The fierce contest between Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell at the Phoenix Raceway has brought to light the unique competitive culture at the heart of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). The matter came to the fore during the Happy Hour Podcast when Kevin Harvick inquired Bell about the internal rivalry at JGR. Harvick’s query was rooted in his own experience of the fierce competition within the team.
The 2010 NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway serves as an excellent case in point of the intense intra-team rivalry at JGR, exemplified by the clash between Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. The duo battled fiercely for the lead, with Hamlin forcing Busch off track and into the wall. The dust-up even led to Hamlin sending Busch a pair of boxing gloves in an attempt to settle their differences.
It’s no secret that JGR has seen its fair share of fierce internal rivalries over the years. What’s intriguing, however, is the team’s approach to this rivalry. Instead of curbing it, Joe Gibbs seems to encourage it, fostering a competitive culture that has made JGR a dominant force in the NASCAR Cup Series, as Christopher Bell recently revealed.
Bell’s candid disclosure about the ‘team-first’ culture at JGR came in the wake of his Phoenix victory where he edged Hamlin by a mere 0.049 seconds. The 2019 NASCAR season, marked by the rivalry between Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., serves as another instance of this intense in-team competition at JGR. Despite their camaraderie off the track, Busch and Truex Jr. waged intense battles on it, with Truex Jr. clinching seven victories to lead the series in wins.
In response to Harvick’s query, Bell did not mince words about the competitive environment at JGR. “It’s a dog-eat-dog world at JGR. We race each other intensely. I’ve felt aggrieved by teammates in the past, but that’s just how it is,” Bell confessed. This statement encapsulates the high-stakes competition within the team. Unlike other teams that may impose team orders, JGR allows its drivers to race aggressively, often leading to spectacular performances.
Hamlin, on his Actions Detrimental podcast, echoed Bell’s sentiments. He conceded that while Bell did not do him any favors during their Phoenix duel, his hard racing was not out of line. This sentiment underscores the respectful yet intense competition within JGR.
Despite the fierce rivalry, there’s a balance at JGR, as Bell explained, “We race each other as hard as we can, but it has to be fair, and one of us must win.” Even as Bell battled Hamlin at Phoenix, he was cognizant of the fact that if he didn’t win, Hamlin had to. This strict code ensures that while the competition is intense, the ultimate goal—victory—takes precedence, regardless of who claims it.
The mixed results for JGR at the 2025 Daytona 500, where Bell crashed out, Chase Briscoe finished fourth, Denny Hamlin 23rd, and Ty Gibbs 24th, set the tone for the season. Briscoe’s strong performance, securing JGR’s first-ever Daytona 500 pole, underscored the team’s potential.
Bell bounced back from the Daytona disappointment with three consecutive wins at Atlanta, COTA, and Phoenix, showcasing his versatility across different track types. Meanwhile, Hamlin has shown promise with a 6th-place finish at Atlanta and was on course for a podium finish at the Daytona 500 before a last-lap wreck involving Haas Factory team’s Cole Custer saw him spin out along with race leader Austin Cindric.
JGR’s other drivers, Briscoe and Ty Gibbs, have had a modest start to the 2025 season. Gibbs, in particular, needs to up his game, having finished in the mid-20s and 30s in the three races post-Daytona and recording just one top-20 finish in his last eight races.
The upcoming race at Las Vegas offers another golden opportunity for JGR. Hamlin’s past record at the track, including a win in 2021 and consistent top 10 finishes, bodes well for the team. Bell, on the back of his recent form, could also be a contender. Although he has not claimed a victory at Las Vegas, he showed potential when he finished second at the South Point 400 last year.
Will JGR be the team to beat this year? Or will their early-season form falter in Las Vegas next week? Let the debate begin!
