Joe Gibbs Racing Kansas Speedway successes are well documented, as the team heads to the 1.5-mile circuit with aspirations to build on its impressive NASCAR Cup Series record. With eight victories, 42 top-five finishes, and 1,824 laps led in 135 starts at Kansas, the organization enters this weekend energetic and hopeful about extending its winning legacy.
Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart have each brought Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) into victory lane at Kansas, highlighting the depth of talent fielded over the years. As the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season hits its crucial playoff rounds, Joe Gibbs Racing is looking to add another chapter to that history at a track where it has become synonymous with success.
Record-Breaking Season Positions JGR for Another Strong Kansas Outing
This year, Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have captured 11 wins in the Cup Series, the most by the team in a season since its 2019 record-setting campaign with 19 victories. This total also ties the team with Hendrick Motorsports’ 2022 and 2024 winning marks, making JGR a clear frontrunner among NASCAR’s elite since the introduction of the Next Gen racecar.
Consistency has been a recurring theme, as JGR’s presence atop the standings demonstrates not only a talent for taking checkered flags but also for consistently finishing near the front. Through 30 races, Christopher Bell leads all full-time competitors with a 12.3 average finishing position. Chase Briscoe holds third with a 12.6 average, and Denny Hamlin rounds out the top five with a 13.7 average, underlining the collective strength of the team’s roster.
Denny Hamlin Sets the Bar at Kansas
Denny Hamlin, piloting the No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota Camry XSE, comes into Kansas as the most successful driver in NASCAR Cup Series history at the speedway. Hamlin has earned four wins at Kansas (2012, 2019, 2020, and 2023) along with a record 14 top-five finishes, making him the benchmark for performance at the tri-oval.
Earlier this year, Hamlin’s streak of excellence was interrupted by a mechanical issue that resulted in a 36th-place finish, but prior to that, he secured finishes of eighth or better in seven straight Kansas races. His personal achievements at this venue are complemented by his triple visits to victory lane as a co-owner of 23XI Racing, reaffirming his expertise at mastering the Kansas circuit.
Reflecting on the current season, Hamlin continues to add to his robust playoff résumé. This year marks his record 19th playoff appearance, having qualified every season in his career except 2013, when injury forced him to miss four races. With nine top-five points finishes and four Championship 4 appearances under the elimination format, Hamlin remains a perennial title contender as he chases further postseason glory at Kansas.
Hamlin’s Cup Series debut occurred at Kansas Speedway on October 9, 2005, where he started seventh and finished 32nd—an early proof point of a career that would become closely linked with this track.
Recently, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Hamlin finished 12th. He started ninth, staying inside the top 15 throughout, finishing 11th and eighth in the early stages, and running sixth late until a caution shuffled him outside the top 10 in the closing laps.
Crew Behind No. 11: Chris Gayle Leads With Experience
Crew chief Chris Gayle’s record at Kansas includes four Cup Series top-five finishes and six top-10s as a leader atop the pit box in 14 starts. Gayle’s experience extends to the Xfinity Series, where his teams have notched three wins, four top-five finishes, and a pole award in just six starts at Kansas, accumulating 323 laps led. This blend of Cup and Xfinity experience positions the No. 11 team advantageously for the weekend ahead.
Sport Clips and Community Commitment
Sport Clips, a longtime JGR partner, returns as the primary sponsor of Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE for Kansas. Based in Georgetown, Texas, with nearly 1,900 locations in the U.S. and Canada, Sport Clips has been supporting Joe Gibbs Racing since 2009, strengthening the team’s connection to racing fans across North America.
Beyond sponsorship, Sport Clips demonstrates community commitment through its support of Dream Flights, a nonprofit honoring over 7,500 senior veterans in 49 states with flights in restored WWII Stearman biplanes. Franchisees, stylists, and support team members from Sport Clips volunteer at nearly every Dream Flight event, helping to make the experience memorable for veterans and their families.
Chase Briscoe Making Strides in the No. 19 Car
Chase Briscoe, behind the wheel of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, has shown substantial progress at Kansas Speedway. Briscoe has nine Cup starts at the track, with his best performance coming earlier this year with a fourth-place finish. His experience at Kansas also includes a dominant Xfinity Series win in 2020, where he led 159 of 200 laps. In the 2019 Xfinity Series, he finished third, and in the 2017 Truck Series, he claimed fifth.
This strong trajectory has continued into the current season. Briscoe is the only driver to post a top-10 finish in every playoff race so far, highlighting his consistency at this vital stage. After 30 races, he boasts 12 top-five finishes—twice his previous best. With 16 top-10s and a series-leading six poles, Briscoe’s 789 laps led in 2025 eclipse his combined total from his first four Cup seasons. His improving average starting and finishing positions (10.8 and 12.6, respectively) underscore his evolving status as a leading contender.
Last weekend in New Hampshire, Briscoe started 18th and moved into the lead after a critical two-tire pit call by crew chief James Small. He led 19 laps, secured ninth-place points in Stage 2, and ultimately finished 10th for another playoff top-10 result. Heading into the second race of the Round of 12, Briscoe is eighth in points and 12 above the cutline, well situated for advancement.
Fans will have a chance to meet Briscoe at the Bass Pro Shops in Kansas City on Saturday, September 27 at 5:30 p.m. CT, as he joins supporters in celebrating both racing and outdoor traditions.
James Small and Bass Pro Shops: Driving Success On and Off Track
James Small’s six-year crew chief career in the Cup Series includes guiding Martin Truex Jr. to eight wins and four playoff runs, plus earning a runner-up finish for the 2021 championship. His leadership has steered Briscoe to a career-best campaign so far this season, capped with their victory at the 2025 Southern 500 at Darlington.
Bass Pro Shops, the team’s primary sponsor, is renowned for its conservation leadership under Johnny Morris. Recognized by Newsweek as
America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear
, the company continues to be a prominent name in both racing and the broader outdoor community.
Christopher Bell’s Quest for Kansas Glory
Christopher Bell, driving the No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry XSE, remains a formidable force at Kansas Speedway. In 11 Cup starts at the track, Bell has three top-five and eight top-10 finishes, including a recent runner-up result. His résumé also features a 2017 Xfinity Series victory at Kansas, along with top-five performances in the Truck Series during 2016 and 2017.
Bell’s knack for qualifying at Kansas stands out, with four pole awards in seven Cup Series Next Gen races. In the Xfinity Series, he earned the pole in 2019, starting no worse than fourth in all three attempts. His ARCA Menards Series success at Kansas includes two pole positions and a near-sweep in 2021, leading virtually every lap across two starts.
Entering Kansas after a sixth-place finish in New Hampshire, Bell sits fourth in the playoff standings, 29 points above the elimination line. With solid results at Kansas in recent years, he is positioned to clinch a spot in the next round as the Round of 12 concludes soon at the ROVAL.
Adam Stevens Leads No. 20 Team With Championship Pedigree
Crew chief Adam Stevens, a two-time Cup Series championship winner with Kyle Busch, continues to bring his expertise to Bell’s effort. Stevens has achieved one win at Kansas and overseen a strong record of top-10s through 21 starts on the pit box at the track. Under his leadership, Bell has reached the Championship 4 in both 2022 and 2023, with a recent New Hampshire strategy call enabling a climb from 19th to sixth at the finish.
As a contingent of over 65 Rheem guests attend the Kansas event, including representatives from Nordyne, Ferguson, and Mack McClain, the sponsorship commitment adds to the charged atmosphere surrounding Bell’s campaign.
Ty Gibbs Shows Promise in No. 54 Entry
Ty Gibbs, in the No. 54 SAIA LTL Freight Toyota Camry XSE, has demonstrated significant potential at Kansas. In six Cup Series starts, he notched his best start (second) and finish (fifth) last fall. Gibbs was victorious in the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Kansas, and he’s also claimed two ARCA Menards Series poles and a win at the 1.5-mile circuit.
Gibbs’ momentum was hampered last week by a mid-race accident at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, resulting in a 35th-place finish after starting 13th. Nevertheless, his track record across multiple NASCAR series at Kansas points to a promising trajectory as he continues his rookie campaign.
Rising Stars in the JGR Crew: Tyler Allen Takes the Helm for Gibbs
Tyler Allen, in his first Cup Series crew chief role, leads the No. 54 team with a proven background in the Xfinity Series. In 2024, Allen supervised JGR’s No. 20 Xfinity Series team, claiming eight wins and a runner-up finish in the owner’s championship. His ability to adapt quickly to different series and competition makes him an asset as Gibbs seeks to make his mark in the Cup field for JGR at Kansas Speedway.
Kansas Set to Host Another Pivotal Cup Showdown
With the playoff stakes escalating and a history of Joe Gibbs Racing Kansas Speedway triumphs, all eyes are on how the organization’s drivers and teams will handle the unique demands of the 1.5-mile track. Veteran experience from Denny Hamlin, breakthrough consistency from Chase Briscoe, rising stardom in Ty Gibbs, and the relentless pace of Christopher Bell each provide JGR with diverse strengths.
As the competition intensifies and the playoff field narrows, Joe Gibbs Racing’s blend of championship pedigree, technical expertise, and community engagement through partners like Sport Clips and Bass Pro Shops could prove decisive. Another strong showing at Kansas Speedway would solidify their place at the forefront of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, affirming their relentless pursuit of excellence and keeping fans and competitors alike watching intently through the closing stages of the season.
