Joe Gibbs Racing heads into the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway with strong momentum, aiming to secure another victory at one of the most challenging tracks in the schedule. The Joe Gibbs Racing Bristol Race Preview highlights the team‘s rich history of success at Bristol and outlines each driver‘s strengths and achievements as they gear up for Saturday’s intense showdown.
Decades of Bristol Success Fuel JGR’s Ambitions
Performing at Bristol Motor Speedway has become a tradition for Joe Gibbs Racing, with the organization amassing 15 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series over 170 starts at the famed half-mile oval. The team boasts 49 top-five finishes, 73 top-10s, 12 pole awards, and an impressive 7,251 laps led at “The Last Great Colosseum.” Notable drivers such as Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart have all earned JGR victories at this venue, cementing the team’s legacy at the circuit.
This season, the dominance continues as JGR drivers hold three of the top four spots for average finishing position among full-timers. Chase Briscoe is in second with an average finish of 12.8, closely followed by Christopher Bell at 12.9, and Denny Hamlin at 13.1. These figures showcase both depth and consistency throughout the Joe Gibbs Racing lineup as the team prepares for another crucial Bristol race.
Denny Hamlin’s Hot Streak Adds To Team Confidence
Denny Hamlin, piloting the No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Pretzel Bites Toyota Camry XSE, remains a formidable force on the NASCAR scene. Fresh off his 59th career Cup Series win at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis, Hamlin earned his fifth victory of the season, marking the fifth year in his career with five or more wins. That triumph was especially significant as it was his first victory at the St. Louis track and the ninth time he won a race from the pole position.
At Bristol, Hamlin is one of the favorites, boasting four wins in the Cup Series at the track, with victories in two of the past four visits. His Bristol record includes 13 top-five finishes, 20 top-10s, four poles, and 1,199 laps led, highlighted by six consecutive top-10 finishes dating back to 2021. In the most recent Bristol race, Hamlin started fourth and finished just one spot shy of the win, coming home second.
Additionally, Hamlin has added to his career poles tally, now tied with Junior Johnson at 46—good for 11th all-time. He captured his third pole award of the year, and his on-track speed was further demonstrated with a series-leading seven fastest lap awards, including the Xfinity Fastest Lap at St. Louis. Hamlin leads all drivers with five wins this season and is also tied for the most top-five finishes (12, matching Chase Briscoe) and for second-most top-10s (15), while ranking fourth in laps led this year with 642.
Hamlin’s postseason record is one of sustained excellence. This campaign marks a record 19th playoff appearance, as he has qualified for the postseason every year except 2013, due to injury. Across his career, Hamlin has finished in the top five in points nine times and advanced to the Round of 8 in the elimination format-era on nine occasions. He has reached the Championship 4 four times, underlining his status as a perennial title contender.
Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota will sport the colors of King’s Hawaiian during the Bristol race, as the company celebrates its 75th anniversary. King’s Hawaiian is renowned for its signature sweet rolls, slider buns, and hamburger buns, along with a newer range of Pretzel Bites—serving as a nod to the brand’s history and family-owned tradition that continues today.
Chase Briscoe’s Ascendance Amplifies JGR’s Threat
Chase Briscoe, in the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, has emerged as a serious contender throughout the season. At Bristol, Briscoe has made 13 starts across the three national NASCAR series, celebrating his best-ever Cup Series finish at the track with a fourth-place earlier this year. He also won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Bristol in September 2020, adding to his accolades at the short track.
In the recent St. Louis race, Briscoe secured his fourth runner-up finish of the year, having started in third and earning a playoff point by taking the win in stage one. Despite setbacks in the middle stages, including trouble on pit road, Briscoe and his team executed a strategic two-tire stop that vaulted him back into contention. In the closing laps, he fiercely battled teammate Hamlin for the top spot, ultimately taking the checkered flag in second.
Briscoe’s win at Darlington Raceway to open the postseason secured his place in the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Playoffs. He currently holds second place in the standings, reflecting an outstanding overall performance. Statistically, Briscoe is on a record-breaking run, setting career highs in nearly every category, including 12 top-five finishes (double his previous best and tied for most this year), 13 top-10s (tied for sixth), and a best-in-series average starting position of 9.8. He also claims a series-leading six pole awards and is ranked third in laps led in 2025, with 643 laps at the front. Briscoe stands among seven drivers with multiple wins this season, solidifying his position as a regular frontrunner.
Bristol fans will have the opportunity to meet Briscoe in person, as he’s scheduled for an autograph signing at the Bass Pro Shops location on Bass Pro Drive in Bristol, Tennessee, on Friday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET. A limited number of wristbands will be available for fans starting that morning.
The No. 19 team’s resurgence is also a testament to crew chief James Small’s impact. Now in his sixth Cup Series season, Small previously worked alongside Martin Truex Jr., guiding the No. 19 team to eight victories, 46 top-five results, and four playoff appearances, including a second-place finish in the 2021 championship. His winning ways continued with a tenth career victory alongside Briscoe at the 2025 Southern 500 at Darlington.
Bass Pro Shops continues to serve as a prominent sponsor for Briscoe, reinforcing its standing as North America’s leading outdoor and conservation retailer. The organization, founded by Johnny Morris, has earned recognition as
“America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear.”
—Newsweek
Christopher Bell’s Consistency Powers Postseason Charge
Christopher Bell, at the wheel of the No. 20 DEWALT Toyota Camry XSE, has solidified his reputation with consistent performances at Bristol and throughout the season. Bell’s peak Cup Series result at the Tennessee circuit came in September 2023, where he started on the pole, led 187 laps, and finished third. With three top-five and six top-10 finishes at Bristol, he’s demonstrated adaptability and speed at the demanding venue. Bell’s Xfinity and Truck Series history at Bristol is highlighted by a win in April 2019, a runner-up result in August 2018, a pole, and several top-10 results.
Bell’s most notable Bristol win came on the dirt surface in April 2023, when, after starting fourth, he led the final 100 laps to victory. Last weekend in St. Louis, Bell qualified eighth and finished seventh, having spent much of the event in the top five before being shuffled back on a late restart.
Currently, Bell holds the eighth spot in the playoff standings, sitting 32 points above the elimination line as the opening round concludes at Bristol. He enters the weekend on a streak of five consecutive top-10 finishes at the track—evidence of his reliability under pressure, which will be vital as playoff intensity increases.
This weekend, DEWALT brings feature partnerships to Bell’s car at Bristol. Apollo Mechanical Contractors, a business founded in 1981 under Native American leadership, will be displayed on the lower hood. GreenView Partners, who provide commercial landscaping in the Carolinas, will be represented on the decklid. Both partnerships highlight DEWALT’s ongoing relationships with leaders in engineering and environmental stewardship.
Ty Gibbs’ Youthful Talent Sparks Momentum
Ty Gibbs, the young driver of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE, continues to turn heads with flashes of brilliance at Bristol and beyond. Gibbs has collected two top-five finishes and three top-10s in five Cup Series starts at Bristol, including leading over 100 laps in two separate top-10 outings. Notably, last spring he led 137 laps and won both race stages before ultimately finishing ninth, while earlier this year, he took the checkered flag in third place.
Gibbs’ Bristol résumé extends into lower series as well, including an Xfinity Series pole in 2022 and ARCA Menards Series poles for both his starts at the Tennessee short track. In the 2021 ARCA event, Gibbs dominated by leading 197 of 200 laps on his way to victory lane.
Gibbs earned his eighth top-10 finish of the current season at St. Louis, charging from a 21st starting spot to 10th at the finish. The 2025 season marks Tyler Allen’s first as crew chief for Gibbs’ Cup Series effort, after a successful campaign in the Xfinity Series, where Allen’s guidance led the No. 20 team to eight victories and a runner-up finish in the owner’s championship.
In a poignant nod to advocacy, Gibbs will feature Jace Thompson’s name on his car for the Bristol event in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Jace, who battled a rare brain cancer called DIPG, passed away at age five in 2018. The Warrior Jace Thompson Foundation was established to honor him and fund vital research into DIPG—reminding both NASCAR and its fans of a greater cause beyond the racetrack.
Building Momentum Ahead of Bristol Night Clash
With each Joe Gibbs Racing competitor showing race-winning speed, the organization approaches Bristol with considerable optimism. Strong average finishes across its driver lineup, impressive recent performances at St. Louis, and a storied legacy at Bristol set the expectation for another appearance in victory lane.
Bristol Motor Speedway’s demanding layout and electric atmosphere make it a favorite among drivers and fans alike. JGR’s driver quartet—Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, and Ty Gibbs—bring a blend of experience, recent success, and determined ambition, making the team a focal point for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series highlight. The outcome will set the tone for the remainder of the season and could further secure Joe Gibbs Racing’s position atop the series standings as championship battles intensify.
