus into one and three both of those laps,” Bell said. “And just got really fortunate to pick up the push from Kyle coming to the line to boost me to the checkered. You know that was some good hard racing.”

Interestingly, Hamlin also mentioned in his post-race interview with Fox how Larson gave him a push in the final laps.

“The 5 really gave me a great push on the front stretch on the restart, down the backstretch,” he said. 

Two JGR drivers getting help from an unexpected ally, with ultimately that last push being the difference between victory and defeat.