If there was any doubt that William Byron’s No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet would be fast, he silenced it early. Starting from the pole position, Byron took full advantage of clean air and led the opening laps with ease. Hendrick Motorsports nailed the short-run setup, and Byron kept his car smooth through Phoenix’s long corners, maintaining speed even as others started slipping.

While Byron had firm control of the first stage, there was plenty of battling behind him. Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Josh Berry traded positions in the top five, each testing out different grooves to see where their cars worked best. Byron eventually took the Stage 1 win, grabbing a much-needed playoff point and proving that Phoenix was another track where he could be a contender.

But, as we’ve seen before—winning a stage doesn’t always mean winning the race.

Stage 2: Christopher Bell Takes Over

By the time Stage 2 rolled around, Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Toyota had come to life. After spending the first stage inside the top five, Bell’s long-run speed became his biggest weapon. His crew had dialed in the handling perfectly, allowing him to maintain pace while others started to fight tire wear.

Bell methodically worked his way through the field, eventually taking the lead and never looking back. He cruised to the Stage 2 win, securing another playoff point and showing everyone that his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was the car to beat.

Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson continued to battle in the top three, with Josh Berry impressing the field by staying inside the top five. Zane Smith also made his presence known, cracking the top 10 in Stage 2, an impressive feat for a rookie still getting adjusted to Cup Series competition.

Fastest Lap: Michael McDowell Surprises the Field

Michael McDowell in the No. 71 Chevrolet may not have been a race-winning contender, but he sure wasn’t lacking speed. On lap 274, McDowell laid down the fastest lap of the race, a testament to his ability to squeeze everything out of his equipment.

Though McDowell ultimately didn’t crack the top 10, his fastest lap bonus showed that Spire Motorsports brought serious speed to Phoenix—and that could be a sign of things to come for them at similar short tracks.

10 Cautions Keep Teams on Their Toes

With 10 cautions over 73 laps, the Shriners Children’s 500 had no shortage of drama. Some of the yellows were for minor spins, while others threw entire pit strategies into chaos.

One of the biggest caution-causing drivers? Katherine Legge, who made her NASCAR Cup Series debut. Legge spun twice during the race but managed to recover and finish 30th. Not the easiest introduction to Cup racing, but credit to her for keeping her car out of major trouble and completing most of the laps.

The most significant caution came with just a handful of laps to go. With Bell comfortably in the lead, a late-race yellow erased his gap, setting up a dramatic two-lap overtime shootout. This is the kind of situation that separates great drivers from championship contenders—and Bell rose to the occasion.