As Martin Truex Jr. prepares to retire at the close of 2024 and Denny Hamlin moves deeper into the twilight of his NASCAR Cup Series career at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), Christopher Bell initially seemed destined to steer the team’s future. Bell’s first four seasons with JGR featured nine wins and two appearances in the Championship 4, positioning him as a natural frontrunner. The 2025 season began affirming that outlook, with Bell securing three consecutive victories in February and March. However, Chase Briscoe has emerged as a formidable contender, shifting the internal team dynamics.
Since summer took hold, Briscoe and his No. 19 team have surged, capturing two wins—including the prestigious Southern 500—and achieving six top-two finishes across their last 12 races. In stark contrast, Bell has failed to cross the finish line first in the 24 races since and has led just 113 laps in that span. Tensions even surfaced following Bell’s seventh-place result on September 7 at the World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, during a cooldown lap marked by frustration, while Hamlin and Briscoe celebrated a 1-2 finish for JGR. Though Bell retains a higher total of Cup wins this season (three versus Briscoe’s two) and overall (12 to four), the recent momentum clearly favors Briscoe as a leading force at JGR this year.
The Growing Spotlight on Briscoe’s Momentum Within JGR
This season’s developments do not diminish Bell’s skill or the potential to make a strong Championship 4 run in Phoenix. Yet, two JGR drivers, Hamlin and Briscoe, have dominated the team’s progress in recent months, drastically overshadowing Bell’s earlier success. Briscoe, in particular, has been nearly unstoppable, thriving alongside crew chief James Small, their efforts yielding six pole positions and an average starting position of 9.8 for 2025. Comparatively, Bell’s average starting spot lags at 13.6, reflecting a noticeable gap in qualifying performance.
The impact of starting strong on race day has translated into sustained success for Briscoe. Since clinching a win at Pocono Raceway in June, he’s added four second-place finishes and the Southern 500 victory, intensifying his presence at the front. Bell’s last wins arrived back in March, when he swept three races consecutively, but he has not been able to secure victory since, despite maintaining consistent finishes.
Bell ranks third in average finishing position this season at 12.9, trailing only Briscoe (12.8) and Chase Elliott (11.8). However, in a sport where wins often carry more weight than consistency, Bell’s inability to convert top finishes into victories recently has taken its toll. His playoff performances in previous years—including key wins—helped him reach the Championship 4 twice, but in the latter half of 2024, he went winless across 18 races following a triumph at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Last year, Toyota as a manufacturer struggled to find the winner’s circle in the season’s second half, with only one victory, which somewhat explains Bell’s drought. This year, the tides turned as several Toyota drivers, including Hamlin, Briscoe, and Bubba Wallace, have consistently reached victory lane since Bell’s last win at the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Even drivers like Tyler Reddick, who faced challenges for consistency early on, have climbed ahead of Bell in the playoff standings heading into Bristol. Meanwhile, Legacy Motor Club has demonstrated solid recent form with multiple top-10 finishes in their latest events. Bell’s absence from the top five on ovals since Kansas Speedway in May compounds his mounting frustrations, underscored by the high expectations that come with his pedigree. In contrast, Briscoe began the season without substantial external pressure, stepping into the No. 19 car after a period of underperformance.
Bell’s steadiness comes at a cost when pure momentum and peak performance often dictate championship outcomes. As JGR owner Joe Gibbs undoubtedly seeks maximum competitiveness in pursuit of another title, it seems likely the spotlight—and opportunities—have increasingly shifted toward Hamlin and Briscoe this year.
“It’s not fair to Bell that he falls in the pecking order for being consistent, but Joey Logano proved last season that what you do during the regular season doesn’t matter when you have a team that’s red-hot come playoff time. That team right now in JGR is Briscoe’s No. 19. Just as I’m sure he did throughout his coaching career, Joe Gibbs is going to need to put the ball in the hot hands of Hamlin and Briscoe if he wants to capture another title.” —James Krause, Contributor
Bell’s Experience and Track Record Still Set Him Apart
While Chase Briscoe is having what many consider a breakout season in his first year with a top-tier team like JGR, Christopher Bell’s achievements through his career maintain a significant edge in experience and proven performance. Briscoe currently holds four Cup Series wins, including two in 2025, whereas Bell has notched 12 victories since joining JGR in 2021.
At the start of 2025, Bell’s dominance was clear—he won three consecutive races, whereas Briscoe faced inconsistency, registering only four top-10 finishes in the first ten races compared to Bell’s six. Early season chemistry also played a role: Bell’s long-standing partnership with crew chief Adam Stevens contrasts with Briscoe’s ongoing adjustment period alongside James Small, their collaboration still evolving throughout the year.
Playoff experience further separates the two drivers. Briscoe had qualified for the postseason only twice before 2025, while Bell has reached the playoffs in five of his six full Cup seasons, bringing valuable insight to high-pressure situations. Bell has advanced to three Round of 8 appearances and reached the Championship 4 twice, displaying his capability to perform when stakes are highest. Briscoe’s sole opportunity to contend for the Championship 4 came in 2022 during the debut of the Next Gen car, finishing ninth overall that year.
Bell’s 2024 campaign could be seen as his true breakout, recording the best average finish (7.1) among playoff drivers, highlighting consistent top-tier performance under playoff conditions. Conversely, Briscoe’s average finish in the opening playoff round was 17th, resulting in an early Round of 16 exit despite his critical Southern 500 win that secured his playoff spot in 2024.
Although Briscoe’s 2025 season has sparked excitement and marked advancement, Bell’s greater experience, playoff savvy, and superior win total maintain his standing within JGR’s internal hierarchy. His veteran status, paired with a proven championship-caliber crew chief and solid team environment, positions him as a formidable contender with the knowledge necessary to reliably compete for wins and championships annually.
“Experience goes a long way in NASCAR, especially the Cup Series, and no one is better positioned than Bell with a veteran champion crew chief and a solid team behind him.” —Christopher Hansen, Contributor
The Shifting JGR Landscape and What Lies Ahead
Joe Gibbs Racing faces an evolving driver hierarchy influenced by retirements, emerging talents, and performance fluctuations. With Martin Truex Jr.’s impending retirement and Denny Hamlin’s remaining years winding down, the roles of Bell and others in defining the team’s future have attracted close scrutiny. Chase Briscoe’s midseason surge has introduced a new dynamic, challenging Bell’s formerly uncontested status as the team’s primary star apart from Hamlin.
Briscoe’s success this summer, including high-profile wins and dominant qualifying runs, suggests that JGR’s championship aspirations may increasingly revolve around the No. 19 car as the season progresses. Meanwhile, Bell’s wealth of experience and playoff resume provide the foundation for a potential resurgence if he can rekindle his early-season form. The pressure to deliver maximum results remains intense for all parties at JGR as they contend for NASCAR’s biggest prizes in 2025 and beyond.
