Christopher Bell Acknowledges Struggles as Team Faces Challenges in NASCAR Cup Series Christopher Bell, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, has admitted that his team is struggling to find consistency early in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. After three races, Bell sits 24th in the standings with just 59 points, trailing leader Tyler Reddick by a significant margin of 127 points. Despite the slow start, Bell remains focused on improving, acknowledging that the new championship format places greater emphasis on consistent performance rather than a single race win. Bell’s performance in the 2026 Daytona 500 highlighted both his potential and the challenges his team faces. He started near the front but encountered issues that dropped him to 35th place. At Atlanta, where he had previously won, a collision with Carson Hocevar sent his car into the wall, resulting in a P21 finish. However, the team showed signs of progress at COTA, where a strategic tire call during a late caution allowed Bell to surge from 16th to third place. The 34 points earned from that finish lifted him seven positions in the standings, but Bell emphasized that the current format requires more than a single strong showing. “The cool thing about this format is the upped points for wins,” Bell said. “That’s a big reason why I’m 100 points out and not less than that. It gives teams the opportunity to make up more points than we’ve had in the past if you’re able to win. But it’s still too early to know if we’re going to have a shot at the regular-season championship or not.” Bell’s team has yet to secure points during stages or at the finish line in the first three races, which has left them without a strong foundation in the standings. While Bell admitted the start of the season has been frustrating, he remains determined to turn things around.#tyler_reddick #joe_gibbs_racing #chris_ted_bell #daytona_500 #carson_hocevar
Cup standings appear upside-down after three races The NASCAR Cup Series standings have taken an unexpected turn after three races, leaving many fans and analysts scratching their heads. With the season still in its early stages, the current rankings suggest a dramatic shift in the playoff picture, as eight of the 16 drivers who qualified for the 2025 playoffs find themselves below the cutoff line for The Chase. This includes several drivers who were considered championship favorites heading into the season. Among those struggling are Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric, and Austin Dillon, all of whom are currently ranked 20th, 24th, 27th, 31st, and 34th, respectively. These drivers are trailing the cutoff by 4, 9, 22, 29, and 33 points. The situation is even more striking when considering that if The Chase were to begin today, Joe Gibbs Racing would be entirely excluded from championship contention. The team’s top performer, Ty Gibbs, sits in 17th place, three points behind Ryan Preece of RFK Racing for the final Chase berth. Drivers like Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe, who are 126, 127, and 140 points behind leader Tyler Reddick, are facing an uphill battle. However, recent performances offer some hope. Bell, Gibbs, and Hamlin have all secured top-10 finishes at Circuit of The Americas, and the trio has a strong track record at Phoenix. JGR has led 56% of the laps at Phoenix over the past four races, and Bell has won the last two spring races there. Briscoe, who has struggled at Phoenix in recent years, is looking to secure his first Cup win since 2022. Hamlin, meanwhile, aims to overcome last fall’s championship heartbreak at the track, where he narrowly missed out on a title. On the other side of the equation, 23XI Racing is off to a strong start.#nascar_cup_series #ty_gibbs #rfk_racing #joe_gibbs_racing #tyler_reddick
Judge Rules Gabehart Can Work for Spire but Not in JGR Role A federal judge has ruled that Chris Gabehart, former competition director for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), can continue working for Spire Motorsports but cannot hold the same role he previously had with JGR. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez in the Western District of North Carolina, allows Gabehart to remain in his position as chief motorsports officer at Spire, which oversees most of parent company TWG Global’s racing operations. The ruling follows a court order requiring both parties to attempt to resolve the dispute after a hearing on JGR’s motion for a restraining order. A full hearing on Gabehart’s employment is scheduled for March 16. Gabehart, who made his first public appearance as a Spire employee at the IndyCar event in St. Petersburg, Florida, is permitted to attend this weekend’s race at Phoenix Raceway, where both NASCAR and IndyCar are competing. TWG Motorsports also owns Andretti Global, an IndyCar team. The judge’s order also mandates that Gabehart return all data and materials he obtained from JGR to the team, which is owned by Joe Gibbs, the founder of the NASCAR organization. Gibbs, a member of both the Pro Football and NASCAR Halls of Fame, co-owns JGR with his daughter-in-law, Heather. JGR has alleged that Gabehart stole sensitive data, including files and setups, causing over $8 million in damages. Spire has been named as a defendant in the case. Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson emphasized the company’s commitment to protecting trade secrets, stating, “We don’t want anybody else’s stuff, other than Hendrick, obviously.” Spire already has a partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, which provides access to Hendrick’s data, the winningest team in NASCAR history.#joe_gibbs_racing #chris_gabehart #spire_motorsports #susana_c_rodriguez #twg_global
Joe Gibbs Racing Shares Astonishing Cost of NASCAR Crashes in Disastrous Race Joe Gibbs Racing disclosed the significant financial impact of multiple crashes during the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway, highlighting the extreme costs associated with repairing damaged race cars. The incidents occurred over the weekend, leaving the team with substantial repair expenses despite achieving a strong finish in the race. The race, which marked the third week of the 2026 NASCAR season, was dominated by 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, who secured his third consecutive victory. This feat made Reddick the first Cup Series driver to start a season with a perfect 3-for-3 record. Meanwhile, the team’s owner, Michael Jordan, continued to draw attention as part of the 23XI Racing operation. Beyond NASCAR, the weekend also marked the beginning of the 2026 Formula One season. However, former stock car racer Danica Patrick was excluded from Sky Sports’ coverage, following the broadcaster’s decision to remove her from the lineup. This absence underscored the shifting dynamics in motorsport media. The chaotic nature of racing was on full display at EchoPark Speedway, where contact between cars led to dramatic consequences. Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 car, driven by Chase Briscoe, finished in second place, but the team faced extensive damage from multiple collisions. One incident involving Christopher Bell’s No. 20 car initially appeared to cost $3,150 in repairs, but a subsequent crash into the wall escalated the damage to an astonishing $73,000. Similarly, Ty Gibbs’ No. 54 car initially required $1,270 in repairs after a minor contact, but a later crash into the wall resulted in a repair bill of $98,250.#michael_jordan #tyler_reddick #joe_gibbs_racing #autotrader_400 #echo_park_speedway
23XI Racing Challenges NASCAR's 'Big Three' Dominance The traditional "Big Three" of NASCAR—Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske—have long been the dominant forces in the sport, but 23XI Racing is emerging as a serious contender for inclusion in that elite group. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic argues that the team’s recent success has positioned it as a potential "Big Four" in the sport, citing its consistent performance and growing reputation. Bianchi highlighted the team’s rise over the past six seasons, noting that 23XI has steadily improved and now competes at a level comparable to the top three organizations. During a conversation on The Teardown, Bianchi posed a question to Denny Hamlin after the Atlanta race: “We talk a lot about the Big Three in this sport, is now we need to be talking about the Big Four?” Hamlin’s response, while cautious, acknowledged that the label is typically reserved for teams with frequent race wins and championships. However, Bianchi emphasized that 23XI’s achievements—such as Bubba Wallace’s Brickyard 400 victory in 2025, the Daytona 500 win, and a road course triumph—demonstrate their growing influence. The team’s 2026 season has already seen remarkable progress. Tyler Reddick, driving the No. 45 car, has secured back-to-back-to-back victories at Atlanta and COTA, marking his first three-race sweep in NASCAR history. Reddick’s dominance has propelled him to the top of the points standings, while Wallace, who finished 11th in the latest race, remains second. Together, they have established 23XI as the team to beat in the early part of the season. Despite their success, the team’s journey has been anything but easy. 23XI Racing entered NASCAR in 2021, and it took three years for the organization to secure its first regular-season championship in 2024.#team_penske #denny_hamlin #joe_gibbs_racing #23xi_racing #hendrick_motorsports
23XI Racing Challenges NASCAR’s “Big Three” Dominance The traditional “Big Three” of NASCAR—Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske—have long been the sport’s dominant forces, but 23XI Racing is emerging as a serious contender for inclusion in the conversation. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic argues that the team’s rapid rise over the past six seasons has blurred the lines between the top echelon of NASCAR teams. Bianchi’s perspective was shaped by his conversation with Denny Hamlin after the Atlanta race, where Hamlin initially dismissed the idea of a “Big Four.” However, Bianchi contends that 23XI’s consistent performance and achievements warrant reevaluating the status quo. Bianchi highlighted 23XI’s accomplishments, including Bubba Wallace’s victory at the Brickyard 400 last year, the Daytona 500 win, and a road course triumph. He also pointed to Tyler Reddick’s regular season championship in 2024, despite going winless in 2025. “This isn’t like they just came out of nowhere,” Bianchi said on The Teardown. “They’ve been gradually getting better, and Bubba Wallace is second in points. This team is doing something special.” While 23XI hasn’t yet reached the level of Hendrick, Gibbs, or Penske, Bianchi suggests they are closing the gap. The 2026 season has already seen 23XI make a strong statement. Reddick, driving the No. 45 car, has captured three consecutive wins, starting with Atlanta and continuing at COTA. Wallace, meanwhile, remains a key figure for the organization, with his performance in the Daytona 500 and ongoing contributions to the team’s success. Reddick and Wallace currently lead the points standings after three races, positioning 23XI as the team to beat in the early part of the season.#team_penske #denny_hamlin #joe_gibbs_racing #23xi_racing #hendrick_motorsports
