Christopher Bell has outlined Joe Gibbs Racing’s (JGR) strategy for the upcoming Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, stating that there are no explicit team orders and explaining how Ty Gibbs’ success would benefit the team collectively. Addressing the situation openly, Bell discussed that while supporting Ty Gibbs at Daytona could help JGR, no individual driver is being asked to give up a win for another, emphasizing the team’s balanced approach for this crucial race.
Gibbs Faces Playoff Pressure as JGR Weighs Approach
Ty Gibbs finds himself 173 points out from the playoff cutoff, with only 60 points available in the final regular-season event at Daytona. The No.54 car is firmly in a must-win situation, since each of his JGR teammates has already secured their playoff spots through race victories earlier in the season. Understandably, this sets the stage for speculation about unified efforts within the team to assist Gibbs in reaching victory lane.
However, Bell highlighted that such expectations are more nuanced in practice. Discussing the environment at JGR on Friday, August 22, Bell described a competitive spirit where team collaboration exists, but individual drivers prioritize their own chances. He shed light on the directives from team leadership, noting that, while aiding a teammate can help the group overall, outright sacrifices are not mandated.
“Joe’s not sitting up here telling us that, you know, we need to get the 54 in at all costs. And never once in my career has he told me that I need to sacrifice a win of the race to for someone else. I think whenever it comes down to it, if Chase has the opportunity to win, he’s going to try and win. Same for Denny, same for myself, and same for Ty,” he said. [1:39 onwards] —Christopher Bell, No.20 Toyota driver
“So, at the end of the day, it’s going to be the best man’s going to come out on top. But we certainly want to give Ty an opportunity and, you know, by giving Ty an opportunity, it should help us out too,” added Bell. —Christopher Bell, No.20 Toyota driver
Currently ranked sixth in regular season points, Christopher Bell has secured three victories, all back-to-back, which put him fourth in the overall playoff standings with a healthy cushion on points. This allows Bell and fellow JGR drivers like Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe to focus on race wins while still acknowledging the unique situation facing Gibbs this weekend.
Challenges of Competing at Superspeedways for Toyota Teams
Reflecting on earlier races at superspeedways, Bell conceded that Toyota has struggled compared to Ford and Chevrolet at these particular tracks. Pointing to this disadvantage, he recalled the season’s Daytona 500, where he was caught up in a late-race crash with Cole Custer. The crash became widely discussed for Ryan Preece‘s dramatic flip, which occurred during the incident involving Bell.
“The Ford and the Chevrolets have just, they’ve beat us and it seems like they’ve got a hold on this style of racing,” he said via aforementioned source. —Christopher Bell, No.20 Toyota driver
Surprisingly, four of the top five finishers in this year’s Daytona 500 represented Toyota entries, including JGR’s Chase Briscoe. Despite this isolated success at Daytona, the results have been harder to come by at other superspeedways. For example, at Talladega Superspeedway—a circuit famous for high-speed pack racing—Chevrolet and Ford drivers dominated the front, with Bubba Wallace as the sole Toyota finisher in the top ten, driving for 23XL Racing.
For Christopher Bell personally, Talladega also brought misfortune, as he suffered a second DNF for the season after an incident with teammate Denny Hamlin while leading. The ensuing spin resulted in contact with Chris Buescher, underscoring the unpredictable nature of superspeedway racing for both the driver and the Toyota contingent this year.
What to Expect for JGR and Ty Gibbs at Daytona
The upcoming race at Daytona International Speedway presents both risk and opportunity for JGR. Ty Gibbs must secure a win to advance to the playoffs, and while the team is supportive, JGR drivers—including Bell, Hamlin, and Briscoe—remain committed to individual race success. The dynamic within the team is one of competitive camaraderie, where mutual benefit is recognized but outright team orders are not imposed. As the season’s high-stakes finale unfolds, all eyes will be on whether Gibbs can capitalize with support from his experienced teammates, or if the unpredictable nature of Daytona will once again shape the playoff field.
