Denny Hamlin is in his 21st season of the Cup Series. And it all started with as a humble Florida native, with no family legacy in NASCAR. Just pure talent. He even went broke trying to make it. But then JGR president J.D. Gibbs found him and gave him five trucks and one Xfinity race in 2005. And things kind of kicked off for Hamlin.

In the Pocono 500 in 2006, he got his first win for Joe Gibbs Racing. And since then, he’s been a JGR driver through and through: two decades, 54 wins and counting. But Hamlin is probably nearing the end of his career, and it’s no secret that the team is moving focus to its younger prospects. 

Look. Hamlin is one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers. No one can deny that. You don’t win three Daytona 500s (2016, 2019, 2020) and a couple of crown jewels and get forgotten. His place in the Hall of Fame is reserved. But the question is about his place in JGR now. Earlier there was no question…Hamlin was the face of Joe Gibbs’s team. Period. But now with that championship not coming, him turning 45 this year, and someone like Christopher Bell’s consistency, Hamlin is not all the rage of JGR. And recently Kevin Harcik shed some light on that.

Has Denny Hamlin lost the JGR limelight?

We can all agree that consistency is more valued than just winning a championship out of luck. And Hamlin’s got that consistency. Since his first full Cup season, he’s only gone winless in 2018. Moreso, he’s never failed to make the playoffs and give JGR a shot at the championship. But that shot has never translated into a title. And now Hamlin’s chances of ever winning it are kind of fading away.

Enter Christopher Bell, who wins multiple races every year. Has mastered the next-gen car and almost every year makes the championship four. So it’s kind of obvious that Coach Gibbs views him as JGR’s championship-winning driver.

A spot Hamlin held for a long time. And we agree with Kevin Harvick when he said, ” Denny Hamlin, he’s one of the best. One of the most experienced. And he’s gonna be a leader. But even when you are a great leader and you are a great race car driver. Sometimes, you just never know if all the details are gonna click. It’s tough, and we have had that continuity of the 20 team and all of a sudden a little bit of that focus goes over here, and the next thing you know, you are not the guy anymore. It’s just an interesting time at JGR with all the different dynamics that they have created.” Continuity is the key for him.

The continuity part refers to how Bell has had the same team and the same guys the whole time he’s been at JGR. And that’s helped him succeed. Look at this season: four races in, he’s already won two of them (Atlanta, COTA). Even Denny Hamlin enjoyed that all these years with Chris Gabehart. But in this season, too much has changed too quickly for the #11. First, they lost longtime partner FedEx, and then Chris Gabehart moved out with Chris Gayle stepping in. And so deep into your career, it’s gonna be difficult to adapt to the changes. Especially when you are desperate to take a few final shots at that elusive championship.

But Harvick thinks it would be interesting to see how all this plays out for JGR. “When you look at those changes we have covered Denny Hamlin and they got off to a great start at ‘The Clash’ (got a P3). Had a chance there at the end of Daytona 500 (almost won it). But they have had a lot of changes and as you start going to these different styles of race track and you are preparing on a weekly basis, it becomes a different ball game…It’d be interesting to see where that clicks for those guys. To really go out…or are they just gonna dominate some of these races or are they gonna struggle. Are they not going to be able to capitalise on the days when they are good. What is the new #11 team going to look like?” Harvick added.

With all these changes, it’s tough to say if this will be the year for Hamlin. And who knows—this might even be his last season with JGR. His contract is up in 2025, and he and Coach Gibbs could be heading in different directions.

On the other hand, Bell looks like the future of JGR, and he’s only getting stronger!

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What’s worked for Christopher Bell?

The #20 driver joined the team just a year before the next-gen car launched. Unlike many, he quickly adapted to the changes in the new car. Adaptability is what sets Christopher Bell apart.

First, he impressed everyone in Late Models. Then, he secured a Truck ride with Kyle Busch Motorsports and delivered a championship for Kyle Busch in 2017. Moving up to Xfinity with JGR, he turned the #20 car into a winning machine. Just look at the stats: seven wins in his first full season (2018), eight the next. In just 79 races, he claimed victory 19 times. And, of course, we all know about his Cup exploits—11 wins and counting.

A key factor in his consistency and dominance? The team around him has remained unchanged, which plays a significant role. On Kevin Harvick’s podcast, co-host Kaitlyn Vincie had an interesting take: “I think when it comes to Christopher Bell, Adam Stevens (crew chief) is a big part of that. We know what he’s accomplished throughout his career. I talked to him a while before the race because I had the 20, and he was saying the point about the continuity with the team. It’s the same road guys, same pit crew. He was like, ‘Honestly, that’s undervalued when you have that exact core group for years. This one wants to come off the road, and this one’s going to this team. I’ve been able to keep my people.’ That’s what he said to me is a big part of it.” Certainly, this can be his secret sauce.

Bell’s consistency and versatility have worked wonders for him. At heart, he’s a dirt track racer—winning the prestigious Chili Bowl three times. His past success likely came from balancing both NASCAR and other racing. It was only last year that Coach Gibbs lifted his rule against racing outside of NASCAR. Bell seized the opportunity, competing in everything he could—from the Tulsa Shootout to the Chili Bowl. And look at him now—we’re seeing a completely different Bell this season. He was already consistent last year, but this year, he looks like a true championship contender.

And it’s not just JGR—everyone in NASCAR sees him as the next big thing. Just look at how NASCAR recognized his leadership, selecting him for the newly formed playoff committee. Clearly, big things are on the horizon for Bell and the #20 team.

Do you think Christopher Bell will win the championship this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!