As the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series unfolds, Christopher Bell was expected to become the face of Joe Gibbs Racing following Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement and Denny Hamlin’s waning seasons, but the emergence of Chase Briscoe has sparked new questions about the team’s hierarchy. Early momentum for Bell has given way to a rising challenge from Briscoe, raising the debate over whether Bell still holds the advantage for Joe Gibbs Racing, particularly for fans following the Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing 2025 storyline.
Shifting Leadership at Joe Gibbs Racing
Christopher Bell appeared poised to step into the leading role at Joe Gibbs Racing after earning nine wins and two Championship 4 appearances in his first four seasons with the organization. Starting the 2025 season strongly, Bell secured three consecutive victories in February and March. However, the dynamic within JGR began to shift as Briscoe joined the team, bringing new life to the No. 19 crew.
Throughout the summer months, Briscoe and his team achieved two significant wins, including a dramatic victory in the Southern 500, and notched six top-two finishes in their last dozen races. While Bell still edges Briscoe in total Cup wins this season, with three to Briscoe’s two, and maintains a wider career tally of 12 wins to Briscoe’s four, his lack of victories in the past 24 races and recent struggles have sharpened the focus on Briscoe’s impressive surge. At the World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, frustrations boiled over for Bell after finishing seventh, contrasted by Hamlin and Briscoe’s dominant 1-2 finish.
The question now facing JGR is whether Briscoe’s breakthrough marks a new internal pecking order or if Bell’s early 2025 successes and established record keep him at the top—a debate that continues among team observers and NASCAR insiders.
Briscoe’s Rapid Ascent and Impressive Performances
This reassessment of team hierarchy is not intended as a criticism of Bell or his No. 20 team. There is wide recognition that Bell still has a strong shot at the Championship 4, especially with his consistent track record. Yet, it’s undeniable that both Hamlin and Briscoe have recently made notable strides, overtaking much of the momentum previously enjoyed by Bell within Joe Gibbs Racing.
Briscoe’s rise comes down to a few key factors, primarily his extraordinary performance streak since joining JGR. Along with crew chief James Small, Briscoe has become a qualifying standout, capturing six pole positions and achieving an average starting position of 9.8, outperforming Bell’s 13.6. This early track position has translated directly to race results, with Briscoe collecting four runner-up finishes and winning the Southern 500 after a mid-season surge. Bell, for all his consistency, has not added to his win tally since March despite four runner-up finishes.
In a series where qualifying and field position are increasingly vital due to reduced overtaking opportunities, Briscoe and the No. 19 team’s ability to start up front has made a visible impact. Their late-season momentum stands in sharp contrast to Bell’s fading winning touch, despite Bell remaining third in the series for average finish—just behind Briscoe and Chase Elliott. The primary difference: a system that values winning above consistency. Where Bell relied on playoff victories to reach the Championship 4 in previous years, he has found himself winless through the last 18 races of 2024 and into 2025.
It’s important to note that Bell’s struggles are partially reflective of broader trends; Toyota, as a manufacturer, recorded only one win in the latter half of 2024. In 2025, Bell’s dip in results has coincided with surges from fellow Toyota drivers, including Hamlin, Briscoe, and Bubba Wallace, while Tyler Reddick has moved ahead of Bell in the playoff rankings. Even Legacy Motor Club, a team not typically seen in the front runs, has achieved four top-10 finishes in six entries.
Bell’s last top-five on an oval came in May at Kansas Speedway, and growing frustrations stem from the sense that he remains good but not great during pressure moments. The high expectations for Bell have only amplified the focus on Briscoe’s rise; as a new arrival in the No. 19, Briscoe faced little direct pressure to deliver—but has thrived nonetheless. The success story reaffirms the unpredictable nature of NASCAR, where a hot streak at the right time can redefine championship prospects.
“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 Resume and Playoff Pedigree
Despite Briscoe’s head-turning runs and rapid adaptation to the JGR roster, it is Christopher Bell’s comprehensive record that anchors his position within the team. Briscoe is enjoying a standout debut year at JGR, but his career Cup accomplishments are modest compared to Bell’s verification as a frontrunner. Briscoe holds four career Cup wins, with half coming in his first season at Joe Gibbs Racing, while Bell has amassed 12 Cup Series wins since 2021—showing a consistency and competitive edge nurtured over several seasons.
The opening months of 2025 highlighted Bell’s established chemistry with crew chief Adam Stevens, a partnership dating back to Bell’s arrival at JGR. Bell tallied three wins in the first ten races of the season and six top-ten finishes, whereas Briscoe’s adjustment period with James Small saw him secure four top-ten results in that same interval. Overcoming those initial hurdles, Briscoe has now found momentum, but Bell’s overall performance and depth of relationship with his crew remain significant assets.
Playoff and postseason experience form a crucial dividing line between the two teammates. Bell has qualified for the playoffs in five of his six full-time Cup seasons, reaching the later rounds more frequently. He has three Round of 8 showings, advanced twice to the Championship 4, and handled high-stakes situations at the sport’s most competitive levels. By contrast, Briscoe’s postseason experience is limited, with just two prior qualifications before 2025 and a best finish of ninth in the 2022 Next Gen car’s Championship 4 cutoff.
Detailed performance numbers from the most recent playoff campaigns spotlight Bell’s advantage. In the 2024 playoffs, Bell earned the best average finish (7.1) among the 16 playoff drivers, showcasing his ability to excel when it matters most. Meanwhile, Briscoe, after a dramatic Southern 500 win that qualified him for the 2024 playoffs, managed only a 17th-place average and was eliminated in the Round of 16.
For Briscoe, 2025 stands as a breakthrough. For Bell, his resilience and achievements ensure he remains top of mind when it comes to discussions about team leaders and championship contenders at Joe Gibbs Racing. Bell’s repeated experience running at the front, combined with veteran leadership from crew chief Adam Stevens, provides a foundation that few others can match.
“With his experience driving competitive cars at the front of the field for the majority of his career, Bell knows exactly what it takes to contend for race wins and championships on a yearly basis, something Briscoe hasn’t had yet as a full-time Cup driver.”
—Christopher Hansen, Contributor
“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
Comparing Teammates and Looking Ahead
The dynamic between Bell and Briscoe highlights both the unpredictability of NASCAR and how quickly competitive fortunes can change. Briscoe has caught fire with a series of fast starts and aggressive, front-running performances that have quickly outpaced the expectations for his first year at JGR. Bell, meanwhile, despite his winning start to 2025 and formidable playoff history, finds himself in search of a return to the top step as his teammates bring fresh competition and new storylines to the team.
This evolving hierarchy extends beyond just Bell and Briscoe. Denny Hamlin remains a lynchpin for Joe Gibbs Racing, notching recent key results, and drivers such as Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, along with rising organizations like Legacy Motor Club, are raising the competitive bar for the manufacturer and the Cup Series at large. All eyes are now on how Joe Gibbs Racing balances its seasoned performers with its surging talent as the playoffs approach, especially after the disruptions and momentum shifts of 2025’s opening races.
Looking towards the rest of 2025, Bell’s supporters point to his deeper experience, stronger postseason record, and proven ability to navigate high-pressure moments as arguments for retaining his spot atop the JGR hierarchy. Briscoe’s advocates counter that a hot hand at the critical stage, combined with a winning chemistry with James Small, could lead to a changing of the guard if the current trend continues into the playoffs.
The Road Forward for Joe Gibbs Racing
The trajectory at Joe Gibbs Racing for 2025 is not yet settled. While Christopher Bell entered the year as the heir apparent to JGR leadership, Chase Briscoe’s rapid progress and headline-grabbing performances have intensified internal competition and energized the team’s overall outlook. Their competition also underscores a broader trend in NASCAR—the need to combine proven experience with the ability to capitalize on sudden bursts of form.
Joe Gibbs Racing must now decide how to channel the momentum of its drivers for maximum results, with Toyota’s renewed strength across its various teams serving as a vital subplot. For Bell, recapturing victory lane and leveraging his playoff pedigree will be crucial in reasserting his place as team leader. For Briscoe, continuing his upward trajectory could cement him as the newest force within the Cup Series and at JGR.
As the season heads towards its most decisive moments, the Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing 2025 narrative—shaped by career achievements, playoff experience, and in-season transformations—promises an intriguing finish, with the long-term balance of power at one of NASCAR’s most storied organizations hanging in the balance.
