2024 NASCAR New Year's Resolutions: Joe Gibbs Racing

The New Year is almost here and that means NASCAR New Year’s resolutions. This time, we’re breaking down Joe Gibbs Racing. We started with Hendrick Motorsports. So now, we’re on to JGR.

As a whole, 2023 was a pretty good year for Joe Gibbs. A regular-season championship, a driver in the Championship 4, and the Rookie of the Year.

However, I don’t think Joe Gibbs Racing was very happy with how the season came to an end. While Christopher Bell was in the championship race, he had a brake rotor failure that ended his day early.

Martin Truex Jr. did win the regular season title but had one of the worst playoff runs for any regular season champ. And Ty Gibbs did win Rookie of the Year, but it was over Noah Gragson. Gibbs wasn’t able to find Victory Lane, either.

As for Denny Hamlin, his playoff run was derailed by a shoulder injury and a bit of bad luck as well. So, what should change for JGR in 2024?

Joe Gibbs Racing Resolutions:
– Win 10 or more races as an organization
– Get all four drivers into the playoffs
– Improve at superspeedways
– Avoid critical mistakes late in the season
– Handle 2025 driver lineup sooner than later

For the 2024 season, I think that JGR needs to do a few things. This season their four drivers combined for just eight wins. That needs to improve, all teams need to make the playoffs, and the new Camry body should help on superspeedways. Also, please, let’s get any retirement decisions out of the way as soon as possible.

Joe Gibbs Racing – Driver Resolutions

Now, the four drivers for JGR enter this 2024 season with a new car. The Toyota Camry XSE has been seen on the track at Phoenix during testing. It looks a lot “racier” and meaner. It should also help that Chevy hasn’t made any changes to their Cup Series cars.

However, each driver has their own wants and goals. Let’s get into each of them.

Christopher Bell Resolutions
– Win earlier in the season
– Keep insane qualifying pace from playoffs
– Prove you are ready to be the guy at JGR
– Return to Championship 4 for third straight season

At one point in the playoffs, Bell made a strong case for the championship. Then, Phoenix ended all of that. However, if he can win early, keep up his qualifying pace from the end of 2023, and step up in his role as the next star at JGR, he’ll be happy with 2024.

Ty Gibbs Resolutions
– Win a race
– Win a pole position
– Make the playoffs
– Get more comfortable in the Cup Series

For the grandson of Coach Gibbs, a good rookie season is nice to have. Now, in his second year, he has to avoid a setback like Austin Cindric the 2022 ROY did in his sophomore campaign in 2023. So, win a race, win a pole (he was so close many times), make the playoffs, and continue to improve. Simple as that, right?

Denny Hamlin Resolutions
– Fully embrace the villain role
– Win 3+ races
– Win the regular season championship
– Make the Championship 4

In 2023, Hamlin gained a ton of fans and plenty of haters, too. He’s the villain of the Cup Series, the driver not afraid to speak his mind on Sunday and especially on Mondays with his Actions Detrimental podcast. He should focus on winning three or more races, the regular season championship, and making another Championship 4.

Martin Truex Jr. Resolutions
– Have fun and win races
– Defend regular season title
– Peak at the right time in the playoffs
– Make the Championship 4

The regular season was a storybook for Truex Jr. He won the Busch Light Clash, and won at Dover, Sonoma, and New Hampshire. Truex also faltered in the playoffs. Truex Jr. needs to peak at the right time, and avoid catastrophic setbacks.

So, what are we going to see from Joe Gibbs Racing in 2024?