Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the most influential teams in NASCAR. Founded in 1992, the team has produced some iconic moments in the sport. It has been the home of some of the greatest racers, like Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, and Denny Hamlin. However, in 2018, a young, talented Christopher Bell made his entry into the team. Within 6 years of his first race, Bell has almost made his position irreplaceable on the team. For JGR today, Bell is a name that can be relied upon to deliver impeccable performances consistently.
Bell started his Cup Series career in 2020 with Leavine Family Racing, an affiliate of Joe Gibbs Racing. He returned to the team full-time in the next season with a win at the Daytona International Speedway road course. Since then, Christopher Bell has been a regular starter for the team. He has nine cup series wins, including the one at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this season. Bell along with Denny Hamlin are the two drivers who have won a race for the team. The other two cup series drivers of Joe Gibbs Racing, Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs are yet to have a victory this season.
While Christopher Bell’s Cup Series record is well known, it’s his performances in the Xfinity Series that set the base for the 29-year-old. However, his recent win at the Darlington Raceway has now set the path for No.20 to create history!
Christopher Bell’s win- One for the History books!
Given his imperiled control and patience on the steering wheel, Christopher Bell has started to make a name for himself in the racing community. But, it’s his record in the Xfinity Series which has made him a seasoned campaigner in the second division of NASCAR racing. The 29-year-old started his Xfinity career in 2017 and almost immediately made a lasting impact in the division by winning the race at Kansas Speedway. The 2018 season was a breakthrough one for Bell as he won seven races and finished 4th in the Championship standings.
The recent win at the Darlington Raceway was his 19th career win in the Xfinity Series.
This victory has made Christopher Bell the second most successful racer of the Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. Bell has now surpassed other JGR greats in the Xfinity Series like Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano. Both racers had 18 wins each in the Xfinity series. While Ty Gibbs had 12 career wins in the Xfinity Series. Additionally, Bell was the quickest to reach this monumental feat. While it took 17 years for Denny Hamlin to win 18 races in the Xfinity Series, Christopher Bell surpassed him within 7 years.
However, the path to becoming the most successful JGR driver in the Xfinity Series is a long and arduous one.
Kyle Busch, the former Joe Gibbs Racing ace driver, has this record to his name with a whopping 90 wins to his name in the Xfinity Series. Thus, it will take a long time before anyone else from the Joe Gibbs Racing would overtake his record. Not only is he the most successful former JGR driver but also holds the record for all-time wins in the Xfinity series with 100 wins.
But it’s not an impossible ladder to climb for Christopher Bell. The 29-year-old has an impressive record in the Xfinity series. As a full-time Xfinity series racer, his most successful run in the division was in the 2019 season. Bell won eight races and finished third in the championship standings. Since then, he has primarily focussed on Cup Series Racing and has limited his appearances in the Xfinity Series races.
Before his recent win at the Darlington Raceway, Bell has also impressed the racing community in the 2023 season with 2 wins despite only competing part-time.
While Bell has recently been in supreme form, Kyle Busch’s rhythm has been turbulent this season. This is the reason, despite having an invincible record in the Xfinity Series, uncertainty looms around Kyle Busch.
When will Kyle Busch return to winning ways?
The extraordinary record Kyle Busch has in the Xfinity series would have been even better, but wins for the 39-year-old have completely stopped. Be it in the Cup or Xfinity Series, Kyle Busch hasn’t been at his best in a long time. His last win in the Xfinity Series was in the year 2021 while he was still at Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch led 97 of the 164 laps at the Atlanta Motor Speedway to emerge victorious and achieve the extraordinary milestone of a 100th career win in the Xfinity series.
As Busch left Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the 2022 season, the 39-year-old joined Kaulig Racing to participate in the Xfinity Series 2023 season. However, the association did not yield any victories for Busch, and therefore, both the driver and the team parted ways at the end of the season. For the 2024 season, Busch joined Richard Childress Racing, his Cup Series win to compete in the Xfinity series as well. While his performances have improved, adding a sixth-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the No.33 is yet to win a race this season as well.
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has firmly established itself as one of the most prominent teams in NASCAR since its inception in 1992. The team has been home to some of the sport’s most legendary drivers, including Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, and Denny Hamlin. In 2018, a new talent joined their ranks: Christopher Bell. In just six years, Bell has become a vital part of the team, consistently delivering top-tier performances that have made him nearly irreplaceable at JGR.
Christopher Bell’s journey in the Cup Series began in 2020 with Leavine Family Racing, a JGR affiliate. The following year, he returned to JGR full-time, making an immediate impact by winning at the Daytona International Speedway road course. Since then, Bell has been a regular and reliable presence for the team, accumulating nine Cup Series wins, including a notable victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this season. Bell, alongside veteran Denny Hamlin, is one of only two JGR drivers to have secured a win this season. Meanwhile, their teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs are still chasing their first victories of the year.
While Bell’s success in the Cup Series is well-documented, it’s his outstanding record in the Xfinity Series that laid the groundwork for his ascent in NASCAR. Recently, Bell made history with his 19th career win in the Xfinity Series at Darlington Raceway, a milestone that further solidifies his legacy with JGR.
Christopher Bell’s Historic Win at Darlington Raceway
Christopher Bell’s prowess on the track has earned him a reputation as one of the most talented drivers in NASCAR today. His control and patience behind the wheel have helped him carve out a significant niche in the racing world. However, it’s his achievements in the Xfinity Series that have truly set him apart. Bell began his Xfinity career in 2017, quickly making his mark by winning at Kansas Speedway. His breakout season came in 2018 when he claimed seven victories and finished fourth in the Championship standings.
Bell’s recent triumph at Darlington marked his 19th Xfinity Series win, making him the second-most successful driver in JGR’s Xfinity history. This victory propelled him past JGR legends like Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano, who both have 18 Xfinity wins to their names. Notably, Bell achieved this milestone faster than any of his predecessors; while it took Hamlin 17 years to amass his 18 victories, Bell did so in just seven years.
However, the path to becoming JGR’s most successful Xfinity driver is still a formidable challenge. Kyle Busch, a former JGR superstar, holds the record with a staggering 90 Xfinity Series wins. Not only does Busch have the most wins for JGR, but he also holds the all-time record in the Xfinity Series with 100 victories. For Bell, surpassing Busch’s record would be a monumental task, but not an impossible one. Bell’s best Xfinity season came in 2019 when he won eight races and finished third in the championship standings. Since then, his focus has shifted primarily to the Cup Series, though he continues to make part-time appearances in the Xfinity Series, including two wins in the 2023 season.
The Uncertain Future of Kyle Busch
While Christopher Bell is currently in top form, the same cannot be said for Kyle Busch. Despite his incredible record, Busch’s performance has been less than stellar in recent years. His last Xfinity Series win came in 2021 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he led 97 of 164 laps to secure his 100th career victory. Following his departure from Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the 2022 season, Busch joined Kaulig Racing for the 2023 Xfinity Series season. However, this partnership did not result in any wins, leading to their separation at the season’s end. Busch has since joined Richard Childress Racing for the 2024 season, competing in both the Cup and Xfinity Series. Although his performance has improved, with a sixth-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Busch has yet to return to the winner’s circle this season.
As Christopher Bell continues to rise and solidify his place in NASCAR history, the future of Kyle Busch remains uncertain. While Busch’s past achievements are unparalleled, his current struggles raise questions about when, or if, he will return to his former winning ways.
