Bell produces Gibbs team’s emotional win
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 Cup Series win 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.”
Chris Buescher finished second after being wrecking 27 laps into last week’s race in Las Vegas and Ty Gibbs was third for his career-best finish. Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top five.
Penske dominates IndyCar opener
Team Penske silenced recent criticism aimed at series leadership by dominating the IndyCar seasonopening race with a Josef Newgarden win from the pole on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.
Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren Racing broke up the Penske rout with a second-place finish, but Penske drivers Scott McLaughlin and Will Power finished third and fourth. The Penske trio finished ahead of every Andretti Global driver two days after team owner Michael Andretti called on Roger Penske to sell the IndyCar Series if he’s not willing to increase his investments in promotion and marketing.
Colton Herta in fifth was the highest-finishing driver for Andretti, which had a bust of a day with new driver Marcus Ericsson. The former Indianapolis 500 winner lost power midway through the race and finished 25th in the 27-car field. Ericsson was the defending race winner at St. Pete, which celebrated its 20th running of the popular street course event.
Reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou finished sixth and Felix Rosenqvist was seventh.
Langdon, Todd win in NHRA opener
Mira Loma’s Shawn Langdon edged Billy Torrence in top fuel and JR Todd took the funny car title at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
Langdon took his 16th career title in top fuel while Erica Enders posted her 48th career title in pro stock. Gaige Herrera of La Mirada edged Matt Smith in pro stock motorcycle.