NASCAR Cup Series
Christopher Bell Continues Dream Start to Season, Wins at Phoenix
Mar 9, 2025
Justin Allgaier and Michael McDowell scored the Xfinity Fastest Lap awards at Phoenix Raceway this weekend, scoring a bonus point each for their efforts.
In Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series GOVX 200, Allgaier set the fastest lap in the race, with a time of 28.022 seconds around the 1-mile track. Allgaier finished fifth in the event, leading 130 of the race's 208 laps.
Allgaier appeared poised for a victory in the event alongside the Xfinity Fastest Lap award. The defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion first took the lead on lap 50, leading until lap 71. He'd lead two more times, taking the top spot for the final time on lap 151 and stretching out his advantage in the closing laps.
However, a late spin for Nick Leitz sent the race to overtime, where Allgaier slid up the racetrack and opened the door for a clash between Aric Almirola and Alex Bowman for the win.
Ultimately, Almirola claimed the victory, while Allgaier finished fifth. Allgaier sits just two points behind Jesse Love atop the NASCAR Xfinity Series points standings following the Phoenix race.
Michael McDowell earned Sunday's Xfinity Fastest Lap award in the NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children's 500, won by Christopher Bell. McDowell becomes the first repeat winner of the Xfinity Fastest Lap award in the Cup Series, as he also claimed the award at the Daytona 500.
McDowell's bonus point was a result of perseverance for the No. 71 Spire Motorsports team. After starting at the rear of the field with an unapproved adjustment and suffering two flat tires during the race, McDowell finished 27th, 22 laps down. However, the team fitted a set of option tires late in the race to pursue the Xfinity Fastest Lap, accomplishing that feat and snagging the bonus point.
The adversity-filled day dropped McDowell to 15th in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings. However, the two bonus points accrued from the Xfinity Fastest Lap award this season keep him in a tie with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
All three of NASCAR's National Series will be at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 14-16.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competes in the Ecosave 200 on Friday, March 14 at 9 p.m. ET. That event will be aired on FS1, with radio coverage on the NASCAR Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to competition next Saturday in the LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race is at 4:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
he NASCAR Cup Series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400, which will take place next Sunday, March 16 at 3:30 PM ET on FS1, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
-Photo credit: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
