Beneath the present playoff format, a driver must both win or run very properly at Phoenix, which additionally requires main laps. Within the final two years – spanning 4 races – that’s been a shortage for Toyota.
Whereas Chevrolet drivers received each Phoenix races final 12 months and Ford completed the identical feat in 2022, Toyota drivers totaled simply 15 laps led.
Then got here Sunday, when not solely did Toyota choose up the win with a powerful efficiency from Bell and his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing group, however Toyota drivers collectively led all however 14 of the 312 laps within the race.
First win for the XSE
It was a monumental shift in efficiency, which first grew to become evident in apply on Friday and held true in qualifying with an all-Toyota entrance row.
“For Toyota, this was a momentous win,” mentioned Toyota Racing Improvement president David Wilson. “This was the primary win with our new Camry physique. I used to be clear to say initially of the 12 months that we’ve struggled right here lately.
“At the moment we led every part however 14 laps. That’s a credit score to the Joe Gibbs group, TRD USA and Calty Design, who helped us with this new Camry physique.
“On the similar time, I’ll say that the key to longevity in sports activities, in motorsports, is rarely get too excessive when the day goes your method, and by no means get too low when it doesn’t as a result of we’re going to be racing once more subsequent week.”
Each TRD and Ford Efficiency debuted new iterations of their respective Camry and Mustang race automobiles within the Cup collection in 2024 however within the season’s first three races, Chevrolet drivers had visited Victory Lane.
Nonetheless, success at Phoenix was particularly vital for 2 causes – the 1-mile oval hosts the collection championship race in November and it additionally was the debut of NASCAR’s new quick monitor/street course aero bundle.
Sunday’s outcome – with Toyota drivers claiming 5 of the highest 10 ending positions and main almost each lap – bodes properly for the producer in each areas.
Bell is now locked within the 2024 playoffs and at present Toyota has 5 different drivers within the prime 16 within the collection standings.
“It was unprecedented how a lot TRD USA and Joe Gibbs Racing labored collectively on that (new) physique,” Wilson mentioned. “However you don’t race wind tunnels, you don’t race dynos.
“You may be the most effective on paper, however except you’ve the expertise behind the steering wheel and the group and the pit crews to place a whole race collectively, the remaining is meaningless.
“Definitely, what we’ve seen 4 races in validates plenty of our optimism, however we’ve a complete lot of racing to go, extra intermediate (tracks), extra huge tracks and quick tracks to actually consider the place we’re.”
