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Joe Gibbs Racing news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Christopher Bell, seventh in standings, seeks first 2026 win at New Hampshire. His JGR teammate Denny Hamlin clinched the No. 1 Chase seed.
Background
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is a top NASCAR team. As the regular season nears its end, drivers are fighting for playoff spots. Bell has been consistent but winless, while Hamlin secured the top seed for the Chase.
How it unfolded
- Sat, 22 Aug 2026Christopher Bell practiced strong at New Hampshire, ranking top-five in single-lap speed and fastest on 10-lap average.
- Sun, 23 Aug 2026Bell finished runner-up again, his seventh of the season, while Denny Hamlin finished seventh and clinched the No. 1 seed for the Chase.
- Mon, 24 Aug 2026Four drivers (Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric, Shane van Gisbergen, Ryan Preece) remain in contention for the final three Chase spots, with the regular-season finale at Daytona upcoming.
Who’s saying what
- Driver
- Christopher Bell said, 'We know that this is a huge opportunity for us and then Daytona is going to be a complete unknown.'
- Driver
- Ryan Preece said, 'I guess we’re all on a level playing field when we go into that one.'