Following a powerful win by Chase Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing at the Southern 500 held at Darlington Raceway last Sunday, Toyota GAZOO Racing is closing in on a remarkable achievement: its 200th victory in the NASCAR Cup Series. This weekend at the Enjoy Illinois 300 event at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis, Toyota’s nine full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers will aim to secure this significant milestone.
Since Toyota first entered NASCAR‘s premier series in 2007, the manufacturer has steadily built its legacy, featuring numerous standout drivers and partnering with respected organizations headed by prominent team owners.
The Impact of Joe Gibbs Racing on Toyota’s NASCAR Success
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) joined forces with Toyota in 2008, marking a turning point in the manufacturer‘s NASCAR program. Soon after this partnership began, Toyota recorded a steady flow of victories, with its first NASCAR Cup Series win arriving at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 9, 2008, during the fourth race of that season.
Ty Gibbs, driver of the No. 54 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing, expressed enthusiasm about the potential milestone saying,
“That’d be really nice. That’s a lot of cup wins and being the 200th winner would be really cool.”
He emphasized Toyota’s importance to his team:
“With what Toyota has meant to Joe Gibbs Racing, it would be awesome if we got number 200. They’ve been such a great partner for so many years. There have been so many great drivers that have won at Toyota, but it would be great for me or any of my teammates to get number 200.”
Toyota’s Growth: Nearly 200 Wins Across Several Drivers and Teams
Over nearly two decades, Toyota has accumulated 199 NASCAR Cup Series victories distributed among 17 drivers and five teams. Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin dominate this record, combining for 111 wins—56 for Busch and 55 for Hamlin. Joe Gibbs Racing leads the pack among organizations, responsible for 165 wins, which accounts for approximately 83% of Toyota’s total Cup Series triumphs.
Should Hamlin claim another victory, it would mark his 59th, tying him with Kyle Busch as the most successful driver for Toyota in the Cup Series era—a notable achievement that would add further significance to the upcoming races.
Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing, reflected on previous milestone wins:
“I’ve been part of some great milestones for Toyota. I was part of the 100th that we won at New Hampshire in 2017 and then part of the 600th win for Toyota across the three national series at Pocono in 2023.”
He continued,
“Milestone wins like that, they’re special because you always have the souvenirs and the hats that are always lying around that reminds you of that day and the significance of it. It’s a big, big deal.”
Other Key Drivers Contributing to Toyota’s NASCAR Success
Alongside Busch and Hamlin, several drivers have contributed significantly to Toyota’s impressive record. Martin Truex, Jr. has scored 32 wins, Matt Kenseth 15, Christopher Bell 12, Carl Edwards 5, and Tyler Reddick 5. Additionally, drivers like Clint Bowyer, Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, Erik Jones, Joey Logano, David Reutimann, Brian Vickers, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, and Tony Stewart have also played vital roles in maintaining Toyota‘s competitive edge in NASCAR Cup Series events.
Success Spanning Multiple Racing Teams Beyond Joe Gibbs Racing
Though Joe Gibbs Racing accounts for the majority of Toyota’s wins, other organizations have also contributed to the manufacturer’s winning record. Furniture Row Racing has earned 16 victories driving Toyota vehicles, 23XI Racing has 9, while Michael Waltrip Racing and Red Bull Racing have registered 7 and 2 wins, respectively. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Toyota’s newest team, has yet to notch a win but is progressively improving and aims to become the sixth Toyota–winning organization in the Cup Series.
Emerging Drivers Eye First Victories and a Historic Win for Toyota
For rising stars Ty Gibbs, John Hunter Nemechek, and Riley Herbst, securing their first NASCAR Cup Series win would be monumental, especially if it marks Toyota’s landmark 200th victory. All three drivers remain in pursuit of their maiden Cup Series wins, which would carry extra special meaning as part of Toyota’s legacy.
Riley Herbst, who drives the No. 35 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing, recalled earlier success, saying,
“It’d be really cool. I was fortunate enough to get win number 100 for Stewart-Haas Racing and that was a cool achievement. To get 200 for Toyota would be pretty neat, as well.”
John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, echoed the sentiment:
“Getting win number 200 for Toyota in the Cup Series would be huge for me. I think winning any race in the Cup Series is big but being able to win the 200th Xfinity race for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023 and winning quite a few races underneath the Toyota banner and getting another milestone for them would be big.”
Longtime Toyota Drivers Highlight the Importance of the Milestone
Erik Jones of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, a native of Byron, Michigan, who started his career with Toyota in the Truck Series in 2013, spoke about the emotional aspect of contributing to such a landmark win.
“It would be special for me. I started my career out with Toyota in the Truck Series in 2013 and have been with them for most of my career,”
Jones said.
“To add to that group in the Cup Series would be pretty special. To celebrate any milestone like a 200th win is special for anybody. Would love to share that moment in Victory Lane and see everybody there. That’d be a pretty special one.”
Top Drivers Look to Reinforce Toyota’s Legacy in NASCAR Playoffs
Drivers including Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and Tyler Reddick view Toyota’s 200th Cup Series win as not only a historic achievement but also a pivotal boost toward success in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Tyler Reddick, piloting the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing, shared his excitement:
“It would be amazing. When I think about the drivers that have been a part of Toyota’s family, all the way back to the very beginning to where it is now, and to add my name further to that history would just be a huge honor. I think of all the great people at Toyota who have helped me get to this point and it would just be a really special moment to get that win for them.”
Bubba Wallace, driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing, noted the internal competition driving the team forward:
“Oh, that’d be awesome. I think it’s special that I’ve been able to add three to that number but looking forward to the opportunity. To capture 200 for Toyota, that’s going to be a competition within ourselves.”
Chase Briscoe, who drives the No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing, also reflected on the milestone:
“It would be super special. To be that close to 200 in honestly such a short amount of time that Toyota has been in the sport, I think it says a lot about just the success that they’ve had. To be that guy that would win the milestone race would be pretty special. I was the 200th different Cup Series winner ever, so it’d be pretty cool to be the 200th Toyota winner, as well. Anytime you can be that guy that brings a milestone to a manufacturer, it’s a really big deal, and to be able to be the one that wins the 200th race for Toyota would be pretty special.”
Christopher Bell’s Deep Ties with Toyota Make the Milestone Personal
Christopher Bell, who drives the No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing, is among the few drivers to have developed his entire NASCAR career under the Toyota banner. Reflecting on the importance of landmark races, Bell said,
“That would be special. I go back to being the first winner for Toyota in a GR Supra in the Xfinity Series, and I was fortunate enough to get the 200th Joe Gibbs Racing Cup Series win at Martinsville in 2022. Those super-high importance races always mean a lot.”
The Road Ahead: Cementing Toyota’s Place in NASCAR History
Toyota’s quest for its 200th NASCAR Cup Series victory this weekend marks a significant chapter in the manufacturer’s nearly two-decade-long NASCAR journey. With a roster of established champions and promising newcomers, the pursuit underscores Toyota’s commitment to excellence and growth within the sport.
Achieving this milestone not only reflects the strength of Toyota’s partnerships with leading organizations like Joe Gibbs Racing but also highlights the depth of talent among its drivers. As the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway unfolds, all eyes will be on Toyota’s competitors as they strive to carry forward this record-setting legacy, fueling momentum for the remainder of the season and beyond.
