In a thrilling conclusion to the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway, Christopher Bell secured his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series win. The #20 narrowly edged out teammate Denny Hamlin by a mere 0.049 seconds, the closest finish in Phoenix Raceway history. The race marked a significant moment for Joe Gibbs Racing, with a 1-2 finish showcasing the team’s dominance in the early stages of the 2025 season and Bell being the first driver since Kevin Harvick in 2018 to win three of the first four races. However, despite coming right behind his teammate, Hamlin might not be too pleased.
Denny Hamlin’s post-race comments highlighted a mix of frustration and admiration for the JGR team’s effort. It also highlighted Hamlin’s hypocrisy, as he was seen saying a few things completely in contrast to what he had said a few days earlier on his Actions Detrimental Podcast.
A tale of teamwork and frustration in Denny Hamlin’s bittersweet finish
In a post-race interview, Hamlin praised his team’s performance, noting, “Great job… They just got better and better as they went. The pit crew did a phenomenal job to keep us in the game.” With a gap of less than half-a-hundredth of a second, Hamlin almost smelled victory at the Phoenix raceway. Almost! However, the close finish wouldn’t have been possible for the No. 11 driver had it not been his pit crew who ensured that Hamlin’s car got in and out of the pits in quick time.
He also acknowledged the strategic challenges faced during the race, particularly the impact of the final restart. Hamlin was outside of Christopher Bell on the final lap. He even managed to get slightly ahead of his teammate as they entered Turn 3. However, in the last few meters of the race, Hamlin lost a bit of momentum and got loose. Bell capitalized and managed to regain the lead and win by a fraction of a second. “We just kinda ran out of racetrack there,” Hamlin explained.
Denny Hamlin congratulated the entire JGR team for a successful weekend that helped the team grab the top-two spots in the race. “Great job by the whole Joe Gibbs team for giving us some fast cars,” he exclaimed. Hamlin further congratulated Bell on his historic win. However, this comment grabbed the attention of a few NASCAR fans as, ironically, just a week earlier, he had said something quite the opposite.
“There is nobody I hate seeing win more than my teammate,” Hamlin had admitted on his Actions Detrimental podcast after Christopher Bell’s COTA win. The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix was mired with setbacks for Hamlin. Firstly, Hamlin’s left front was damaged. Then, he received a penalty for short-cutting on Turn 5. This was followed by him bumping into Austin Dillon on lap 78. As a result of a string of mishaps, Hamlin managed to finish at a low 21st.
Pretty funny to see Denny Hamlin give an interview congratulating C Bell and Joe Gibbs on a win, just days after saying on Actions Detrimental there’s nothing worse than seeing your teammate win lol
— NFJJ (@Nascarfan4888JJ) March 9, 2025
Thus, Hamlin was visibly frustrated and disappointed. Despite driving the same car with the same package, the outcome of the race was entirely different for the teammates. “I don’t want him to beat me; you always measure yourself off of teammates,” Hamlin had further added. Now, with him again coming close and Bell snatching the victory, Hamlin’s frustration might have increased. However, he refrained from showing it out loud. Rather, he adopted a gracious tone, acknowledging Bell’s achievement and the team’s collective effort.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these internal dynamics play out at JGR, particularly as Hamlin and Bell continue to push each other for victories.
Stay tuned for updates!
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