Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota dominance was on full display throughout the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 16, as JGR and Toyota teams secured victories in every race before heading to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Round of 12. With Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin each capturing wins, Toyota has sent a powerful signal to Chevrolet and Ford competitors about its form and momentum this postseason.
Toyota Establishes Stronghold in Early Playoff Stage
Christopher Bell powered the No. 20 Toyota to victory at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night, marking the third consecutive race win for Joe Gibbs Racing in the playoffs’ opening round. Chase Briscoe kickstarted the sweep by taking the checkered flag at Darlington Raceway, followed by Denny Hamlin’s triumph at World Wide Technology Raceway. This latest result also delivered the 200th NASCAR Cup Series victory for Toyota, a major milestone emphasizing the manufacturer’s impact.
Going into the upcoming Round of 12, Toyota holds a strong position, with four drivers above the playoff cutoff line. Within this group, three hail from the Joe Gibbs Racing stable: Denny Hamlin leads the push, standing 26 points above the line, while Christopher Bell follows with a 20-point margin, and Briscoe sits comfortably with a 10-point advantage. Bubba Wallace, representing 23XI Racing in the No. 23 Toyota, holds onto a narrow one-point cushion above elimination.
Throughout the initial playoff round, Toyota teams demonstrated dominance by leading 870 out of 1,107 laps—demonstrating their vehicles’ sustained speed and control at varied tracks.
“Having these three cars winning in the first round, I think it just says a lot the way we feel back in the shop,”
—Gibbs, Team Owner
Gibbs acknowledged the significance of this achievement for everyone associated with the organization.
“This sport, obviously, when you win like this there are so many people involved.”
—Gibbs, Team Owner
Chase Briscoe added to Toyota’s strong showing by leading laps in his No. 19 JGR Toyota and finishing ninth at Bristol, further bolstering his playoff standing as the competition tightens into the next round. Briscoe expressed his congratulations to Bell, saying,
“Obviously pretty cool that JGR swept that first round, and hopefully we can do that in the next round.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
Chevrolet and Ford Teams Face Setbacks at Bristol
The Bristol race presented a tense battle for non-Toyota teams as playoff positions hung in the balance. Alex Bowman and the No. 48 Chevrolet arrived 15th in point standings, trailing the cutoff by 35 markers. Displaying determination, Bowman ran near the front and battled within the top ten for much of the race.
Late in the event, a pivotal moment shifted the playoff landscape. Austin Cindric, piloting the No. 2 Ford, encountered a fire in the right front tire area, forcing an unscheduled pit stop while green-flag conditions persisted. The cockpit quickly filled with smoke, delaying his departure as he waited for the air to clear enough to see. During this interval, Bowman closed the gap to within three points of Cindric, intensifying the fight for the final transfer position.
Cindric eventually rejoined the field four laps down and crossed the finish line in 30th position, enough to secure his passage to the next playoff stage by a slim 10-point margin over Bowman. Cindric recalled the chaotic scene, saying,
“When they told me to leave the pit stall I couldn’t see anything,”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
He went on to describe his struggle to get going again under the perilous conditions:
“I was hoping there wasn’t anyone with fire extinguishers or anything else like that. It was pretty bad, but it’s going to take me a lot to get out of the car.”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
For Bowman, restarts proved to be his undoing.
“When we had some green-flag runs, I thought our No. 48 Ally Chevy was really good,”
—Alex Bowman, Driver. However, difficulties getting up to speed after each restart diminished his chances to advance. He described his efforts on track and expressed frustration over the inconsistency, noting the car’s struggles for grip and launch after yellow-flag conditions.
Looking Forward as the Round of 12 Arrives
With Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing achieving a clean sweep of the Round of 16, the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs now shift to the Round of 12 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The current standings boost the confidence of Toyota teams, especially those from JGR, as they look to extend their upper hand in the postseason. Chevrolet and Ford competitors, meanwhile, regroup after the turbulent events at Bristol and seek to counter Toyota’s powerful surge.
As the Playoff drama intensifies, the coming races will further test the consistency, pace, and resilience of teams and drivers chasing the Cup. The ongoing Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota dominance makes them the clear favorites, but the fight for the championship remains wide open as the field narrows and the stakes grow higher.
