Joe Gibbs Racing to lift dirt-racing restriction for its drivers
Joe Gibbs Racing is set to lift a team restriction that previously disallowed its NASCAR Cup Series drivers to compete in extracurricular racing on dirt and other disciplines.
The decision was first reported Monday by The Athletic and later confirmed to NASCAR.com by a team spokesperson, who indicated that the organization now has a process for drivers to request to compete in other forms of motorsports. The new policy comes after the Huntersville, North Carolina-based racing team added dirt star and former Stewart-Haas Racing driver Chase Briscoe to its Cup Series roster for 2025 and beyond.
The Indiana native Briscoe and now-teammate Christopher Bell are two of the top superstars of the dirt racing world, set to sling some mud in the season ahead. No. 54 JGR Toyota driver Ty Gibbs has also expressed interest in expanding his racing horizons as well, with some dirt action expected to be in his future.
“We sort of talked things over to come up with a process by which they can request to run certain races,” Joe Gibbs told The Athletic. “If they get approval from everyone they need on our competition side, then they are free to run the race. That includes dirt, but also potentially other forms of racing.”
The change is a welcomed but surprising one to Bell, readying for a fifth Cup season with JGR and eyeing a return to the Championship 4. The Oklahoma native is one of the most accomplished active dirt racers, one of just three drivers to win the famed Chili Bowl Nationals midget race at least three times.
“I was definitely caught off guard by the change of policy,” Bell told The Athletic. “I was super shocked, but with Chase coming on board and Ty growing an interest in dirt racing, it’s nice we have the majority of our team aligned with it now.”
Briscoe is set to replace Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19 Toyota Camry after the longtime veteran retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2024 season. As the new guy in the building, the policy change is one Briscoe wasn’t pushing for, but will gladly accept.
The change is a welcomed but surprising one to Bell, readying for a fifth Cup season with JGR and eyeing a return to the Championship 4. The Oklahoma native is one of the most accomplished active dirt racers, one of just three drivers to win the famed Chili Bowl Nationals midget race at least three times.
“I was definitely caught off guard by the change of policy,” Bell told The Athletic. “I was super shocked, but with Chase coming on board and Ty growing an interest in dirt racing, it’s nice we have the majority of our team aligned with it now.”
Briscoe is set to replace Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19 Toyota Camry after the longtime veteran retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2024 season. As the new guy in the building, the policy change is one Briscoe wasn’t pushing for, but will gladly accept.
“I could tell it wasn’t a hard ‘no,’ but it wasn’t something at the time they were super thrilled about,” Briscoe told The Athletic. “It didn’t feel like the door was shut completely; there was definitely a crack. But I didn’t know in my first year getting there, I would still be able to go do stuff if I wanted to.”
Briscoe and Bell have yet to announce any upcoming participation in dirt events, but are relieved to know they now can.
“It’s refreshing knowing I’ll be able to do whatever I want to do,” Bell said. “I’m super excited to reconnect with my dirt fan base and see everybody at a dirt track soon.”
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