Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has established itself as a dominant force at Bristol Motor Speedway, holding an impressive 15 NASCAR Cup Series wins at the venue. Across 170 combined starts, JGR drivers collectively boast 49 top-five finishes, 73 top-10s, 12 pole positions, and have led 7,251 laps at the famed short track known as The Last Great Colosseum. Drivers such as Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart have all contributed to JGR’s success at Bristol.
This consistent performance makes the Joe Gibbs Racing Bristol Preview an important highlight as the team looks to continue its winning momentum in the 2025 season.
Current Performance Trends Among JGR Drivers
Through 28 races this season, Joe Gibbs Racing drivers rank highly in average finish positions, with three of the top four among full-time drivers. Chase Briscoe leads this group with an average finish of 12.8, followed closely by Christopher Bell at 12.9, and Denny Hamlin at 13.1. These standings indicate a strong chance for multiple drivers from the team to contend for top results this weekend.
Denny Hamlin’s Form and History at Bristol
Denny Hamlin, piloting the No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Pretzel Bites Toyota Camry XSE, recently secured his 59th NASCAR Cup Series victory at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. This win marked his fifth of the season and his first at the 1.25-mile track, representing the fifth time in his career he has achieved five or more wins in a single season. The victory also marked the ninth occasion Hamlin won a race from the pole position.
At Bristol, Hamlin’s record is distinguished by four Cup Series wins, including two victories in the last four races there. He has claimed 13 top-five finishes and 20 top-10s at the track, along with four pole awards and 1,199 laps led. Impressively, Hamlin has earned six consecutive top-10 finishes at Bristol since 2021. Earlier this year, he started fourth and finished second in the race at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile.
Hamlin’s recent momentum continues with back-to-back pole awards, including his 46th career pole last weekend, tying him with NASCAR legend Junior Johnson for 11th all-time. He also secured the fastest lap at the World Wide Technology Raceway event, marking his seventh fastest lap award of the season, the most among Cup Series drivers.
Leading all drivers with five wins so far, Hamlin is also tied with teammate Chase Briscoe for the most top-five finishes this season at 12. He ranks second in top-10 finishes with 15 and holds fourth place for most laps led at 642.
Hamlin’s playoff history is notable as well. This year marks his 19th NASCAR Cup Series postseason appearance, missing only 2013 due to injury. He has finished inside the top five in the final points standings nine times and has advanced to the Round of 8 on nine occasions since the elimination format began in 2014. Moreover, Hamlin reached the Championship 4 four times, demonstrating his consistent competitiveness in the playoffs.
For Saturday night’s race, Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota will feature King’s Hawaiian, celebrating the brand’s 75th anniversary. Founded in 1950 by Robert Taira in Hilo, Hawaii, King’s Hawaiian remains a family-owned business known for its Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, Slider Buns, Hamburger Buns, and a newer snack product, Pretzel Bites. The partnership highlights the company’s commitment to crafting enjoyable food that brings people together.
Chase Briscoe’s Progress and Potential
Chase Briscoe, driving the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, has participated in 13 races at Bristol across NASCAR’s three national series. Earlier this year, Briscoe achieved a career-best fourth-place finish at the track. Notably, he won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Bristol in 2020.
Briscoe’s recent race at World Wide Technology Raceway saw him finish second, marking his fourth runner-up finish of the year. Starting third, he earned a playoff point by winning the first stage. Despite some setbacks on pit road that placed him towards the back during the race, Briscoe’s strategic calls during his final pit stop allowed him to rejoin the lead battle. He competed fiercely against teammate Denny Hamlin but settled for second place.
Briscoe secured his place in the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Playoffs with his victory at Darlington Raceway, the opening race of the postseason. Currently ranked second in overall standings, the Mitchell, Indiana native has set career highs across multiple statistics. His 12 top-five finishes double his previous season high and tie for the most among drivers in 2025. Additionally, his 13 top-10s rank tied for sixth, and he leads the series with six pole awards. He is third in laps led, and his average starting position of 9.8 is the best in the series, while his average finishing position of 12.8 ranks second. Briscoe has led more laps this season (643) than in his previous four Cup Series seasons combined.
Briscoe will engage with fans ahead of the race by signing autographs at the Bass Pro Shops in Bristol, Tennessee, on Friday, September 12, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. Wristbands will be distributed at the store from 9 a.m. that same day.
James Small’s Leadership in the No. 19 Crew Chief Role
James Small enters his sixth season as a NASCAR Cup Series crew chief in 2025. The first five years were spent with Martin Truex Jr., where Small led the No. 19 team to eight wins, 46 top-five finishes, 86 top-10s, and four playoff appearances. Small, who hails from Australia, guided Truex to a second-place finish in the 2021 championship and won the 2023 regular season championship. Recently, Small earned his 10th career win in the role with Chase Briscoe at the Southern 500 at Darlington.
Bass Pro Shops, the sponsor of Briscoe’s car, stands as North America’s leading outdoor and conservation company. Under the stewardship of Johnny Morris, the company is recognized for its habitat protection efforts and commitment to introducing families to outdoor activities. Newsweek has named Bass Pro Shops
“America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear.”
Christopher Bell’s Impact and Bristol Record
Christopher Bell, in the No. 20 DEWALT Toyota Camry XSE, had his best Bristol Cup Series showing in September 2023, when he secured the pole, led 187 laps, and finished third. Bell’s overall Bristol achievements include three top-five and six top-10 finishes in the Cup Series. His success extends across NASCAR’s other national series with four Xfinity Series starts at Bristol, including a win in April 2019 and a runner-up finish the previous August, as well as three Truck Series starts highlighted by a pole and two top-10 finishes.
Bell won the Bristol dirt race in April 2023 by starting fourth and leading the final 100 laps. Last weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway, Bell qualified eighth and finished seventh after running inside the top five much of the race and experiencing a shuffle back on a late restart.
Currently eighth in playoff standings, Bell holds a 32-point cushion over the cutline after the second race of the Round of 16. Bristol could be pivotal for Bell, who has recorded five straight top-10 finishes at the track.
The No. 20 Toyota will feature Apollo Mechanical Contractors on its lower hood during the Bristol race. Apollo Mechanical Contractors is a Native American-owned company founded in 1981. Additionally, DEWALT will showcase GreenView Partners on the car’s decklid, a commercial landscaping company operating in North and South Carolina since 2010.
Ty Gibbs’ Bristol Experience and Season Update
Ty Gibbs represents the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE and has quickly earned respect at Bristol Motor Speedway with two top-five and three top-10 finishes in five Cup Series starts there. He excelled in springtime Bristol racing, leading over 100 laps in multiple races including a 137-lap lead en route to winning both stages. This year, Gibbs posted a third-place finish and previously showcased speed by winning the pole for the Xfinity Series race in 2022. His dominance extends to ARCA Menards Series starts at Bristol, where he led 197 of 200 laps to a win in 2021.
Most recently at World Wide Technology Raceway, Gibbs started 21st and finished tenth, earning his eighth top-10 of the season.
Tyler Allen, in his debut year as Gibbs’ crew chief, brings strong credentials following a standout 2024 Xfinity Series campaign. Allen helped lead the JGR No. 20 Xfinity team to eight wins and a runner-up finish in the owner’s championship prior to moving up to the Cup Series.
As Bristol race weekend coincides with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Jace Thompson‘s name will be displayed above the passenger side door of Gibbs’ No. 54 car. Jace Thompson was a young warrior who lost his fight with DIPG brain cancer in 2018 at age five. The Warrior Jace Thompson Foundation was established to honor his memory and support research funding for this rare disease.
Looking Ahead: The Stakes at Bristol Motor Speedway
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway promises to be a critical showdown, particularly for Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe. Both have demonstrated strong performances this season, with Hamlin leading in wins and shared dominance on the track with Briscoe. Their historical success and current momentum at Bristol make them favorites to contend for the win.
The upcoming race will also be a key playoff battle as drivers fight to advance through the playoff rounds. With Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs also poised for strong runs at the track, the event offers intense competition among JGR’s lineup. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see if Hamlin and Briscoe can repeat their dominant performances and continue to lead Joe Gibbs Racing’s quest for victory at The Last Great Colosseum.
