Only a couple more days remain till NASCAR crowns its 2023 Cup Series champion. As the Nevadan speedway unfurls its asphalt-shrouded intermediate racetrack for the opening semifinal race of this year’s playoffs, all 5 teams in the running are feeling the urgency of the moment and the gravity of the situation. And now that it all comes down majorly to a faceoff between Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, fans have chosen their favorites and so have the critics.

While some feel like Denny Hamlin will take his best shot at winning his first Cup Series championship, others opine that Hendrick Motorsports will be the ultimate showrunner . While the track line-up speaks more in favor of Mr. Hendrick’s team, a well-known broadcaster revealed how the closing weeks of the playoffs might not roll out that way.

NASCAR insider diverted the common attention toward Joe Gibbs Racing’s hidden weapon

It’s not like Hendrick Motorsports is the only team that’s receiving all the votes as to who will make it to the Championship 4 race. Even Joe Gibbs Racing has its own fanbase. However, while talking about Joe Gibbs Racing, it seems like most of the crowd is singing praises for the number 11 Toyota Camry speedster. But it is important to concede that Denny Hamlin is not the only trick that Joe Gibbs has up his sleeves.

It’s not enough to merely have the fastest car to bag a win in today’s stock car racing. An array of factors need to work together in perfect harmony to give the winning driver the edge that he needs over the other competitors. Besides aerodynamics and pit strategies, there is something else that often pulls a blazing-fast race car down to ruins and pushes a mediocre-level car up to the champion’s seat.

That something else is the qualifying position. When you win the pole for a race, you get the best start and the cleanest air which often goes a long way to get you those priceless stage wins and track positions. And this is where Joe Gibbs Racing could supposedly beat Mr. H’s team. But who is this secret weapon?

In a recent episode of the Motor Racing Network Live podcast, veteran broadcasters Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle were talking about the odds for the 8 drivers to make it into the championship run. Jeff felt like not only could Ryan Blaney seal the deal at Martinsville, but even the drivers below the cutline could advance further. However, his top pick was Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Denny Hamlin. It is then that Alex mouthed the name of this 28-year-old JGR driver who could pose a serious threat to everyone on the roster over the course of all the remaining races.

Alex said, “I think that Christopher Bell; the big thing that he has going for him is qualifying. He knows how to qualify. This team can grab hold positions and that can get them track positions right off the bat on what has become a very track position-oriented type of schedule.”

“So I think the advantage Christopher Bell and Adam Stevens and that team has, is the qualifying,” he added.

Watch this story: Denny Hamlin Signs New Contract with Joe Gibbs Racing Amid His Career Woes

Hayden is not wrong at all. Let’s wind the clock back exactly a year and see how that is true, shall we?

Christopher Bell’s must-needed victory over Hendrick Motorsports pole sitter from last year

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Christopher Bell’s journey last year was haunted by a wreck at Daytona and an engine failure a week later at the Auto Club Speedway in California. Despite snatching the pole, he finished 10th at Las Vegas the following week. As he approached the decisive race at Martinsville, the #20 driver perhaps had counted himself out of contention. Needless to say, the JGR driver wasn’t on anyone’s radar for making it to the grand finale either.

But he turned the tables and held off pole-sitter Kyle Larson by a minuscule of 0.869 seconds to cross the finish line and corkscrew his spot in the coveted Championship 4 race. After securing his third victory of the season, the Joe Gibbs Racing pilot felt elated.

According to NASCAR, an emotional Bell exclaimed, “Mom and dad, we did it! I can’t believe it, man. To come here in Martinsville, this place has always been so tough on me. I don’t even know what to say.”

“Man, I say it all the time, but the driver is just a small piece of the puzzle for these races. The reason why this car won today is because it was the best car on the race track. Adam Stevens… this entire 20 group, they just never give up. When our back is against the wall, looks like it’s over, they show up and give me the fastest car out here,” he added gleefully.

Do you think this year’s Martinsville will be an exact replication of what happened last year? Let us know in the comments!

Read more: “Outside of Your Control” – Amid Daytona’s Unfortunate Departure, Joe Gibbs’ Superstar Delivers Big Blow to Superspeedway Racing