Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing Set for Championship Showdown: A Clash of NASCAR Titans

In a highly anticipated conclusion to the NASCAR Cup Series season, two of the sport’s most dominant organizations, Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), are set to go head-to-head in a thrilling championship battle at Phoenix Raceway. The season finale will feature a dramatic 2-vs.-2 showdown, with each legendary team fielding two drivers vying for the ultimate prize.

Hendrick Motorsports, established in 1984, and Joe Gibbs Racing, which joined NASCAR in 1992, have consistently been at the pinnacle of stock car racing. Between them, these two powerhouse teams have amassed an astounding 320 wins in the Cup Series, with HMS holding a slight edge with 320 victories compared to JGR’s 227. Their dominance is further underscored by their combined championship count, having secured 19 of the last 30 Cup Series titles. Hendrick Motorsports leads this category with 14 championships, while Joe Gibbs Racing has captured five.

However, the advent of the Next Gen car era in 2022 saw a shift in the championship landscape, with Team Penske breaking the duopoly by claiming the titles in both 2022 and 2023. With Team Penske not represented in this year’s Championship 4, the stage is set for a renewed battle between Hendrick and Gibbs.

The Championship 4 field highlights the formidable talent within each organization. Joe Gibbs Racing brings the experienced Denny Hamlin, a driver who has achieved remarkable success throughout his career but is still seeking his elusive first Cup Series championship. Alongside Hamlin is Chase Briscoe, who is in his inaugural season with JGR, demonstrating a rapid integration into the team’s competitive structure.

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Hendrick Motorsports counters with Kyle Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, a driver known for his versatility and aggressive racing style. Completing HMS’s formidable lineup is William Byron, who has achieved significant success this season, including back-to-back victories in the Daytona 500 and making his third consecutive appearance in the Championship 4.

The championship race at Phoenix Raceway promises to be a closely contested affair. While Phoenix has historically been a strong track for Team Penske, all four contenders have demonstrated recent prowess at the desert oval. 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 boasts two wins at the track during this period, both achieved by Christopher Bell, who triumphed in the spring of 2024 and 2025. Chase Briscoe also has a Next Gen win at Phoenix, though it came during his tenure with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2022.

The most recent Cup Series event at Phoenix provided a glimpse into the current competitive balance. Christopher Bell narrowly missed victory, finishing a scant second to his teammate Denny Hamlin in a near photo-finish. Kyle Larson followed closely in third, with William Byron securing a sixth-place finish. Chase Briscoe experienced an early exit due to a crash. In that race, JGR showcased a strong performance, leading 108 laps, while HMS cars led 83 laps, with Bell and Byron accounting for the majority of laps led for their respective teams.

Analyzing driver statistics at Phoenix, Denny Hamlin stands out with the most starts, 40, and is the only driver in the Championship 4 with multiple Cup Series wins at the track, though his last victory there was in 2019. Remarkably, all four championship contenders have achieved Cup Series victories at Phoenix. When examining average finishes, Hamlin, Larson, and Byron are remarkably close, with average finishes of 10.6, 10.7, and 10.8, respectively. This suggests a highly competitive and balanced playing field, both in terms of driver skill and team equipment.

The camaraderie and rivalry between team owners Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs are well-documented. Gibbs, often referred to as "Coach," expressed his anticipation for the championship showdown, stating, "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." He further elaborated on the competitive nature of facing a rival like Hendrick, noting, "I would prefer to go against somebody that’s not very good… 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." Gibbs acknowledged the thrill of reaching the final four and expressed his respect for Hendrick’s organization, adding, "You got to give Rick and them just all the credit in the world."

Ironically, Rick Hendrick played a role in Joe Gibbs Racing’s early foray into NASCAR, leasing engines to the team in the early 1990s. Hendrick humorously recalled this period, joking, "Biggest mistake I made in racing was helping Joe Gibbs." He also shared a story highlighting the deep respect and personal connection between the two legendary figures. Hendrick recounted an anecdote about attending a Washington Redskins game with Gibbs, where he experienced a wardrobe malfunction, losing the soles of his boots in the cold and wet conditions. He described the moment with a touch of humor, recounting his hesitation to approach Gibbs for assistance due to the surrounding security. "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," Hendrick stated. This mutual respect extends beyond the racetrack, with both owners having faced profound personal tragedies, including the loss of children.

This championship decider at Phoenix Raceway pits not only two of NASCAR’s most successful teams but also two respected figures in the sport against each other in a highly personal and competitive contest. The outcome will determine whether Joe Gibbs Racing secures its sixth NASCAR Cup Series championship or Hendrick Motorsports adds a record-extending 15th title to its illustrious history.