Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) looks to add another victory at Phoenix Raceway, where the team has claimed nine NASCAR Cup Series wins. With 167 combined starts on the one-mile tri-oval, JGR has achieved 48 top-five finishes, 87 top-10s, and nine pole positions, leading 3,377 laps in total. Drivers such as Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, and Martin Truex Jr. have all contributed to the team’s success at this track.
Denny Hamlin’s Performance and Prospects at Phoenix
Denny Hamlin, piloting the No. 11 Bob’s Discount Furniture Toyota Camry XSE, enters Phoenix Raceway as a two-time winner, with victories in March 2012 and November 2019. Over 41 Cup Series starts at Phoenix, Hamlin has secured 17 top-five finishes, 24 top-10s, and four pole awards, while leading 1,147 laps. In the most recent spring race at Phoenix, he started 10th and finished second after a close overtime restart battle with teammate Christopher Bell. For the fall event, Hamlin won the pole, led 208 laps, and ultimately finished sixth.
Hamlin earned his first career Cup Series pole at Phoenix in November 2005 and has since collected four poles at this venue, including two since the introduction of the Next Gen car. Impressively, he has qualified inside the top 10 in 15 of the past 17 races at Phoenix. Last weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Hamlin finished 10th after strategic pit decisions helped him maintain a position in the final stage despite a caution period.
Chris Gayle, Hamlin’s crew chief, has a notable track record at Phoenix Raceway. His teams have produced three top-five finishes, seven top-10s, one pole position, and led 279 laps in 14 Cup Series starts. In the lower-tier O’Reilly Series, Gayle’s teams earned four wins and numerous top finishes at Phoenix, showcasing his experience and leadership on this track.
Bob’s Discount Furniture, the primary sponsor for Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE this weekend, is one of the fastest-growing furniture retailers in the United States with over 200 stores in 26 states. The partnership extends to other events later this year, including races at Martinsville Speedway, Naval Base Coronado, and Richmond Raceway.
Fans will have the chance to meet Hamlin on Saturday, March 7, at 2:30 p.m. local time during the Bob’s Discount Furniture Block Party in Glendale, Arizona. The event includes an autograph session with 130 wristbands distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, along with opportunities to see the No. 11 show car, enjoy giveaways, and participate in family-friendly activities.
Chase Briscoe Back at Phoenix – Looking for Redemption
Chase Briscoe returns to Phoenix Raceway driving the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE. He earned his first NASCAR Cup Series victory here in 2022 by leading 101 laps, marking a significant milestone during his 40th Cup start. Briscoe has competed in ten Cup Series races at Phoenix to date, accumulating four top-10 finishes. However, in last year’s championship race at Phoenix, he faced tire failures that forced him to finish 18th.
In the recent race at Circuit of the Americas, Briscoe qualified third and led early laps but a mechanical issue ended his chances of a strong finish, relegating the No. 19 team to 37th place. He will meet fans at the Bass Pro Shops in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday, March 6, at 6 p.m. Hundreds of fans will have access to a limited wristband-based autograph session beginning that morning.
James Small, crew chief for Briscoe’s No. 19 team, is entering his seventh season in this role, his second with Briscoe, and previously spent five years working with Martin Truex Jr. Over 220 races as a crew chief, Small’s drivers have achieved 11 wins, 61 top-five finishes, 107 top-10s, and 13 poles, demonstrating his consistent ability to lead competitive teams.
Bass Pro Shops sponsors Briscoe and is recognized as North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Under the leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro promotes habitat protection and outdoor experiences for families. The company has been named
“America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear”
by Newsweek.
Christopher Bell Targets Third Straight Spring Win at Phoenix
Christopher Bell, driving the No. 20 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota Camry XSE, seeks his third consecutive spring win at Phoenix Raceway. Bell dominated the 2024 spring race, winning stage two and the final segment by over five seconds. The previous year, he led 105 laps and edged out teammate Denny Hamlin on an overtime restart to take the victory.
Bell, a native of Oklahoma, has two NASCAR Cup Series wins at Phoenix, along with one victory in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series from November 2018. He has consistently performed well, finishing 11th or better in eight of the last ten Cup races at the track and achieving three top-five results in the last four.
In the most recent race at COTA, Bell finished third after qualifying eighth, demonstrating strong pit strategy and car performance, marking his third consecutive top-five finish on the Austin road course.
Crew chief Adam Stevens has played a significant role in Bell’s success at Phoenix Raceway. Stevens has guided teams to four wins, 12 top-five finishes, 17 top-10s, one pole, and nearly 1,000 laps led here. Prior to Cup Series leadership, Stevens’ O’Reilly Series teams earned four wins and multiple top finishes at Phoenix with dominant laps led.
Reser’s Fine Foods, sponsoring Bell’s No. 20 car this weekend, is a leading provider of fresh deli salads, sides, and prepared foods. The family-owned company, active since 1950, supports communities across North America and operates 14 facilities, delivering a variety of brands such as Reser’s American Classics, Main St. Bistro, and Don Pancho.
Ty Gibbs Shows Promise in Early Phoenix Appearances
Ty Gibbs will compete in the No. 54 ampm Toyota Camry XSE, bringing solid performances to Phoenix Raceway. Gibbs’ best finish at Phoenix came in March 2024, where he placed third and secured a runner-up qualifying spot. Across six Cup Series starts at this track, he has consistently performed well, as well as winning in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ARCA Menards Series West events at Phoenix.
Notably, Gibbs claimed the O’Reilly Series championship at Phoenix in November 2022 by dominating the race from pole position, winning both stages and leading 125 laps.
At the recent race at Circuit of the Americas, Gibbs demonstrated strong form by finishing fourth, winning stage two, and leading five laps. This marked his first top-five finish of the season and underscored his rising competitiveness.
Tyler Allen, Gibbs’ crew chief for the second season, has guided the No. 54 team to five top-five finishes, ten top-10s, and more than 300 laps led in 2023. Allen also led the No. 20 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series team to eight wins and second place in the owners’ championship last year.
ampm, a leading west coast convenience store brand, sponsors Gibbs’ car at Phoenix this weekend. With over 1,000 locations, primarily on the west coast, ampm offers a wide product range, emphasizing innovative technology to improve customers’ shopping experiences. The company originated in Southern California in 1978 and continues to expand.
Fans interested in meeting Ty Gibbs can attend an autograph session on Friday, March 6 at 2 p.m. local time at the ampm location in West Phoenix.
The Importance of Phoenix Raceway for Joe Gibbs Racing
Phoenix Raceway remains a pivotal venue for Joe Gibbs Racing, serving as a track where the team’s drivers and crew chiefs have historically excelled. The organization’s strong combination of experienced leaders, fast cars, and strategic pit crews fuels anticipation for another competitive performance in 2026. With multiple drivers capable of winning, including seasoned veterans and rising stars, JGR demonstrates depth and versatility at this one-mile tri-oval.
The presence of major sponsors such as Bob’s Discount Furniture, Bass Pro Shops, Reser’s Fine Foods, and ampm highlights sustained commercial support, essential for maintaining high-performance racing teams. Upcoming fan events in the Phoenix area create opportunities to strengthen connections between drivers, sponsors, and the community, enhancing enthusiasm around this weekend’s race.
As the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season progresses, Joe Gibbs Racing’s results at Phoenix could influence momentum heading into a stretch of critical races, including those at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway. The team’s legacy on this track, combined with current form, suggests a strong chance to add to their tally of victories and podium finishes.
