COBO CUP 2025 Newsletter – Volume 4

Bell wins at Phoenix

#20-Christopher Bell won the Shriners Children’s 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. The win is his 3rd consecutive win of the year, 2nd at Phoenix and 12th career win. #11-Denny Hamlin finished 2nd followed by #5-Kyle Larson, #21-Josh Berry, #17-Chris Buescher, pole sitter #24-William Byron, #48-Alex Bowman, #8-Kyle Busch, #38-Zane Smith, and #9-Chase Elliott.

Bell led 102 laps, the most of any driver. A late caution set up a two lap shootout to the finish. Bell’s teammate Hamlin got the lead on the restart and led at the white flag.  Bell was able to take the lead back coming off turn four n the final lap and won by .049 second. #78-Katherine Legge, making her Cup debut, spun on two occasions and finished 30th. The fastest lap bonus was #71-Michael McDowell.

There were 17 lead changes among 6 drivers and 10 cautions for 73 yellow flag laps. The average speed of the race was: 92.141mph.

Stage Winners

• Stage 1 was won by #24-Byron
• Stage 2 was won by #20-Bell

Perfect Team (per category): William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Michael McDowell & John Hunter Nemechek for 792 points.

Worst Picks (per category): Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, Noel Gragson, Cole Custer, A.J. Allmendinger & Cody Ware.       

Facts: Last Call 2025 wins at Phoenix with 222 points ($100). They beat Manxman by 13 points. Crash Boys takes over the standings lead by 15 points over Bucktoothed Hilbillies.   

Standings Leaders:

• WTAF (2 weeks)
• Northern Base
• Crash Boys

Challenges: You have until Wednesday to challenge the points. Race winners will be paid out once challenge deadline has expired.

Top Gainer of the Week

• Benzo moving from 119^th to 44^th (75 spots)

Biggest Dump of the Week

• VE3MQ from 82^nd to 163^rd (81 spots)

Penalties

• Car #34: 10 points (Daytona 500)
• Car #51: 10 points (Daytona 500)

Note: Update on the Cindric 50-point penalty (Cobo Cup Rules)

Rule #5 – You are picking the team (as in car #). Example: Kyle Busch – team/car #8. It is the #8 team/car you are picking not Kyle Busch. His name is just there so that you know who NASCAR has listed as the starting driver.

The #2 car (owners’ points) was not penalized 50 points. The actual driver was. So as per our rules, teams that picked the #2 car will not be penalized under rule #5 of the rules page.

You receive points (per race) based on the car # you picked not based on the driver of the car.

Bottom of the Barrel: 44 Blues with 497 points. That’s the fight for the 2026 free entry.    

Pole Pool

• Byron (Phoenix)
• Reddick (COTA)
• Blaney (Atlanta)  

Cobo Cup Sponsors:   

• Fred’s Auto & Equipment Service Centre Inc @www.fredsauto.ca
• Hammer DJ Services @ www.hammerdjservices.ca
• Dry N Shine Auto Spa @www.drynshineautospa.com
• Splitsville Hamilton – the place the Cobo Cup crew parties
• ILich Construction & Design
• Power Athletic Message

Social Media

• Twitter: @cobocup  
• Facebook: @Cobo Cup
• Instagram: @cobo_cup             

Next Race: 

Race #5 of 36: Sunday March 16^th, 2025 at Las Vegas, NV on TSN. Green Flag: 3:30pm                                                                      

“NUFF SAID”

COBO CUP 2025 Standings Leader: Crash Boys                                                                                                                                                            cobocup@yahoo.ca