Christopher Bell became the first driver in the Next Gen era to win three consecutive Cup Series races, leading 105 laps and holding off Denny Hamlin in a thrilling duel at Phoenix Raceway.
Bell Writes History
Christopher Bell etched his name into the history books at Phoenix Raceway, becoming the first driver in the Next Gen era to win three consecutive Cup Series races. Starting 11th, Bell methodically worked his way to the front and took command in the second half of the race, leading a race-high 105 laps and winning Stage 2 along the way. But the victory was anything but a cruise — Denny Hamlin mounted a furious late charge that made for a dramatic finish.
The race featured 6 cautions and 18 lead changes, with Bell and William Byron (83 laps led) combining to lead 188 of the 312 laps.
Fantasy Scorecard
Top Performers
| Driver | Finish | Salary | Fantasy Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Bell | P1 | $15 | 72.5 points with 105 laps led — 4.83x value ratio, dominant at flat one-mile ovals |
| William Byron | P6 | $14 | Led 83 laps for 62.3 points — 4.45x value boosted by Stage 1 win and Stage 2 (3rd) |
| Denny Hamlin | P2 | $13 | 49.3 points — short-run restart speed is elite, prime pick when late restarts are expected |
| Josh Berry | P4 | $9 | 45 points for a 5.00x value ratio — top-tier value play at shorter flat tracks |
| Kyle Larson | P3 | $14 | 43 points — Phoenix remains one of his strongest tracks with Stage 1 (10th) and Stage 2 (9th) adding floor |
| Zane Smith | P9 | $4 | 33 points from 26th starting position — 8.25x value ratio, one of the best bargain plays of the race |
Biggest Busts
| Driver | Finish | Salary | What Happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Hocevar | P36 (DNF) | $9 | Qualified 3rd but crashed out — 1.00x value ratio, Phoenix punishes aggressive short-track drivers |
Fantasy Takeaways
- Bell at $15 was worth every penny — 105 laps led plus the win created a ceiling that no other driver could match, and his 4.83x value at a premium salary is elite
- Josh Berry ($9) and Zane Smith ($4) were the value plays — flat one-mile tracks reward consistent lap-time drivers, and both delivered 5x+ value ratios
- Denny Hamlin's short-run restart speed is a weapon — if you expect late-race cautions at flat tracks, Hamlin's ability to fire on restarts makes him a strong pivot
- William Byron led 83 laps but finished 6th — laps-led points padded his total, but this is a reminder that stage points and laps led create a floor even when the finish disappoints
- Bell's three-race win streak across a superspeedway, road course, and flat oval shows unprecedented versatility — he should be your top fantasy option at virtually any track type