The nerve-racking finale of the Shriners Children’s 500 left seasoned team owner Joe Gibbs on the brink of a meltdown. The race saw Denny Hamlin narrowly lose to teammate Christopher Bell, putting Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in the spotlight once again. While it was a commendable 1-2 finish for the team, with Bell securing his third consecutive victory, Gibbs was not entirely at ease.
Gibbs confessed to feeling nauseous as the intense race unfurled, hinting at the potential discord that could arise between Hamlin and Bell. His fears are not unfounded. Gibbs has witnessed the turmoil that can ensue when teammates clash on the track. Back in the 2010 NASCAR All-Star race, a fierce standoff between Hamlin and Kyle Busch resulted in a bitter feud that cost JGR the trophy. So, while the showdown at Phoenix was clean on the surface, Gibbs is no stranger to the underlying tensions such head-to-head encounters can stir.
Hamlin himself admitted to being a fierce competitor on his podcast, especially when it comes to racing against his teammates. He said, “There is nobody that I hate seeing win more than my teammate because I know they’re driving the same thing that I’m driving. I know every driver is like, ‘Oh, I’m so happy for my teammate winning.’ I mean, I love Christopher Bell. He’s a great dude, but I don’t want him to beat me.”
Post-race, Hamlin acknowledged the close finish with Bell and praised the entire JGR crew for their efforts. Bell echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the rigorous competition that led to the JGR 1-2 finish.
Bell’s victory at Phoenix was a display of sheer dominance. He led for a majority of the race and managed to seize the win in an exhilarating photo finish, just 0.049 seconds ahead of Hamlin. This marked Bell’s third consecutive win, a remarkable feat last achieved by Kyle Larson in 2021.
While Hamlin may have missed out on the top spot, he put up a commendable performance, securing his best finish of the season. This follows his sixth-place finish at Atlanta, suggesting a promising trajectory for the rest of the season. With some of his strongest tracks yet to come, like Bristol and Martinsville, where he’s averaged finishes of 3.3 and 5.5 respectively, Hamlin’s prospects look bright.
The Phoenix race wasn’t as smooth for Gibbs’ new recruit, Chase Briscoe. His debut with JGR was overshadowed by a seven-car pileup that occurred late in the race. The incident, which saw Briscoe’s Toyota Camry spin out of control after making contact with another vehicle, marked a rocky start for the racer who recently moved from Stewart-Haas Racing. Despite the setback, Briscoe remains optimistic about his future with JGR, stating, “I know what this team can do.”
Despite the incident with Briscoe, JGR still managed a 1-2 finish with Bell and Hamlin. However, Briscoe’s bumpy start serves as a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead as he adapts to his new team. As NASCAR heads to Las Vegas next, all eyes will be on Briscoe, who has a chance to bounce back and prove his worth. With the ever-competitive Hamlin and the in-form Bell, JGR’s dynamic is one to watch out for.