Christopher Bell has answered a question that has lingered since Martin Truex Jr. announced he would walk away from full-time competition after the 2024 season. Bell accidentally name-dropped the driver who will become his new teammate.
The moment occurred Friday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway as Bell prepared for a double-duty weekend. When NASCAR's Pat DeCola asked Bell a question about his leadership role increasing, the Oklahoma native said the following:
"I really don't think there is a leadership role in that aspect, and whenever Chase comes into car... Whenever some... Whenever... I don't really know what to say.
"Whenever we have a new driver into the 19 car... Whenever we have a new driver into the 19 car, whoever that is, their experience level will dictate how much input they have into the team."
The "Chase" he referred to while answering questions about the team was Chase Briscoe, who currently races for Stewart-Haas Racing. With SHR set to sell three of its charters and rebrand as the Gene Haas-led Haas Factory Team, Briscoe was set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Briscoe has been the driver most frequently linked to the No. 19 Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing since Truex's announcement. Joe Gibbs Racing has not made any announcements about the deal, but the expectation is that it will take place soon.
Briscoe has raced full-time in the Cup Series since the 2021 season when he took over the No. 14 Ford for a retiring Clint Bowyer. He has 11 top-five finishes and 26 top-10s in 125 Cup starts. He also has a win at Phoenix Raceway in 2022 that put him into the playoffs.
Adding Briscoe to the lineup that already includes Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs would give Joe Gibbs Racing a young group of racers. Bell and Briscoe are both set to turn 30 in December. Gibbs will turn 22 in October.
Hamlin is the lone outlier at 43 years old, but he continues to deliver wins and push for a spot in the Championship 4 each season.