Joe Gibbs Racing is set to pursue another milestone at the season-ending NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway, as the team aims to extend its legacy with an impressive cast of drivers and past success at the one-mile oval. Entering the highly anticipated finale, Joe Gibbs Racing Phoenix Raceway efforts stand out, with multiple contenders in the Championship 4 and a dominant season record that positions the team for possible history-making achievements.
Legacy of Triumph at Phoenix Raceway
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has a formidable track record at Phoenix Raceway, having amassed nine wins across 163 Cup Series starts at the circuit. The organization’s roster of victorious drivers at Phoenix includes Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, and Martin Truex Jr. Alongside these wins, JGR boasts 48 top-five finishes, 86 top-tens, eight pole awards, and a remarkable 3,166 laps led at the Arizona venue. The most recent chapter in this legacy was written by Christopher Bell, who secured victory earlier this year, fortifying JGR’s status as a powerhouse on the desert track.
Dominant Performance in the 2025 Season
In 2025, JGR drivers delivered a season of extraordinary accomplishments, combining for 13 points-paying Cup Series victories, their best total since the record-setting 2019 season, when the team claimed 19 wins. Notably, no other team has won more races in a single season since NASCAR implemented the Next Gen platform in 2022. JGR’s collective performance, marked by a blend of seasoned champions and emerging talent, underscores their adaptability and competitive edge amid ongoing technological and strategic shifts in series competition.
Championship 4 Consistency and Achievements
Since the NASCAR playoff system’s current format began in 2014, Joe Gibbs Racing has been relentless in its pursuit of championship glory, leading all organizations with 16 appearances in the Championship 4. This year, both Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin have secured berths in the finale, marking the fourth instance in 12 seasons where JGR fields multiple cars in the ultimate showdown. This sustained excellence reaffirms the team’s ability to navigate the pressures of postseason racing and secure elite finishes when it matters most.
Celebrated History of Cup Series Championships
Throughout its storied existence, Joe Gibbs Racing has captured five NASCAR Cup Series championships. Bobby Labonte delivered the organization’s inaugural title in 2000, followed by Tony Stewart’s championships in 2002 and 2005. In the modern era, Kyle Busch elevated JGR to the top of the sport twice, with victorious seasons in 2015 and 2019. These championships have been pivotal in establishing JGR’s enduring reputation for fostering winning drivers and teams across decades of competition.
Denny Hamlin’s Drive for the Title
Denny Hamlin enters the Phoenix finale as one of JGR’s focal points, piloting the No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota Camry XSE. Hamlin is a two-time winner at Phoenix Raceway, taking checkered flags in March 2012 and November 2019. In his 40 career Cup Series starts at Phoenix, Hamlin has recorded 17 top-five finishes, 23 top-tens, and led 939 laps. Notably, he began this year’s Phoenix event 10th and finished second, engaging in a fierce overtime duel with Christopher Bell. Hamlin’s qualifying prowess continues to shine, with top-ten starts in 14 of his last 16 Phoenix appearances.
During the playoffs, Hamlin is one of only two drivers with multiple race wins, leading all peers with three pole awards over nine events. Overall, he has notched three top-fives and four top-ten finishes on his playoff campaign. This marks Hamlin’s fifth shot at Championship 4 glory, having reached this final round in 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, and now 2025. His best finish to date in this format is third.
Reaching Career Milestones: Denny Hamlin’s Season and Legacy
Hamlin has been rewriting the record books in 2025. With six victories so far, he becomes the 11th driver to attain 60 career Cup Series wins, tying Kevin Harvick for 10th all-time. His consistency is just as notable—his 17 top-ten finishes this year push his career tally to 375, drawing him even with Jimmie Johnson for ninth amongst NASCAR’s all-time top-ten finishers. Remarkably, Hamlin surpassed the 16,000 laps-led mark this season, joining an elite group of 12 drivers in NASCAR history to accomplish this feat.
Additionally, Hamlin leads all competitors with eight Xfinity Fastest Lap awards in 2025, a first in the program’s inaugural year. He set the fastest laps at tracks including Martinsville, Charlotte, Nashville, Pocono, Dover, Indianapolis, World Wide Technology Raceway, and Kansas.
This season also marks his record 19th playoff appearance, a testament to his sustained excellence and resilience. Hamlin has reached the semifinals 10 times under the current elimination format, consistently stacking up top finishes and maintaining his standing as a perennial championship contender.
Crew Chief Chris Gayle’s Impact on the No. 11 Team
Chris Gayle, the Arkansas native and current crew chief for Hamlin, celebrates his first Championship 4 appearance at the Cup level this weekend. Gayle previously led Ty Gibbs to an Xfinity Series championship at Phoenix in 2022 and will mark his 250th Cup Series event as a crew chief. Six of Gayle’s eight career Cup Series wins have come this season with Hamlin, highlighting their productive partnership. Before joining Hamlin, Gayle worked alongside Erik Jones from 2017 to 2020 and Ty Gibbs across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Gayle’s Xfinity Series resume is robust, guiding teams to 37 wins, 84 top-fives, and 133 top-tens in 198 events, underscoring his ability to deliver elite results across NASCAR’s top divisions.
Sponsors Supporting the Pursuit
The No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE will showcase Progressive Insurance as its primary sponsor during the Phoenix finale. Progressive expanded its partnership in March, committing to sponsorship for 18 races this season as JGR continues to bolster its commercial alliances amid on-track success. Meanwhile, the No. 19 car will feature Bass Pro Shops, North America’s leader in outdoor and conservation retail. The retailer operates under the guiding vision of Johnny Morris and remains dedicated to conservation and introducing families to nature. Bass Pro Shops was honored by Newsweek as
America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear
—Newsweek. Interstate Batteries continues a 34-year legacy as a key JGR partner, supporting Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Toyota at the finale, while Suntec Concrete is spotlighted on the lower hood of Bell’s car. Ty Gibbs takes the wheel of the Monster Energy-sponsored No. 54 Toyota, adding further diversity to JGR’s sponsorship portfolio.
Chase Briscoe’s Breakout Year and Phoenix History
This weekend, Chase Briscoe arrives at Phoenix driving the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, ready for his first Cup Series Championship 4 appearance. Briscoe’s relationship with Phoenix Raceway is special—he captured his first Cup Series win there in March 2022, leading 101 laps and becoming the 200th different winner in Cup Series history. Across nine Phoenix Cup starts, Briscoe boasts two top-five and four top-ten finishes, while he has finished in the top ten in all his Xfinity Series appearances and placed fourth in a single Truck Series outing at the circuit.
Briscoe earned his spot in this year’s Championship 4 after his crucial win at Talladega Superspeedway during the Round of 8. His 2025 campaign has seen him set career highs, leading the series with 15 top-five finishes, tallying seven poles, and maintaining a 9.9 average starting position. He holds strong ranks in finishing position and laps led, eclipsing his previous season totals by a wide margin.
James Small: The Strategist Behind Briscoe’s Success
James Small brings strategic acumen to Briscoe’s No. 19 team, reaching his second Championship 4 as a Cup Series crew chief. Small spent five previous seasons guiding Martin Truex Jr., leading the No. 19 crew to eight wins, 46 top-fives, 86 top-tens, and four playoff berths, including a second-place championship finish in 2021 and a regular season title in 2023. Small’s experience in championship scenarios is expected to provide critical support as Briscoe aims for his first series title in Phoenix.
Christopher Bell’s Command at Phoenix
Christopher Bell, piloting the No. 20 DEWALT/Interstate Batteries Toyota, enters the Phoenix finale after winning two of the last three races at the track. In the spring event, Bell led 105 laps and dueled Hamlin for the win, capturing his second Phoenix Cup victory. Bell has amassed three top-five and seven top-ten finishes in 11 starts at the venue, and even led a race-high 143 laps last fall before finishing fifth. Bell’s prowess at Phoenix extends to the Xfinity and Truck Series, where he has a combined four wins, multiple podiums, and pole awards, signaling a consistent mastery of the Arizona circuit.
Last week at Martinsville, Bell qualified 12th and raced up to seventh, marking his eighth straight top-ten finish. The consistency is notable as the No. 20 team takes on the season’s final challenge. For the finale, DEWALT highlights their connection with Suntec Concrete, an Arizona-based, employee-owned firm, on Bell’s car, while Interstate Batteries returns as primary sponsor after multiple prominent appearances during the 2025 season.
Ty Gibbs’ Rising Profile and Championship Experience
Ty Gibbs, at the wheel of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE, continues to build his reputation at Phoenix Raceway. In five Cup Series starts at the track, Gibbs’ best results—a second starting spot and third-place finish—were achieved in March 2024. Gibbs excels at this venue beyond the Cup Series. He secured an Xfinity Series championship in Phoenix in 2022, dominating by winning the pole, leading 125 laps, and sweeping both stages. In ARCA Menards Series West competition, he started on the pole and won both races at Phoenix in 2021, illustrating the depth of his skill set on flat, technical tracks.
In the recent Martinsville race, Gibbs posted his best qualifying effort of 2025 and finished 12th, reflecting continued growth in his sophomore Cup campaign. Notably, Gibbs won the inaugural In-Season Tournament at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this year, overcoming a competitive bracket and earning a $1 million prize.
Tyler Allen, in his first year as Gibbs’ Cup crew chief, steps up after leading the No. 20 Xfinity Series team to eight wins and a runner-up finish in the owner’s championship in 2024, illustrating JGR’s steady pipeline of emerging technical and team leadership.
The Road Ahead: JGR’s Pursuit of More NASCAR History
Few organizations, if any, can match the pedigree that Joe Gibbs Racing brings to Phoenix Raceway this weekend. With a cast of proven winners—Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, and Ty Gibbs—supported by experienced crew chiefs and a portfolio of committed partners like Progressive Insurance, Bass Pro Shops, DEWALT, Interstate Batteries, Monster Energy, and Suntec Concrete, JGR is positioned to once again shape the narrative of the NASCAR Cup Series. With championship hopes on the line and season-long momentum, the team is focused not only on race victory but on etching new chapters in NASCAR’s history books at the season’s grand finale.
