Bell Steals The Show In Stage 1 At Las Vegas

Sarah Talker
Mar 15, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell (20) during the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Christopher Bell wasted no time reminding everyone why he started from the pole Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota took the Stage 1 victory at the end of Lap 80, picking up his second stage win of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and putting the rest of the field on notice.

It was not a wire-to-wire run for Bell. Teammate Denny Hamlin grabbed the lead on Lap 3 and held it with authority, logging 59 of the opening 80 laps out front. Hamlin looked every bit like a man who wanted more than just stage points. He was smooth, calculated, and fast.

How The Running Order Got An Early Shuffle

Green-flag pit stops shuffled the running order starting on Lap 33. Toyotas and Chevrolets cycled through pit road over a 10-lap window. When the dust settled, Hamlin was back up front on Lap 43. He held the position until Lap 72, when Bell made his move and drove straight to the lead. From there, Bell never looked back.

Kyle Larson crossed the stripe in second. Hamlin settled for third. Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Ryan Preece, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick rounded out the top 10. The stage ran green throughout with no caution flags, which kept the strategy simple and racing clean.

Not everyone had a clean opening segment. Shane van Gisbergen, who rolled off 16th, found trouble when contact with Erik Jones sent his car loose through Turn 4 while fighting for 18th position. The New Zealand native gathered it up and stayed in the race without further incident.

What This Means

Bell now holds two stage wins through the early portion of the 2026 campaign. In a season where points and playoff positioning matter deeply, stage wins carry real weight. Bell is building momentum, and Joe Gibbs Racing looks sharp with multiple cars capable of running at the front. Hamlin proved he had the speed to win this stage outright. That kind of pace does not disappear when Stage 2 begins.

Looking Ahead To Stage 2

Las Vegas is giving the Cup Series a genuine race. Bell has the lead, Hamlin has the speed, and Larson is lurking right behind them. With two stages still to run and a clean track ahead, anything can happen. What is clear right now is that Christopher Bell came to Las Vegas with a purpose, and through 80 laps, he is delivering.

Sarah is a motorsports journalist covering NASCAR, IMSA, Formula 1, and IndyCar, blending sharp analysis with accessible storytelling shaped by live reporting at the Daytona 500 and Würth 400. She brings an analytical foundation through a B.S. in Political Science and a Master’s in Project Management and Information Technology, and is an active member of the National Society of Leadership and Success through the CTU Chapter, reflecting her commitment to growth and leadership in the industry.