Joe Gibbs Racing is set to take on the high-stakes Charlotte Roval this weekend, aiming to strengthen its playoff campaign and extend its record of success on NASCAR’s challenging road courses. With the Joe Gibbs Racing Charlotte Roval Preview in focus, the team enters the event with momentum, collectively holding top positions and fielding drivers who have excelled at both the Roval and on road courses in 2025.
Strong Track Record at the Charlotte Roval
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has consistently posted competitive results at the Charlotte Roval, securing one victory, seven top-five finishes, and 10 top-10s in 28 starts at the road course configuration. Christopher Bell delivered the team’s inaugural Roval win in October 2022 during a must-win playoff performance, keeping JGR’s postseason hopes alive. Beyond the Roval, JGR also boasts nine wins on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile quad-oval, reinforcing its status as a dominant force at this complex venue.
Momentum on the Road Courses in 2025
This year, JGR’s four-car lineup has demonstrated prowess on road courses, with drivers earning a total of one victory, eight top-five placements, 10 finishes in the top 10, and leading 61 laps across 20 starts. Christopher Bell’s win at Circuit of the Americas further solidified the team’s road course credentials, while runner-up positions at key international and domestic venues underscore their adaptability and competitive edge. Ty Gibbs, meanwhile, has established a reputation for consistency, backed by multiple top-five and top-10s both in the Cup and Xfinity Series across a variety of road courses.
JGR’s Winning Ways in the 2025 Cup Season
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series has seen Joe Gibbs Racing return to peak form, matching a pace not seen since their record-setting 19-win season in 2019. With 11 victories split among their drivers, JGR has tied Hendrick Motorsports’ recent single-season marks, underscoring the intensity of competition since NASCAR’s transition to the Next Gen race car in 2022. The team’s winning momentum is complemented by having three drivers—Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin—rank among the four best average finishers over 31 races this season.
Denny Hamlin’s Quest for Roval Success
Denny Hamlin, piloting the No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota Camry XSE, prepares for Charlotte following a series of standout performances. At the Charlotte Roval, Hamlin’s best finish is fifth, achieved in 2021 after leading 25 laps. Last year’s effort landed him in 14th position on the Roval, but his mastery of Charlotte’s quad-oval layout is evident, including a victory in the Coca-Cola 600 and strong showings throughout his career.
Coming off last weekend’s Kansas Speedway race, Hamlin led 159 laps and swept both stages but ultimately finished as runner-up after late-race setbacks. His persistence at Kansas propelled him past the milestone of 16,000 career laps led, placing him among the top 12 in the sport’s history and passing Kevin Harvick for 11th all-time in that category. Hamlin’s 374th career top-10 finish at Kansas also saw him tie Ricky Rudd for 10th-most top-10 finishes in Cup Series history, and he stands just one behind Jimmie Johnson for ninth on that list.
Furthermore, Hamlin’s Kansas performance saw him register his eighth fastest lap of the season—a series-best accolade. With a 48-point buffer above the playoff elimination line as the Round of 12 concludes, Hamlin is in position to advance, making his record-breaking 19th playoff appearance. Only a 2013 back injury interrupted his streak of postseason qualification. Since NASCAR adopted its current elimination format in 2014, Hamlin has reached the Round of 8 nine times and the Championship 4 on four occasions, a testament to his consistency and skill.
Chase Briscoe’s Climb Continues at the Roval
Chase Briscoe arrives at Charlotte in the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, aiming to convert strong form into playoff momentum. Briscoe’s Roval record includes a best Cup Series finish of ninth in 2022, and his Xfinity Series debut on the circuit yielded a maiden victory in 2018.
Briscoe’s Kansas weekend further showcased his form, as he earned his seventh pole award of the season—a series-leading figure—then led the opening 19 laps before finishing sixth in stage one and fifth in stage two, ultimately battling for victory in the final restart and finishing fourth. Briscoe continues to build his playoff credentials, currently sitting seventh in points and 21 above the cutline heading into the Round of 12 finale. He holds the distinction of being the only driver with top-10 finishes in all five playoff races so far, having accumulated 206 points during this stretch, the most of any competitor.
This season, Briscoe, a Mitchell, Indiana native, has reached new heights, setting personal bests in top-five finishes (13), top-10s (17), and securing seven pole awards. His average starting position of 10.5 is the best in the Cup Series, while his 12.3 finishing average is third overall. Briscoe also has surpassed his previous career high for laps led, with 808 this year alone.
Crew chief James Small, now in his sixth season at the Cup level, has seamlessly transitioned from leading Martin Truex Jr. to steering Briscoe’s ascent. Small’s tenure includes eight wins and a runner-up finish in the 2021 championship with Truex. This year, he reached double-digit victories as a crew chief after Briscoe’s Southern 500 triumph at Darlington.
Bass Pro Shops, under the guidance of Johnny Morris, continues to back Briscoe. The company was recognized by Newsweek as
America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear
. Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops
Christopher Bell Eyes Another Roval Triumph
Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 DEWALT Toyota Camry XSE, seeks to repeat his 2022 heroics at the Charlotte Roval. Bell’s come-from-behind win that year remains a pivotal moment in his postseason trajectory. In five Roval starts at the Cup Series level, he has captured one win, two top-five, and three top-10 finishes. Bell also delivered a notable fifth-place in his first Xfinity Series visit to the Charlotte road course in 2018.
Bell has also distinguished himself this season as a dominant road course competitor. He secured a Cup Series win at Circuit of the Americas in March and recorded runner-up results in Mexico City and Watkins Glen, along with a top-five at Sonoma. Last week at Kansas, Bell qualified fifth, led 43 laps, and maintained a contender’s pace—competing for victory in overtime before claiming third place at the finish.
In terms of playoff standings, Bell enters Charlotte fifth, 44 points above the current elimination line for the Round of 12. Off the track, Bell’s No. 20 will showcase a unique DEWALT livery designed in collaboration with St. Jude patient Cameron, inspired by a brainstorming session with the JGR design team. Cameron and his family will be special guests at the event, and the car will feature a nod to Cameron’s pet ball python, Django, on its hood.
Ty Gibbs Sets Sights on Breakout Roval Performance
Ty Gibbs, piloting the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE, is targeting his first Charlotte Roval Cup Series win after a solid showing in 2023, where he finished fourth and started 10th. Gibbs has shown a particular knack for road courses across NASCAR’s national series, amassing multiple road course wins and top finishing positions in the Xfinity Series, including victories at events like the Daytona Road Course, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Indianapolis Road Course. His 2022 championship campaign in Xfinity featured a runner-up at the Roval after leading 24 laps.
While Gibbs’ 2025 Kansas run was marred by a late-race accident, resulting in a 25th-place finish, his broader road course statistics highlight five top-five and eight top-10 efforts in Cup competition over 19 starts. Gibbs’ crew chief, Tyler Allen, enters his first Cup Series campaign after guiding JGR’s Xfinity No. 20 car to eight victories and a runner-up owner’s championship finish in 2024, promising valuable insight as the team eyes improvement on road circuits.
Playoff Stakes and What’s Next for JGR
With all four drivers in contention as the playoffs intensify, Joe Gibbs Racing is well-positioned for another deep run, leveraging its established road course acumen and strong overall team performance. Hamlin, Briscoe, and Bell each hold advantageous points positions relative to playoff thresholds, poised to advance with solid results at Charlotte. The organization’s proven adaptability—both on traditional ovals and complex road layouts—sets the stage for a compelling Round of 12 finale. As teams prepare for the Roval’s unique demands and unpredictable nature, the impact of a strong outing could be decisive in determining not just who advances, but who emerges as a title contender in the remaining playoff rounds.
As the Joe Gibbs Racing Charlotte Roval Preview shifts to race-day action, the drivers and crew chiefs—Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, James Small, and Tyler Allen—will be in the spotlight, aiming for a result that cements their place in the next round and potentially adds to JGR’s storied legacy at Charlotte and beyond.
