NASCAR Rant Report - Monday, March 10th

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Major headlines out of the weekend:

Christopher Bell Goes Three for Four in 2025
Multiple Tire Compounds and Tire Strategy
Xfinity Series Races in Phoenix

Plus, miscellaneous topics from the weekend.

Christopher Bell Goes Three for Four in 2025:

Christopher Bell achieved a remarkable feat by winning his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series race in 2025 at Phoenix Raceway, following victories at Atlanta and Circuit of the Americas. This win marked the first time a driver has won three consecutive races in the Next Gen car era and the first since Kyle Larson in 2021. Bell's victory came after a dramatic finish where he edged out his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin by 0.049 seconds, the second-closest finish in Phoenix Raceway history. Bell led a race-high 105 of 312 laps and managed to hold off Hamlin and Kyle Larson in a two-lap shootout to secure the win.

The race was also marked by several incidents, including a multi-car crash on lap 99 that took out several contenders, including Carson Hocevar and Justin Haley. Katherine Legge made her NASCAR Cup Series debut, becoming the first woman to compete in the series since Danica Patrick in 2018. Despite a challenging race that included a spin and a crash, Legge finished 30th. Other notable performances included Josh Berry, who finished fourth, earning the Wood Brothers Racing team its first top-five finish at Phoenix, and Chris Buescher, who finished fifth.

Bell expressed his excitement after the race, saying, "How about that one, race fans? Oh, my gosh, man. Whenever you’re sitting there dreaming it up, that’s about as ugly as it gets." He added, "Everybody's grinning ear to ear and just trying to ride the wave. I've raced long enough throughout my life that I know it comes in waves. And there are times where it just feels like you can't do anything right, and there are times where you feel like you can’t do anything wrong. I'm just going to keep living and riding it out as long as we can."

Hamlin, who finished second, praised his team, saying, "Great job out of this team. Got better and better as it went. Pit crew did a phenomenal job to keep us in the game when we had a bad stop in the middle. They made up for it at the end. First time we were able to get some clean air all day. Obviously, our car was really fast."

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Multiple Tire Compounds and Tire Strategy:

NASCAR's introduction of multiple tire compounds at Phoenix Raceway aimed to enhance the racing experience by offering teams strategic choices between primary and option tires. The primary tires, marked with yellow lettering, were more durable and maintained consistent speed over longer periods, while the option tires, marked with red lettering, were softer and faster but wore out more quickly. This setup was designed to encourage varying strategies and more passing opportunities, particularly at tracks where overtaking has been challenging.

The concept of using multiple tire compounds was first tested in the 2024 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro and later in a points race at Richmond Raceway. At Richmond, teams had only one set of option tires, leading most to save them for the end of the race. This time, at Phoenix, teams had two sets of option tires, adding complexity to their strategies. The extended practice session allowed teams to better understand the performance and longevity of both tire types.

Drivers and teams had mixed reactions to the option tires. Joey Logano found the addition "cool" and believed it added a strategic element to the race. Ryan Preece was the first to use the option tires at Phoenix, quickly moving through the field and leading 34 laps before a late caution affected his race outcome. Preece's performance demonstrated the immediate benefits of the option tires, although he ultimately finished 15th.

Goodyear expressed satisfaction with the option tire's performance, noting that it allowed teams to vary their strategies and gain track position. The tire's success at Phoenix has led to discussions about its potential use in future races, particularly at short tracks and road courses. Drivers like Chris Buescher and Zane Smith praised the option tires for making the race more enjoyable and competitive.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Xfinity Series Races in Phoenix:

The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway on March 8, 2025, was marked by a dramatic overtime finish. Aric Almirola won the GOVX 200, narrowly beating Alex Bowman by 0.045 seconds. The race extended to 208 laps due to a late caution caused by Nick Leitz's spin. Justin Allgaier, who led a race-high 130 laps and won Stage 2, was poised for victory before the caution but ultimately finished fifth after sliding up the track during the overtime restart. Bowman, who started from pole and won Stage 1, took the lead on the final lap but was pushed into the wall by Almirola, who then claimed his eighth career Xfinity win.

Brandon Jones finished third, achieving his first top-five finish of the season, while Ryan Sieg, driving a backup car, finished fourth. Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, Christian Eckes, Jesse Love, and Nick Sanchez rounded out the top ten. The race featured several incidents, including a crash involving Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, and Dean Thompson, which took them out of contention. Parker Retzlaff rebounded from a fuel pickup issue to finish 11th, and Brennan Poole secured his third consecutive top-20 finish.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Miscellaneous:

Short track ace Burt Myers will make his NASCAR Cup Series points race debut at Martinsville Raceway on March 30, 2025, driving for Team AmeriVet. Myers, known for his success at Bowman Gray Stadium, will have C3 Skids as his sponsor, supporting the team's 50 Vets a Week program to relieve $250,000 in veteran debt during the race weekend.

NASCAR fans in Georgia were frustrated when The CW's local affiliate cut to a commercial during the final lap of the Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway, causing them to miss the dramatic finish where Aric Almirola edged out Alex Bowman by 0.045 seconds.

NASCAR is in a holding pattern regarding the future of Auto Club Speedway in Southern California. The original plan to build a half-mile oval on the site of the former Fontana speedway has stalled, and NASCAR is still determining the best course of action to bring racing back to the region.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on these topics.

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