Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing Set for Championship Showdown

The titans of NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), are poised to clash in a highly anticipated championship battle at Phoenix Raceway. This rivalry, built over decades of intense competition, now culminates with both powerhouse teams fielding two drivers each in the final four of the NASCAR Cup Series.

Hendrick Motorsports, founded as All-Star Racing in 1984, has amassed an impressive 320 wins in the Cup Series. Joe Gibbs Racing, which entered NASCAR in 1992, trails slightly with 227 victories. Together, these two organizations represent the pinnacle of success in NASCAR’s premier series, having dominated the championship landscape for years. Between them, they have secured 19 of the last 30 Cup titles, with Hendrick Motorsports claiming 14 and Joe Gibbs Racing securing five. However, neither team has clinched a championship since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, a period marked by Team Penske’s three-year reign. With Team Penske absent from this year’s final four, the stage is set for a renewed battle between HMS and JGR.

Team owner Rick Hendrick, known for his affable nature, recently quipped about his competitive relationship with Joe Gibbs: "Biggest mistake I made in racing was helping Joe Gibbs." This lighthearted jab underscores the deep-seated, yet respectful, rivalry that defines their organizations.

The stage is set for a compelling championship race, with both teams represented by two formidable contenders. Joe Gibbs Racing relies on the experience and talent of Denny Hamlin, a driver renowned for his success but yet to secure a Cup Series championship. Alongside Hamlin is Chase Briscoe, in his inaugural season with JGR, who has shown significant promise.

Related News :

Hendrick Motorsports counters with Kyle Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, who has consistently demonstrated championship-caliber performance. Completing their formidable lineup is William Byron, a two-time Daytona 500 winner and a consistent championship contender, making his third consecutive appearance in the Championship 4.

Performance at Phoenix Raceway

Phoenix Raceway has historically been a strong circuit for Team Penske, but this year’s championship contenders have all demonstrated capability on the desert track. In the Next Gen era, Hendrick Motorsports has secured one victory at Phoenix, courtesy of William Byron in the spring of 2023. Joe Gibbs Racing, however, boasts two wins at the track during this period, both achieved by Christopher Bell in the spring races of 2024 and 2025. Chase Briscoe also has a Next Gen win at Phoenix, secured in 2022 while driving for Stewart-Haas Racing.

The most recent Cup Series event at Phoenix provided a glimpse into the current competitive balance. Christopher Bell took the checkered flag, with Denny Hamlin finishing a very close second in a near photo-finish. Kyle Larson followed in third, William Byron in sixth, while Chase Briscoe was caught in an incident that ended his race. In that particular race, JGR appeared to hold a slight edge in terms of laps led, with their cars leading 108 of the 312 laps compared to HMS’s 83 laps led, with Bell and Byron accounting for the majority of those laps.

Analyzing driver statistics at Phoenix over their careers, Denny Hamlin stands out with the most starts (40) and multiple wins. However, all four championship drivers have achieved Cup Series victories at Phoenix. Hamlin’s last win at the track was in 2019.

When examining average finishes at Phoenix, the competition is remarkably close. Hamlin enters the weekend with an average finish of 10.6, Larson at 10.7, and Byron at 10.8. This parity suggests that the championship outcome will likely come down to the finest margins, with both driver skill and equipment playing crucial roles.

Owner Perspectives and Personalities

The unique dynamic between Hendrick and Gibbs extends beyond the racetrack, rooted in mutual respect and shared experiences. Joe Gibbs, affectionately known as "Coach," expressed his anticipation for the championship showdown: "It’s going to be a huge deal. I think our fans love that. It’s the best in the world competing in one race. It should be really exciting."

Gibbs further elaborated on the intensity of the competition: "I would prefer to go against somebody that’s not very good (smiling). The problem is that doesn’t happen in NASCAR. So, to get to the Final 4 is just so hard. So now we got one race. We know what we’re up against, somebody that’s really, really good. Two cars in there for them. Two for us." He added, with a smile, "Hopefully this will be good for the fans and everybody and the excitement. Probably won’t be good for me. I’ll be so nervous and uptight about it (smiling). To get to the Final 4 is a thrill, and we’re thrilled to be in it. It’s great for our sponsors and our entire organization. You got to give Rick and them just all the credit in the world."

It is a testament to their enduring relationship that Rick Hendrick was instrumental in helping Joe Gibbs enter the sport, providing engine support in the early 1990s. Hendrick’s joking remark about his "biggest mistake" highlights the competitive spirit that fuels their legendary rivalry.

Hendrick also spoke with deep respect for Gibbs: "No, Joe, I can’t believe it, but Joe has been kind of one of my idols. I love the Redskins. When I got a call from him, and I went up to camp, and then I went to a game when they were playing the Falcons. I think it was the Playoffs. It was cold, and I got off the tram. I started toward the field, and the bottom came off of my boot. I had one of these I guess mountain boots I hadn’t had on in a while. So the bottom came off. I go down on the field, and I’m standing in water. It’s freezing and sleeting, and I got no shoes on. I mean, I got the bottoms come off both of my boots. There’s Joe Gibbs up there. I’m like, Should I go up and try to ask him can he get me a pair of shoes or something (laughter)? After, when I told him, he said, ‘you should have said something.’ I said, ‘man, all those bodyguards around you, if I walked up to you, I probably would have been put in jail.’"

Hendrick continued, reflecting on their personal bond: "Joe and I have had some good times. We’ve had some sad times together. There’s nobody I respect any more than I do Joe Gibbs and the great organization he’s put together. I mean, I admire the man for his strength, what he’s gone through." This profound respect stems partly from shared personal tragedies; Hendrick lost his son Ricky in a 2004 plane crash, while Joe Gibbs experienced the profound loss of both his sons before the age of 50.

This weekend’s championship race at Phoenix Raceway will undoubtedly be a thrilling spectacle, pitting Hendrick Motorsports’ two drivers against Joe Gibbs Racing’s two drivers in a head-to-head contest for the ultimate prize. Regardless of the outcome, the battle between these two racing giants is sure to be a memorable chapter in NASCAR history.