Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the powerhouse organizations in the NASCAR Cup Series and that is not going to change anytime soon. Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs represent the future of the race team and both could quickly become future champions of the sport.
Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing also has Sammy Smith and William Sawalich in the pipeline. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the organization’s future; however, what about the present at NASCAR’s top level?
Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin are both in contract years and there is no doubt that it will be a topic of conversation until there is a solution. What is the outlook of Joe Gibbs Racing beyond the 2023 season?
Related: Major details on Joe Gibbs Racing’s efforts to re-sign Kyle Busch for 2023 revealed
NASCAR insider provides update on Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver lineup for 2024
Truex’s story has been reported on enough to understand what his situation is right now. The driver of the No. 19 car missed the 2022 NASCAR playoffs and failed to win a race over the course of the entire year.
At the same time, Truex was considering retirement but ultimately decided to return to Joe Gibbs Racing, which has worked out in a great fashion. He leads the point standings halfway through the 2023 season and has two victories.
As for Hamlin, it has been well-established that he is in the final year of his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing. The issue with his situation is that he is trying to negotiate a new deal at 23XI Racing, the team he co-owns, at the same time.
The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi jumped on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and talked about Joe Gibbs Racing’s future, specifically for the 2024 season. Will Truex and Hamlin return, and what are the situations involving both drivers right now?
“If you look at the landscape right now…(Hendrick Motorsports), (Team Penske), Joe Gibbs Racing, there is not expected to be any openings at those teams. All of the drivers there are expected to return…(Martin Truex Jr.) has said that he isn’t committed to next year yet but he’s also said that some of the things he needs to do to check his box, one is be competitive. Well, he’s doing that…Two, he wants to be having fun and he is having fun…Those are two big boxes that have been checked. From everything I’ve been told, I would be very shocked if Martin Truex Jr. isn’t back in the No. 19 car next year.
With (Denny Hamlin)’s situation with (23XI Racing) also being a Toyota team and everything, Denny is gonna return as well. Whether that’s a one year deal or multi-year deal, I don’t know, but Denny is gonna continue to drive the No. 11 car next year, at least that’s the expectation…The only question is whether it’s a one-year deal or multi-year deal.”
Jordan Bianchi on the future of Joe Gibbs Racing beyond 2023
Truex’s success is a major factor in why he is expected to return to Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2024 season. It was a rough debut season with the NextGen car for the driver of the No. 19 car but he currently looks like the championship favorite this year.
Meanwhile, Hamlin seems likely to return too. The major question remains whether that is a one-year deal or a multi-year deal like Bianchi said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. It would be beneficial for everyone to see that become a multi-year deal due to 23XI Racing.
However, none of this has been made official at this point. There is time for things to change and the business side of NASAR moves incredibly fast. Joe Gibbs Racing experienced that last season with Kyle Busch after his sponsor, Mars, decided to leave the sport.
What happens if one of Truex or Hamlin shockingly doesn’t return to the organization for the 2024 season? Continue reading to find out three ideal candidates to join the Cup Series program if a driver doesn’t return!
Related: Denny Hamlin provides big updates on future with Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI Racing
3 ideal drivers Joe Gibbs Racing should consider for the 2024 NASCAR season
Joe Gibbs Racing will likely have its lineup of Hamlin, Truex, Bell, and Gibbs for the second straight season; however, what if one of the veteran drivers doesn’t re-sign after not getting a deal done with the organization?
John Hunter Nemechek would be a top candidate as his path through NASCAR’s lower ranks is nearing an end. Nemechek, 26, was previously in the NASCAR Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports but moved to Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Truck Series the next year.
The 26-year-old did this to reset his career with Toyota and it has definitely worked to this point. Nemechek currently drives the No. 20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series and would be a very good option if someone were to leave.
Sammy Smith is another solid option as he represents Toyota’s best prospect in NASCAR right now. Smith, 19, is currently in his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series and has a victory at Phoenix Raceway over Busch.
The 19-year-old driver will certainly join the Cup Series program one day but he may not be ready for the big stage yet. Smith has a lot of potential but it is important to not rush him into the Cup Series as he continues his development.
Michael McDowell would be an out-of-the-box idea for Joe Gibbs Racing but he would be a very good selection. McDowell, 38, is the driver of the No. 34 car for Front Row Motorsports and has been running very well since his 2021 Daytona 500 victory.
The 38-year-old driver has been linked to Stewart-Haas Racing so there would be competition if Joe Gibbs Racing decided to go this route. Of course, McDowell’s arrival at the organization would only happen if one of its current drivers didn’t return.
Joe Gibbs Racing hopes to see Hamlin and Truex return but there always needs to be backup plans. If one of the veteran drivers leaves the race team, all three of the candidates would be very good options.