Bell pulls out an emotional victory for Joe Gibbs Racing at Phoenix

Newgarden then expanded on the conversation.

“Roger was telling me, if you have a big lead, you better hold onto it and not throw it in the wall,” Newgarden said. “It’s great to have these little intimate moments with RP. He wants us to be out there crushing it and winning.”

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Christopher Bell and the rest of Joe Gibbs Racing have been through more than their share of heartbreak in the desert.

Owner Joe Gibbs’ son, the team’s vice chairman, died unexpectedly in Phoenix two years ago. Last fall, a broken brake rotor spoiled Bell’s NASCAR Cup Series championship hopes in the Valley of the Sun.

Winning at Phoenix Raceway will never erase the anguish, but it’s certainly another step in the healing process.

Bell surged into the lead when Martin Truex Jr. was forced to pit and then pulled away for an emotional NASCAR Cup Series win at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday.

“This one feels really good,” Bell said. “You don’t get cars like that very often, as you know. Just super, super proud to be on this 20 car.”

JGR has been through a whirlwind of emotions in Phoenix.

In 2022, hours after Ty Gibbs won an Xfinity season championship for his grandfather’s team, vice chairman Coy Gibbs was found dead in his hotel room. Ty’s father was 49.

Bell and JGR returned to Phoenix Raceway in November as part of the championship four vying for the Cup Series title.

Given another shot, Bell held his emotions in check and the crew gave him the fastest car on a perfect afternoon in the desert that ended with a massive celebration on victory lane.

“It is a little bit cathartic,” Bell’s crew chief Adam Stevens said.