Shriners Children’s 500
The NASCAR Cup Series race day started with Denny Hamlin on the pole for the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Stage 1 saw Ty Gibbs lead 57 laps, a wreck on Lap 6, and Tyler Reddick snagging the stage win. Hamlin regained the lead for Stage 2, however, after green flag pit stops cycled around, Reddick was back in the lead. With four to go in the stage, Christopher Bell snatched the lead and the stage win.
The final stage saw Kyle Busch wreck two laps after the start of the stage. Just three laps after going back green, John Hunter Nemechek made contact with Joey Logano. Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie, Derek Krause, and Zane Smith were all innocent bystanders who were also collected in the mayhem.
Another two laps later, fans saw pole sitter, Hamlin, get into Reddick and the No. 11 went spinning. After this, drivers settled into a rhythm and calmed down for the remainder of the race. As they took 35 to go, Bell had a nearly four-second lead over his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Gibbs, in second. Eventually, Bell worked his way to a seven-second lead to win at Phoenix Raceway.
Rich MARvelous Move of the Race
The cautions gave drivers the chance to show out and show off.
This share from NASCAR X shows LaJoie and Ryan Preece just missing out on ruined days.
Some impressive wreck avoidance. pic.twitter.com/9Zk8fcUNG8
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 10, 2024
However, it was another near-miss that stood out as the Rich MARvelous Move of the Race.
As Hamlin goes for a spin on Lap 215, Brad Keselowski skirts by, avoiding contact with the No. 11.
😳 Around goes Hamlin! 😳 pic.twitter.com/6Ha8REqDLe
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 10, 2024
Let’s take a look at this from Keselowski’s perspective:
That was close! @keselowski barely misses a spinning @dennyhamlin. pic.twitter.com/UQTlwNAbc6
— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) March 10, 2024
With that incredible wreck avoidance, Keselowski went on to finish the day P4, notching his first top 10 of the season.
Shout Out
In addition to those dazzling moves, we wanted to also give a shout out to Martin Truex, Jr.
Truex made his pit stop during a green flag run on Lap 271. In 41 laps, he worked his way back into the top 10 to finish out the race, P7.
